Trip Reports

Another early morning found us at the trail head around 430am. We were looking for a relaxing hike and enjoyed our time. The trail as you may guess is in good shape. We went to the third ledge where we broke out the camp stools, coffee and bacon. Good times even with lots of clouds.

For more on this hike visit http://survivingurban.com/rattlesnake-ledge-am/

Arrived around 3PM at the parking lot by the lake, found it completely full and found scarce parking on the roadside nearby.

We hiked up to the first ledge, with a herd of people passing us coming down the mountain, of which only a couple people yielded to uphill traffic. Most people seemed ill-prepared, lacking packs and in most cases not even carrying water (I observed one group that didn't even bother to have their children wear socks under their sneakers). The edge of the trail has become littered with abandoned clothing (probably because folks don't bring along a pack to stash layers of clothing).

Around 4PM most of the herd had made it down and the trail was quite enjoyable again. We hiked past the crowded first ledge and viewed instead from the second and third ledge. Above the first ledge the trail was not crowded at all and we were able to sit and have an enjoyable dinner viewing the valley. It was much windier up this way so we had to put on some extra clothing at this point.

We hung out up top long enough that we nearly had the trail to ourselves as we hiked down. Two dogs and their respective two human companions had a great day despite the mob of suburban trail invaders. It seems on days like this wearing a backpack makes one appear as some kind of park ranger as we were asked many hilarious questions like "How far up does this trail go?" and "Does this trail get steep?".

beautiful hike, it was cloudy but we were glad it wasn't hot -- pretty busy. as other reviewers have said; clean bathrooms, no water, great hike. wish we brought bug spray-- got to the top, sat down, started getting bit.

Perfect weather for a day hike, about 75 degrees, maybe a little hazy. Hiked the round trip to the peak and boy was it worth it! About when I thought I couldn't male it much further a young boy ran past me squealing "The Sky's the limit"! It was a little grueling for an inexperienced hiker...no an unfit person, like me. But besides being a little out of breath, I did great and the reward was a view I will never forget! Being a beautiful weekend day, the trail was crowded but everyone was polite. After my little dog and I returned to the bottom we both refreshed our feet in the lake. Great day!

This is probably the most rewarding payoff for the difficulty of the hike and its distance from Seattle. Pretty great views, extremely well-maintained trail, and no passes required. That said, it was super crowded, even mid-day on a weekday. If you're looking for an escape into nature, keep looking, but this is a killer hike if you just want an easy way to end up somewhere beautiful.

Two of us hiked the 11 miles from Rattlesnake Lake to Snoqualmie Point, leaving a car at each end so we could hike just one way. At 11am the ledge was still socked in, but halfway between there and East Peak we emerged under pure blue skies. Frankly I liked the view from East Peak more with clouds below than I did last time when it was clear and I could see the exurbs in all their glory.

Snow covered most of the last mile on the east side of East Peak as well as most of the first half mile on the west side. The snow was often around 3 feet deep so it should be there through the end of May. I was glad to have poles although it would have been survivable without poles, and we didn’t use the traction devices that we had with us.

There were a couple of navigational challenges heading west down from East Peak. About 15 minutes after East Peak (it will be more like 10 minutes once the snow is gone), there is a sign for the trail forking to the right while the road you’re on stays left. However, the sign is set back about 20 feet from the road and partly obscured, so watch for it. Also, about 40 minutes after East Peak (more like 30 minutes after the snow’s gone), there is one section of the trail that’s hard to follow as it’s got lots of debris. However, you basically continue straight and in a minute or two the trail will become obvious again.

I think this hike would be less fun from west to east, as you’d have a long, gradual climb followed by a pretty steep drop.

There were lots of wildflowers during the second half of the descent into Snoqualmie Point.

Total hiking time at a good pace was about 4 hours 15 minutes plus stops.

I did this hike this time last year, and I just couldn't believe how many people were up there on the Ledge compared to last year! We got on the trail at 10:30am. A lot of people were already leaving the parking lot, so we got a good parking spot by chance. I highly recommend avoiding the weekends and starting out early.

