Dirty Harry's Peak, Dirty Harry's Balcony — Friday, Dec. 18, 2015

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

Overall 6.2mi RT 700m ascent. Dirty Harry's Balcony, Peak approach Snowshoes! For the first time since 2014-04-19! The snow was so fluffy that I just used boots until getting to the balcony turnoff. After that, it was consolidated enough (in places) that snowshoes helped, so I had those on until I turned around near 3300ft. Even at that elevation, I was dropping 9--12" with each snowshoed step. Time demands meant that turning around was the better choice. There was no one else hiking today (Friday), but two people were in the parking lot claiming they were going to do it. They were there messing around in and outside their car for the 15--20min I spent getting cleaned up, but never started their hike. The drive in was fun. Trucks were solid on I90 starting around MP33, chaining up for the pass, and traffic was stopping because of it. Slush was on the truck lane starting around MP36. Past Exit 38 was 4wd, with strange manuevering to get around the trucks parked at the exit. Traction was good enough on the exit ramp, but the road had not been plowed and was pretty bad. I decided to forego the restroom break at Olallie State Park, as the snow was very deep and had not been plowed. Some moron in a light, small truck came up behind me (within one car length), so I finally drove over into the snow to let him pass, and he went sliding up the road at 30mph. There were two snow plows operating specifically for the fire safety/training facility. Apparently they or a county truck had gotten part of the highway interchange. The actual county truck showed up while I was still getting ready to start hiking. No one really plowed me in, fortunately. Rain was supposed to be gone by 7AM. Naup, it was wet snow and rain mixed in the parking lot and I had to completely replan the clothing. It basically rained the entire time except for about 30--45minutes throughout the morning. It was snowing otherwise (at various elevations), and still going when I returned to the parking lot. I cannot imagine what it was like getting over the pass. I saw the I90 traffic at a few places and it was crawling, a few trucks and cars at a time.