Mount Townsend

We drove up to the Upper Mt Townsend Trailhead in the northeast Olympics to hike up to Mount Townsend today, overall we hiked 9 miles round trip with 3.000 ft of gain. The trail enters the Buckhorn Wilderness about 0.8 mile. We started hiking in snow about 1/2 way up the trail.

Snowy peak seen through the trees.

As we gained elevation, we could see Glacier Peak to the east across Hood Canal and Puget Sound.

zoom of Glacier Peak

Wider view a short way up the trail.

Further up the trail we could see Mt Rainier to the southeast.

zoom of Mt Rainier

And further up the switchbacks, we could see Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan to the northeast.

zoom of Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan

Olympic Peaks to the west from the saddle of Mount Townsend.

Wind sculpted snow above the saddle.

Some of the trail going up to and along the top of Mount Townsend was bare of snow. Mount Townsend peak in the distance.

View to the southeast

view to the west

Final stretch to the top of Mount Townsend 

Looking south towards Mount Constance and other Olympic Peaks

Views from the summit looking eastward:

View to the north and the peak on the northland of Mount Townsend

distant view of Mt Rainier along the top of Mount Townsend

distant view of Mt Baker and Glacier Peak

view to the west

view to the southwest

From the north peak, looking northeast towards the Canadian mountain peaks and

to the northwest towards Vancouver Island.

Looking back to the peak of Mount Townsend to the south. We took the trail along the west below the summit on our way back.

For a while, we were only following deer tracks.

Another look to the south from above the saddle. including The Brothers and Mount Constance in the distance.

Views to the east

some lovely lichen on a tree as we continue down the trail in the woods

Welsh Peak

 

Narada and Christine Falls

After hiking up at Paradise in Mt Rainier National Park this morning, I stopped at Narada Falls and Christine Falls before leaving the park. Narada Falls is about 0.25 mile round trip with 100 ft loss/gain.

View of Lane Peak from the trail above Narada Falls

Paradise River above Narada Falls 

Upper Christine Falls can be seen from the side of the road

Lower Christine Falls seen under the road (bridge),  is a short walk from the upper parking area.

 

Glacier Vista and Myrtle Falls

Drove up to Paradise at Mt Rainier National Park on this beautiful day. The trail up to Panorama Point was well packed and I was able to use my micro spikes, until I left the packed trail and broke trail over to Glacier Vista. I later snowshoed down along the ridge and then went over to Myrtle Falls. Overall about 3.5 miles with 1,000 ft of gain. There weren't very many people on the mountain today. Well packed trail near the parking area at Paradise.

Some of the trees had icicles on them.

Amazing to think that in a couple of months these trees will be buried in snow.

Looking over towards Mt Rainier as I book trail going over to Glacier Vista.

Looking back at my solitary prints and the view of Mt Adams and Mt St Helens beyond the Tatoosh Range.

zoom of Mt St Helens

zoom of Mt Adams

View of Mt Rainier from Glacier Vista

wide angle view at Glacier Vista

Another view of the Tatoosh and my lonely prints further up the trail.

Looking more to the southeast and the Goat Rocks and Mt Adams beyond the Tatoosh.

zoom of the Goat Rocks

some icy trees

a frozen boulder and Panorama Point above

I took a different route down, staying up on the ridge for a while, my footprints and a look back at Mt Rainier.

Fun to break trail in beautiful fresh snow!

I saw lots of these prints up on the ridge, they led to under the boulder, perhaps they are marmot prints.

Another view of the Tatoosh Range, I love hiking/snowshoeing down with this view in sight.

Another look back, before joining the Panorama Point Trail again.

View of Mt Rainier as the trail nears Myrtle Falls

Myrtle Falls

Snow covered Edith Creek above Myrtle Falls

View of the Tatoosh on hiking down from Myrtle Falls to the parking area.