With all due respect to the Bard, what's in a mountain? That which we call Mount Rose by any other name would still be as steep. This is a challenging hike-one of the steepest trails in the Olympics. Great for conditioning, Rose offers a few scenic rewards too, from beautiful high-elevation old-growth forests to a knockout view of Lake Cushman from 3500 feet directly above it. Consider Rose an alternative to Mount Ellinor. When half of Olympia is crowding Ellinor's summit like goats at a salt lick, you just might be savoring the sweet offerings of Rose all by yourself.

Start by crossing a cascading creek and heading up an old road. Enjoy it, for it's the only level walking you'll see on this hike. Now begin the grind. On good tread, start switchbacking to the heavens. Yes, the grade is steep, but it used to be worse. Over a decade ago a dedicated volunteer trail crew reconfigured much of the way.

A carpet of salal lines the trail. Uniform second growth with a few remnant giants (survivors of early twentieth-century fires) offer needed shade. At 0.3 mile pass through a pair of towering Doug-firs that act as a gateway. Despite the roar of a distant creek, the slope is dry, as evidenced by the few madronas and manzanita bushes.

At 1 mile and after 1000 feet of climbing, a bench with a view of Lake Cushman invites a break. Catch your breath and continue. After 0.1 mile enter the Mount Skokomish Wilderness. Ironically, the trees are now smaller and less impressive. Perhaps it's due to thinner soils, for the way gets even steeper. At 1.6 miles enter a cool forest of hemlock. A short spur trail leads left to a little cascade, although it may be dry by late summer.

In another 0.25 mile reach the summit loop junction (elev. 3050 ft) along with a small plaque honoring the crew that built this trail. Take the left trail-it's shorter and steeper, leaving the longer and more gradual option for the descent, relieving your knees.

The summit loop climbs 1,300 feet in just over 1 mile, through recently burned forest and remnant pockets of old-growth. At 2.9 miles from the trailhead reach the 4,301-foot forested summit. Don't despair, a small vertigo-inducing rock outcropping juts out of the forest providing a panoramic payoff. Directly below, waters sparkling, is Lake Cushman. Lightning Peak and Timber Mountain rise majestically behind it. Wonder Mountain and Church Peak are just off to the right. The Skokomish delta, Black and Willapa Hills, and Mount Rainier are all visible from this pulse-raising promontory. Through silver snags and white pines the deep valley of the North Fork Skokomish can also be glimpsed.

After your rosy outlook continue on the loop. Along a forested ledge, the trail makes a 1.7-mile saner return to the loop junction. Enjoy glimpses of Copper Mountain, but the real point of interest is a colonnade of four silver firs about halfway down the trail. They have grown so close together they appear fused. Now, test your trekking poles before careening down the mountain.