Mount Ellinor #812

Only two and a half hours, 115 miles to the trailhead from N. Seattle. A gorgeous sunrise helped start us up the trail. When I say up, I mean up. The trail is steep enough that much of the first mile is a staircase. Passing through a tree-snapped avalanche path, we discovered snow well below 5000'. Even with a big patch in the first open hillside, ice axes were just extra weight. Saw two fat marmots where the trail regains the ridge. Apparently the sunshine was just as confusing to them as it was to most longtime Northwest residents. A few tiny rocky little switchbacks deposited us on top. I guess it used to be tricky getting up here, but the orange arrows spraypainted on the rocks seemed unnecessary. We set off down the ridge towards Mt. Washington, our next goal. We went down into a snowbowl and back up between to big rocks. We started a descent into a big basin, but I kept slipping on loose rock. Changing over to the heather slope with no handholds did not improve my confidence. Feeling in over my head, I scrambled back up. We talked about it at the top, but I didn't feel safe continuing. After a long break, we turned back. I can't remember the last time I turned around before reaching the top. The fact that a chimpunk also scared me did not restore my ego. On the way back down Mt. Ellinor we ran into approximately 30 people on their way up. We also had the requisite big dog growling at us. I never get tired of that. Despite a broken heart, the five-volcano view from the top was spectacular. We got our first look at Mt. Olympus, and I have more respect for the 'puny' mountains on the peninsula. Great day hike.