Bandera Mountain
Aug 05, 2009
by
Andrew
—
last modified
Aug 07, 2009 09:18 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Bandera Mountain
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
- Agency: Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Snoqualmie Ranger District
- Trails: Bandera Mountain (#1038)
- Avg Rating: 4.12
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
View from the summit looking back towards Little Bandera.
This was the first hike that I have ever done and it was a blast. The views were beautiful, it was fun climbing over boulders, and was overall a great hike! The road up to the trail head was actually in pretty good shape. My friend drove his Hyundai Accent up to the parking lot without too much trouble. A few pot holes here and there, but that was about it. It looks like they have fixed the damage the road previously had, so there was nothing to worry about.
When we started we were under the clouds and it was a bit cool. The beginning of the trail is a very easy gradual incline. It gets steeper as you go, but it wasn't too hard at all. Eventually we came up through the clouds and got some awesome views of the surrounding mountains poking up out of the clouds.
Following the trail you will run into a few switchbacks, one which leads you over a huge rock chute. Once you cross that, you will get to a fork with a sign. To the left the trail goes to Mason Lake, and up is Bandera Mountain. We went toward Bandera Mountain which leads up into the meadows. This is where it got a bit tough. We were on all fours for some of it, clambering up through the boulders and the grass. Although tiring, it was really fun and the flowers were pretty. Sadly though, the bear grass is all gone now. All that remains is empty stalks. I was really hoping to see it.
Once you get up through the meadow you'll pass through some trees and arrive at huge boulders to climb over. We lost the trail at one point, but after climbing up the boulders some more we spotted it again to our right. From there on you head up to the false summit at Little Bandera Mountain and then on to the actually summit just a short distance away. The view was amazing! Absolutely worth the trek up and was perfect for my first hike. The summit has a few trees surrounding it, but you still get a fantastic view.
We had lunch at the summit and then headed down. Going down was rough on the knees and I swear my toes almost busted through my boots, but we made it without incident. Just watch your footing through the meadow on the way down.
It took us two and a half hours to get to the top and about an hour and a half to get back down. The trail is a bit dusty. My legs and shorts had dust all over them at the end. There was no snow at all and there are still some really pretty flowers out. We had bug spray on, which helped with the bugs. Although there weren't that many, I think it could have been a problem without it.
More pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/
When we started we were under the clouds and it was a bit cool. The beginning of the trail is a very easy gradual incline. It gets steeper as you go, but it wasn't too hard at all. Eventually we came up through the clouds and got some awesome views of the surrounding mountains poking up out of the clouds.
Following the trail you will run into a few switchbacks, one which leads you over a huge rock chute. Once you cross that, you will get to a fork with a sign. To the left the trail goes to Mason Lake, and up is Bandera Mountain. We went toward Bandera Mountain which leads up into the meadows. This is where it got a bit tough. We were on all fours for some of it, clambering up through the boulders and the grass. Although tiring, it was really fun and the flowers were pretty. Sadly though, the bear grass is all gone now. All that remains is empty stalks. I was really hoping to see it.
Once you get up through the meadow you'll pass through some trees and arrive at huge boulders to climb over. We lost the trail at one point, but after climbing up the boulders some more we spotted it again to our right. From there on you head up to the false summit at Little Bandera Mountain and then on to the actually summit just a short distance away. The view was amazing! Absolutely worth the trek up and was perfect for my first hike. The summit has a few trees surrounding it, but you still get a fantastic view.
We had lunch at the summit and then headed down. Going down was rough on the knees and I swear my toes almost busted through my boots, but we made it without incident. Just watch your footing through the meadow on the way down.
It took us two and a half hours to get to the top and about an hour and a half to get back down. The trail is a bit dusty. My legs and shorts had dust all over them at the end. There was no snow at all and there are still some really pretty flowers out. We had bug spray on, which helped with the bugs. Although there weren't that many, I think it could have been a problem without it.
More pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/
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At the summit looking down at I-90.
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High above the clouds!
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Looking down from the meadow. You can see the Mason Lake trail in the distance.
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Little Bandera Summit