A friend and I hiked up to Pyramid Peak to view the annular eclipse. The elevation rises quickly, but it's manageable at a reasonable pace. The washout section on the other hand, as others have stated, is not to be under-estimated. A fall would mean significant injury. The path across is washout is presently in very rough shape. The path is non-existent in some sections; no trail width to speak of, just steep soft sand. Grabbing on to rocks built into the side of the hill becomes necessary to hop over these sections. During our crossing it was rain/misting, making matters worse. After reaching 3/4 the way across (just like the user before me described), sizable rocks began to fall from above and we opted to cross the washout down lower. We ended bushwhacking down the side of the washout, crossing near the bottom and bushwhacking our way back up. Very steep, very tiring, but worth not risking life and limb over a quick crossing at the top. Same ordeal on our way back too. The washout path needs to be re-graded before it's reasonably safe to cross.

Went up on a nice April day and expected this to be a relatively quick/easy hike. The hike to the slide was great, very nice trail with a nice, moderate climbing pace through great forest.

However, the slide is not to be underestimated (or, at least not during this time of the year). We got there and found that the entire trail was pretty much destroyed, there was almost no herd path across the slide. We went out and got to about the 3/4 of the way point on the slide before turning back. There was serious rubble falling on us from above and the footing was very perilous. A fall here would be somewhere between "serious" and "deadly" depending on how far you fell and what you hit on the way down.

They need to put a fixed rope across this section to make it reasonably safe, as it currently stands, if you're not bringing climbing gear (a harness and a rope), I can't suggest this trail to any weekend warrior dayhikers (like myself). Our weather conditions made this more dangerous, but, frankly, with the condition of the trail and the lack of protection, it's just a matter of time before someone get's hurt/killed on this trail. Even an experienced hiker could (and will eventually) get hit with a falling rock on this face and, without protection, take a potentially fatal fall.

Hopefully someone will "take the hit" and string a fixed rope across this section, with a good handhold (or wearing a harness clipped in) this would be a very enjoyable exposed section of the trail. As it currently stands, its a harrowing experience and should be avoided by all but the most experienced (and don't do in inclement weather like we had today).

If not already obvious, this is not a trail for children/pets.

Quick evening trip up this trail I'd never been on before. Trail is in great shape, for the most part. Lots of small branches down, but I cleaned up most of those. there are down trees about 3/4 of a mile in, another immediately before the big slide area, 3 big ones a little past that (easily passed under), one just after the first switchback (fairly easily stepped over) , and another 3 or 4 once you reach the ridge crest (all easily stepped over). The slide area is fairly easy to cross, if you're not too worried about walking on 6" wide trail with a dropoff on one side. I used my hands a bit when crossing after dark on the way down. A light rain of sand/gravel seemed to falling down fairly constantly, but nothing scary.

Due to my lack of any research, I didn't even know there was a (windowless, doorless) cabin at the end of the trail. It's in pretty decent shape, with nice views.

No snow at all, although the trailbed is frozen along the ridgecrest. Nice views over to Vancouver Island, Port Angeles, the lake, and of the stars.

No people, no wildlife. The hum of traffic across the lake is present for most of the climb, though.

I got a late start on this solo hike, because I live about 100 miles away in the Seattle area and had to ride the ferry. I also thought it would be fun to call back to my Marine Corps days (got out in 2008) and so I carried a 60-pound ruck with emergency supplies. For the future, I would recommend none of these things. It's a fairly challenging hike to begin with, so there is no sense in making it more difficult and risky by (a) going alone, (b) starting late, and (c) adding needless weight.

I have to say, right near the top here, that everyone should be advised about the washout about 1/3 (or so) of the way up the trail (picture attached, although as you know, pictures never do these things justice). If not navigated properly it could be VERY dangerous. I actually got a little fight-or-flight heart palpitation thing going on while I was crossing. It is sandy, maybe 100-250 feet across, and there are areas where the footing is so narrow that you will have to walk with your feet parallel to the bluff. It's not a perfect 90-degree drop, and you may not be killed instantly if you fall, but it could cause very serious injury and/or turn your day hike into an unintentionally overnight affair. While you are crossing, do not try to grab onto the wall as it is mostly clay and will break, and expect minor pebbles and dirt to be constantly raining down from overhead.

Additionally, nearer to the top, there are parts where the snow is fairly deep and the trail narrow enough that losing your footing could also turn you day trip into an overnight ordeal.

Overall, it's not entirely a life-or-death hike, but I would only encourage intermediate to advanced hikers to travel this one. It's not for kids, not for the out of shape, and not for the faint of heart.

I don't remember what this hike was rated in terms of difficulty, and maybe it seemed harder because of my pace and the extra weight, but this time of year the hike is definitely in the "strenuous" category. The first third is soft, dry ground and a mild to moderate grade, the second is alternatingly steep and occasionally rocky, and the third is pretty brutal, particularly with snow and mud and often steep grades. There are points in the last 2/3 of the trail where the grade must be 35-40 degrees for sustained periods. I don't think my pulse dropped below 100 BPM for two and a half hours, and at the top the sweat was pouring off my head. For these reasons I would recommend bringing lots of water (I had a 100 oz. CamelBak) and extra food.

I saw about 7 other people on the way up, in 3 groups. One group advised me of the washout and told me to take off my YakTrax, and that poles would be better. I would NOT advise that for crossing the washout. I think YakTrax are essential, and poles would be more dangerous, if anything, because they occupy your hands when you need them to steady yourself or brace (but not grab) the wall. YakTrax will also be COMPLETELY essential near the top, as there is lots of mud and snow to be traversed. I might have spent an extra 15 minutes slipping around and getting dirty without my YakTrax, gaiters, and old tennis shoes, all of which are good ideas for this one.

On the way up, there are several "false" endings near the end of the trail, where you think you're done and there's another quarter mile before you think you're done again, only to find another quarter mile and so on. Because I started so late (4 PM), I almost didn't keep going all the way to the top for safety reasons (I didn't want to cross the washout in the dark, for one), but I'm glad I continued to the top, because...

...danger/logistics aside, this is a BEAUTIFUL view. There is a cool WWII plane-spotting cabin (apparently 1 of 2 still standing of the original 13 in the Olympics), the inside of which has been vandalized with various insipid amateur philosophy, and even some vulgar anti-Bush scrawlings, just in case W finds himself atop Pyramid Peak in the next few years feeling good about himself. You will find you are REALLY high up, and the views of Crescent Lake (and others nearby) as well as the snow-capped mountains are rivaled only by that of, say, Mt. Pilchuck on a clear day. Because it was already dusk by this time, I only spent 10-15 minutes up there, but under better circumstances I would have stayed for a nice lunch and some good pictures.

I ran all the way back down, which was hell on my knees with the pack and the 100 oz of water, and I even bit it once (mercifully I survived with only a little gash). All told, it took me about 80 minutes to get up, and 40 minutes to get down, but most people at a normal pace should plan on closer to 105 minutes and 75 minutes, respectively.

There is a cool dock overlooking the lake below the "parking lot," which makes for some more good pictures, and after the laborious hike up (and down), it would be a shame to miss the easiest view of all down there at the bottom. There are also picnic tables and a fire pit for groups who want a scenic BBQ to put a cap on the hike.

All in all, I would describe the difficulty as 'high' to 'very high', the view as 'exceptional', the hiker traffic as 'low', and the danger as 'moderate' to 'high'.