Mount Townsend

We drove up to the Upper TH for 839 to Mt Townsend, going up the southwest side and to both the west and east peaks for an 8.8 mile round trip hike with 3,000 ft of gain. Lots of wildflowers in bloom and great views today!

Rhodedendrons were in bloom along the trail in the forest.

There was water trickling in one of the streams.

A viewpoint along the forested section of the trail.

The open slopes in the middle section of the trail were filled with wildflowers,

we were very happy hikers!

Lots of paintbrush!

As the trail climbed up in the upper switchbacks, we began to have distant views, here to the northeast of Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan.

More wildflowers blooming on these steep slopes.

To the southwest: Mt Rainier (we would also see hazy views of Mt Adams and Mt St Helens)

More wildflowers and views up along the top of Mt Townsend:

partial zoom towards Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan across Hood Canal and Puget Sound

zoom of Mt Baker

zoom of Glacier Peak

zoopartial zoom across Hood Canal and Puget Sound to Mt Rainier 

zoom of Mt Rainer

views from the East Peak of Mt Townsend

Enjoying the wildflower and views as we return across the top of Mount Townsend:

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today: