Mazama Ridge Loop Snowshoe

We drove up to Paradise to snowshoe and the clouds were so low, it seemed as there could be white out conditions. We decided to drive down to the Narada Falls parking area to do the lower Mazama Ridge Loop Trail if conditions appeared favorable, otherwise snowshoe out to Reflection Lakes and back. The conditions today were temperature in the upper 20sF and low avalanche conditions below tree level, moderate at tree level and above. We ended up snowshoeing about 5.75 miles with 1,150 ft of gain.

View from the Narada Falls parking area looking down and seeing the Paradise River completely covered in snow as it flows out towards Narada Falls.

The way up to the trail head was very high and steep today. Someone had cut large steps into the snow. The route up to the close Stevens Canyon Road was well packed down with a thin layer of fresh snow on top.

We took a short side jaunt to view a very snow covered Ruby Falls.

We attempted to take the closed Stevens Canyon Road out to Reflection Lakes, but the area nearing Inspiration Point was covered in steep snow (we could not see where the road should be) with a very steep exposed slope. We decided to turn back and take the forested route up to Inspiration Saddle.

Up at Inspiration Saddle, the clouds appeared to be rising, so we opted to head up to Mazama Ridge and do the loop option. Here there was more fresh snow over the packed "trail" from last week.

Some critter was out on the fresh trail before us this morning.

From the trailhead, up Mazama Ridge and down to the bottom of the 4th Crossing Trail, we saw no other people.

Some large cornices up on Mazama Ridge

It was so peaceful out her today.

Loved the fresh snow on the branches.

Heading down 4th Crossing, the clouds became thicker, no views of Mt Rainier today.

We opted to take the closed Paradise Valley Road back down to the closed Stevens Canyon Road, rather than head over to Paradise and down the lakes trail. Here we came across 3 other snowshoers. The only people we saw until we were back at the Narada Falls parking area.

Looking across Paradise Valley to the Paradise Inn up on the ridge.

 

Glacier Vista Snowshoe

Drove up to Paradise at Mt Rainier NP to snowshoe up to Glacier Vista and over to Edith Creek Basin. 3.5 miles with 1,100 ft gain. There is a lot more snow here compared to when I snowshoed here in December. And was surprised that it wasn't very busy on this beautiful day compared to the other times I came here over this winter. Most of my route was well packed down from the previous days this week

View of Mt Rainier from the Glacier Vista area, I had this area to myself for quite sometime, the others people I saw this morning were heading up to Panorama Point.

Some critter beat me up to this higher section of Glacier Vista, I got up to 6,545 ft of elevation.

Wide angle view of Mt Rainier today

Coming back down is always a pleasure, hiking into the views of the Tatoosh Range and behind are the Goat Rocks, Mt Adams, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens. 

zoom looking towards Adams behind the Tatoosh

zoom of Mt Hood behind Pinnacle Peak

zoom of Mt St Helens

view of Copper, Iron and Pyramid Peaks to the west

I continued down towards the main parking area, surprised at how few people I saw,

turned to the east on the south side of Alta Vista, great views of the Tatoosh, no people.

view of Mt Rainier from the Edith Basin area

at the viewpoint for Myrtle Falls, which is buried under lots of snow

Paradise Inn is covered in lots of snow

a closer look at Paradise Inn

not as much snow covering Paradise Inn on the south side

 

Hex Mountain

We drove out past Roslyn to hike up to Hex Mountain. 7.5 miles round trip with 2,600 ft of gain. We weren't sure how the snow would be in the warmer afternoon so we brought our snowshoes and ended up carrying them the entire time. Microspikes were very helpful until later in the day when the snow turned mushy. Beautiful day! The snow started right at the edge of the road. The trail follows closed forest roads for about 2 miles and 1,000 ft of gain.

We had views of Cle Elum Lake for most of the hike.

From the turn off of the "trail" to the summit is about 1.75 miles and 1,600 ft of gain. The route was well packed down and there seemed to be less snow than when we were here 2 months ago.

There were cornices along the east side of the ridge and evidence of previous avalanches below.

View towards Mt Daniels

Looking up at Hex Mountain

View below to where the Cle Elum River enters Cle Elum Lake

View through the burnt forest towards Mount Stuart

The last little bit up Hex Mountain is steep!

View from the summit

Looking north

zoom of Mount Stuart

looking east

looking south

looking west

zoom of Mt Daniels and other peaks to the northwest

So lovely hiking into the views of Cle Elum lake on the way back down. Another view of the cornices and previous avalanche activity.

 

Dungeness Spit

Drove out to the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge to meet up and hike with a friend who was visiting the area. This is an 11 mile round trip beach hike that is best done during low tide. Today, that meant hiking in the afternoon. It was lightly raining and very windy when we started.

Looking down the 5 mile spit towards the lighthouse at the far end.

The wind soon blew the storm away, and looking back towards the west, we could see some of the Olympic Mountains emerging from the clouds.

With good conversation, we were soon nearing the Dungeness Lighthouse.

Sign toward the lighthouse from the beach.

Dungeness Lighthouse and blue sky

On the hike back, we were able to see more Olympic peaks to the south

seagull in the surf