This is a very good hike to start off the season. There were 8 of us women and we all felt we got a good workout. The toilets were freshly cleaned at the trailhead, and good thing because the toilets at the park were horrible!

Take lots of water because it is all uphill and when it is hot one tends to drink more water. The views are wonderful - lots of peekaboo look-sees - and of course the view at the top is breathtaking.

My only tip to add, hike a few hundred feet elevation past the main ledge to reach another ledge and escape the crowds. Worth the effort. Oh, and get to the parking lot as early as possible, by 11am people were parking over a mile down the road from the parking lot.

Our hike today was great. It was the first really nice weekend of the year, so there were hikers all around. The parking lot was packed and there was a lot of stopping for passers. The trail is well maintained with only a small amount of mud for creek water. Great views, but quite a bit of crowding.

Great Hike! Though definitely go in the early morning. We did it last minute, got up there about 4:30pm and the trail was packed! Once you get up above the ledge, it clears up if you want to go further. We did :) and we found a lovely secluded ledge to snack way above the rest of the crowds.

This was the third time I have done this hike and will go back for a fourth. This isn't a long hike as it took us an hour and 35 minutes round trip and that was hanging out at the top for about 10 minutes. If you want privacy this is not the hike for you. A very crowded hike! Lots of people! It is a great hike if you are itching to get outside and want some good views. Going on a weekday would probably decrease the crowds. A great hike that I would recommend as long as you don't mind the company.

Great day hike. Not too steep. Some snow for about a mile at top if you are heading to the radio tower, but that is optional as the ledge is in a different direction. Beautiful views of mountains and a lake from the ledge.

Great evening for a hike! We started at 6:45 and ended at 8:00. I wish we would have known, but there was a ton of people showing up on our way down for full moon viewing. Which I'm sure was spectacular. The skies were clear and the temperature would have been warm enough.

The trail is a bit steep at times, but all in all moderate. Well maintained, trace amounts of mud (not even covering trail width). My GPS tells me Distance: 4.25 Miles, Ascent: 1129 ft, Descent: 1171 ft. Temperature started at 80, and steadily dropped to 65 by 8PM.

Excellent day to hike after work. Beautiful weather! Trail was well kept, wasn't too muddy.

This was just a quick late afternoon hike. We started in around 5:20pm and returned to the truck around 7:40pm. It was a beautiful day and the trail was almost completely dry except for a few small patches of mud that did not even cover the width of the trail. We passed many hikers both going up and coming down, but luckily there were only about 12 of us on the ledge. We saw many dogs and one woman with a baby in a carrier on her back. This hike should be considered easy for both adults and children.

Although somewhat cold, drizzly, windy and fogged in, a great day for a hike to the Ledge. Trail is in great condition.

The trail is well maintained. I would rate it as a moderate+ Walk, or a Easy+ Hike. The trail is good, the elevation change can be a chore, but well worth it. Glutes and Thighs! The view is phenomenal. Angel and I (at least I) want to hike to East point lookout when we have more time. Would like to do the whole Ridge, but with no camping not sure we could do 20+ miles in a day! A lot of people on the trail from trail runners to people I'm not sure made it to the ledge, but not too crowded. Well worth the trip.

If you were out for a quiet Monday climb to Rattlesnake Ledge, you may have been in for a surprise. Mike Owens, Washington Trails Association's iconic Puget Sound area crew leader, has retired after 13 years of work. In celebration of Mike, a group of more than 50 volunteers, land managers and staff hiked with Mike to the ledge.

Along the way, Mike regaled us hikers of the story of the Rattlesnake Trail. He was a crew leader back in the early 2000s when this trail was built. WTA constructed the bottom two-thirds of the new trail which is now one of the most popular hikes in the area. Around every turn, Mike told of us the heroics of the volunteers: those that pushed huge boulders off the path, constructed water bars and steps, and engineered curves and rock walls along the trail. This was all 10 or 11 years ago, and the fact that the trail is still in such great shape despite thousands of bootprints, is testament to the hard work everyone poured into the trail.

