Switchback Trail to Klahhane Ridge

After turning around on the Klahhane Ridge Trail that leaves from the Hurricane Visitor Center parking area due to a large snowy slope, I drove down the road a ways to hike up the Switchback Trail up to Klahhane Ridge.
This is a 1.5 mile trail with 1,600 ft of gain, that connects with the Heather Park and Lake Angeles Trails on Victor Pass. I hiked a short ways along the Lake Angels Trail, until stopped by snow.
The trails around the Hurricane Ridge area all had these bear and goat warnings. I didn't see any of them today.

Small stream going across the trail near the beginning of the hike.

There was a large meadow filled with yellow violets near the lower part of the trail.

Altlhough the trail appears to be in the forest, several sections go through open meadows with fabulous views, here looking up at Mt Angeles

young deer resting in a meadow

lots of paintbrush in bloom, Olympic peaks to the south

grouse hiding among the flowers
After about 0.6 mile and 700 ft of gain, the Switchback Trail joins with the Klahhane Ridge Trail from Hurricane Ridge parking area.

view seen a short ways after the trail junction  (looking  to the southwest, more Olympic peaks)

pats of the trail were like walking through a beautiful rock garden

Wide angle shot from higher on the trail: Clear view of Mt Olympus and other Olympic Peaks to the south-southwest. I think the large snow patch on the ridge to the far right, is where I turned around this morning on the Klahhane Ridge Trail our of Hurricane Ridge parking area.

Trail continues to climb up

wallflowers in bloom, looking up towards Mt Angeles

Almost to Victor Pass! The road far below where this trail began

lots of phlox in bloom

up on Victor Pass, the trail divides, left to Heather Park and right to Lake Angels. I choose to go to the right today.











Pano from Victor Pass looking north: Mt Angels, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Canada, Klahhane Ridge

Pano from Victor Pass looking south: lots of Olympic mountains!

prairie smoke in bloom













I hiked about 0.3 mile beyond Victor Pass to the east: pano shot to the north along this section

and a pano shot to the south

From here there is a very steep exposed slope with lots of snow. The rangers recommended having an ice ax for this section. I decided it was a great place to take a lunch break.

view from my lunch spot looking north

pasqueflower in bloom

on the steep trail, I was happy to descend slowly, continuing to enjoy the views and the wildflowers

douglasia in bloom along the side of Mt Angeles
















great day for a saunter! watching the clouds move in from the south

A wonderful day on the trails.

















some of the other wildflowers I saw in bloom along this trail today:

   

      

Klahhane Ridge Trail from Hurricane Ridge

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Attempted to reach Klahhane Ridge on the Klahhane Ridge Trail from the Hurricane Ridge parking area. Because of a large snow field on a steep slope about 1.3 miles along the trail, I did 2.6 miles overall with 560' gain (I would next do the Switchback Trail up to Klahhane Ridge)
Deer at the parking area at the parking lot near the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.

I started on the High Ridge Trail going to the right at the first turn, looked back, and saw another deer.

Lupine was blooming along the lower portions of the trail.









more deer along the trail

There were a nice assortment of wildflowers in bloom throughout the hike.











Pano looking east to south: Sunrise Point, Mt Angeles, Klahhane Ridge, and more Olympic mountains

Buttercups and prairie smoke in bloom as I looked back towards Mt Olympus and the Visitor Center

Took the short spur trail that goes up to Sunrise Point, before turning down the Klahhane Ridge Trail (Sunrise Point on the left, Mt Angeles and Klahhane Ridge to the right)

view to the north on Sunrise Point, looking across the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island. Mt Angeles casting a large shadow below

Back on the Klahhane Ridge trail, I could see deer and a marmot down in the meadow below, too far away to get a decent photo.

asters and phlox alongside the trail













Wide angle view to the north: Hurricane Hill, Unicorn and Griff Peaks and Mt Angeles

paintbrush, saxifrage, pea, and douglasia blooming in the meadow

Glacier lilies in bloom where snow fields have recently melted.

small headed penstemon

wallflowers in bloom, this was a slow hike, so many wildflowers in bloom and fabulous views to admire

Larkspur, parsley and phlox

more paintbrush and parsley

About 1.3 miles from the parking lot, a large snow field covered the trail on this steep slope. The snow was icy in the morning. Even though I had my micro spikes, I opted to turn around, not knowing how the trail was after this.

When I reached the junction with Sunrise Point and the High Ridge Trail and the Klahhane Ridge Trail, stayed on the Klahhane Ridge Trail to take a different way back to the parking area. Here there was a nice view of Mt Olympus and












I saw a marmot soaking up the sun in a meadow.












some of the wildflowers I saw in bloom along these trails this morning: