Mt. WashingtonRecent Trip Reports
Hiked here recently?
Submit a trip report!
There are
31
trip reports for this hike.
See all trip reports for this hike.
Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Read full report
with photos
Part II (continued from http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2012-02-05.4120476308):
Snow fully covered the trail from the Owl Hike spot. Creek crossings were not difficult. We...
Part II (continued from http://www.wta.org/[…]/trip_report.2012-02-05.4120476308):
Snow fully covered the trail from the Owl Hike spot. Creek crossings were not difficult. We decided not to take the longer Great Wall Trail since daylight was a precious commodity. Despite the thickening snow, there were plenty of bootprints to follow, which had created a compacted trail for walking. Blowdowns were not a problem on the upper part of the ascent. We passed the boulder garden in the bowl, and we continued up towards the pond, which was iced over. At the pond, there were footprints going to the right, deviating from the summer trail, but we stayed to the left, passing through the horse restriction gate. 1/2 mile past the pond, the footprints left the trail and proceeded directly up the eastern face of the summit for several hundred feet of steady upward climbing. We followed, and soon we headed north again to the shoulder from which West Defiance Ridge and Mount Si are visible. We were treated to vertigo-inducing views of I-90 3000 feet below us. We then headed back to the forest, roughly following the summer trail, heading up to the summit. We were able to summit using poles and boots alone. At the summit, we could see Rainier and Chester Morse Lake. We could see Baker and Glacier to the north. McClellan peak was visible to the west. Someone had traced out the initials "BK" in the snow--what could it mean? The trip down was faster, and we were able to glissade downwards along the segment where we had executed our vertical climb in the snow. However, my left foot sank into the snow twice, requiring digouts. This was likely due to the act of descending and the slightly warmer afternoon temperatures. Fortunately, my friends helped me dig out. This was not an easy hike. Three of five summited. Ascent time: 3 hours 15 min. Descent time: 2 hours 30 min. Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Read full report
with photos
A sunny day meant that my next appointment with the summit of Mount Washington had finally arrived! My previous two...
A sunny day meant that my next appointment with the summit of Mount Washington had finally arrived! My previous two visits to the weather station were marred by clouds at the top. This time, I would not be denied.
This report is divided into two parts, as the "Mount Washington" trail page only describes the ascent to the Owl Hike viewpoint, 2 miles from the TH. The name originates from a time when "night owls" liked to use the start of the Mt Washington trail as an evening hike, ending at a natural rock bench with a view of Rattlesnake Mountain. The second part describes the ascent beyond the Owl Hike viewpoint. Part I: We arrived at the Homestead TH parking lot at 10 am. The parking area had been partially cleared, and there was no difficulty parking. There were wisps of clouds high above the mountains, but it was a very gusty day at all elevation levels. Snow was present throughout the hike, starting with the spur trail from the parking lot to the Iron Horse trail. Snow at the start was a few inches deep, though the trail was bare in places. Snow became thicker throughout, with complete coverage starting before or at the Owl Hike spot. We did not require traction devices, but poles were helpful. Blowdowns during the first mile of hiking were significant, forcing us to climb under or over under many occasions. At the Owl Hike spot, the clear day provided excellent views of Rattlesnake and its three ledges. On the return leg, from the Iron Horse Trail we could see the moon rising above West Defiance Ridge. For the ascent to the summit, read Part II: http://www.wta.org/[…]/ Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Read full report
with photos
A few blowdowns at the beginning of the trail but overall trail is in good condition. Trail is icy/snowy and...
A few blowdowns at the beginning of the trail but overall trail is in good condition. Trail is icy/snowy and and while I used the microspikes, snowshoes were not necessary. Very windy @ the summit.
Day hike
Features:
Fall foliage
Issues:
Water on trail | Snow on trail
Expand report text
Hide report text
Read full report
with photos
The trail is steep and rocky the first two miles but in good shape. Those two miles are harder on...
The trail is steep and rocky the first two miles but in good shape. Those two miles are harder on the feet on the way down.
There is still a little fall color. At about 2.5 miles powdery snow on the trail starts that quickly increases and stays at about 3" up to the summit. It was fairly easy to walk in and the footprints made it easy to follow the trail all the way up. There are a couple of fairly easy water crossings. We saw just four people the whole day. I totally agree with the poster that said the upper part of this trail is better than just going to The Owl Spot. On a clear day you can see Mount Rainier from just below the summit in addition to the nice Mt Si area and beyond views from the summit.
Mt. Washington, Mount Washington --- Great Wall Trail
— Sep 29, 2011
— whitebark
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming | Fall foliage
Expand report text
Hide report text
Read full report
Wow, what a spectacular early fall day! To take advantage of the sunny weather, I did a long ramble in...
Wow, what a spectacular early fall day! To take advantage of the sunny weather, I did a long ramble in the hills near North Bend, using the vast interconnecting trail system around Mount Washington.
From the official Upper Twin Falls trailhead parking area just off Exit 38 (Discover Pass required), I followed the Mt. Washington Trail all the way to the top of the mountain, where I was greeted with a great view of Mount Rainier and Glacier Peak gleaming in the clear air. The Mt. Washington trail is a wonderfully diverse route that has been described here in many trip reports, so I won't mention too many details here. Next, I descended the east ridge of Mt. Washington on a short steep trail, then followed the various ridgetop logging roads that comprise the Great Wall route. There were good views from this road/trail also, and a surprising number of flowers such as foxglove, dandelion, and pearly everlasting brightened the roadsides. At the 3800' junction, marked by a weather-beaten sign, I veered right and followed the decaying logging road that heads down to Change Creek. This road was carved out of a precipitous hillside and offered more spectacular vistas of the I-90 area peaks. A mile beyond, near the bottom of the valley, I located the top end of the Pond Trail (marked by a metal post), and followed that indistinct path down a steep wooded slope. Took the short side trail (signed) for a brief visit to the pond, whose water level was still low, then followed the rest of the Pond Trail to where it rejoins the Change Creek road. I continued by following the brushy old logging road as it gently descended the Change Creek valley in broad switchbacks. Lonely and little traveled country here. About 3 miles from the Great Wall Trail junction, the old logging road came to an end at the Hall Point junction. The final mile of the Change Creek trail descended steeply to the Iron Horse Trail, its narrow tread weaving a tricky, scenic course around cliffs and through rockslides. The trail ended on the Iron Horse Trail between the Hall and Change Creek trestle bridges. To close the 11 mile loop, I followed the Iron Horse Trail a mile back to the parking lot. All in all, a nice day in the woods, and hardly anyone was to be seen. Maintenance needs: The Mt. Washington Trail is in good shape, free of mud and blowdown, although it is rocky and washed-out in places. Drain dips and rocky tread need repair in these sections. The newly constructed trail leading to the top of the mountain has excessive outslope in spots. |
|
Document Actions
- Email this page
- Print this
- Share
Forgot your
New user?