It was fun to walk this trail slowly and appreciate the engineering. It was also great to see little signs of spring sprouting along the trail. I spotted a few trillium and several clumps of yellow evergreen violets. Sun made a sporadic appearance, illuminating the forest and showcasing just how beautiful this trail is. And the view from the top, where our enormous party had lunch, is one of the very best in the Cascade foothills.

We returned to our vehicles after lunch, lingering to say thank you to Mike Owens. He has touched the lives of thousands of volunteers over his tenure and helped maintain probably 100 or more trails in his long, rich time with WTA.

Rattlesnake Ledge is one of WTA's signature projects over the past 20 years. To read more about the 20th anniversary of this program, visit: http://www.wta.org/[…]/20-years-in-trail-maintenance-1993-2013

Took us just 2 hours from start to finish. Bring boots, there are some slushy areas near the top. The view is awesome from the top.

Far fewer crowds today. Gave the hike another chance because today we brought along some novice hiker friends (and dog.) It started snowing about halfway up the mountain. Most of it didn't stick and it wasn't too cold. No real views to speak of though you could see some of the lake through the thick snowy clouds. :)

Great but wet hike. Trail is holding up well to the rain.

It was nice and sunny. The hike is a moderate one which can be done with kids. The hike was a little crowded because of the good weather. For those who dont want to hike the lake at the bottom is a good place to hangout. You can play with your kids or dogs in the grassy areas near the lake. Take a lot of water on a sunny day. As water was hard to find.

Beautiful day for a hike. We arrived at the little so trailhead shortly after 9:00 am and it was full so we decided to head to Rattlesnake Ledge instead. There were hundreds, maybe a thousand other people on the trail but it was still a great, quick hike.

I knew the trail would be crowded, given that it was a Sunday and also an absolutely amazing weather day.. but I didn't expect it to be THAT crowded. There were times when it was like waiting in line for a theme park ride when going up and down the trail.

Thankfully the payoff was worth it. Not a cloud in the sky! I wanted to go further on up to the East summit, but my fat, lazy dog was not having it. There were a lot of dogs on the trail, and quite a few of them off leash. As a dog owner, I love being places where I can let her off a leash to run around, but a crowded trail with steep drop offs is not one of them. There were also a lot of people who were going up in flip flops, full on Easter dresses (really?!), and quite a few who didn't know that the hike was going to be 2 miles ALL uphill and didn't bring any water with them.

If you can go, try and stick to a weekday to avoid the crowds. And pick up your trash!

LOST CAMERA! If you found a camera on the trail or between the trail and parking lot, please email me! It should have been in a black case.

My email is vong.veronica@gmail.com

No longer snow/slush/ice on trail. A little muddy at times, but no big deal. Lots of people just wearing street clothes and running shoes. In fact, I felt a little "overdressed" in my hiking boots and day pack. Saw some cool fauna for a city boy who doesn't get to see such things, such as; a salamander, woodpeckers, goldfinches, and birds that I don't know what they are.
For anyone who has never hiked this trail before, I was discouraged from hiking this trail for quite a while because it was "too easy." But let me tell you, the ratio of effort to payoff is extremely worth it. Its a mild hike (unless you're a smoker like me, then it's a little tougher), but at the top you will see an unparalleled view of the Snoqualmie Valley. I feel bad even posting a picture of it, like I'm giving away the end of an M. Night Shyamalan movie or something, but hopefully the shoddy picture will only tantalize you into checking this place out on your own. Happy hiking, and cheers!

P.S. Pack it in, pack it out! There was a lot of trash up at the top.

Two of us went for a day hike. Tons of people, few of whom seemed aware of the need for proper hiking footware. Lots of kids in flimsy tennis shoes and thin t-shirts, all complaining about the cold, ice and slush.

3/24/13 - Sunday
Time of hike: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Conditions: Sunny, no clouds, windy

- Trekking poles are a must. Lots of ice and slush. Very slippery the higher you go. About 80% of the hikers were using broken tree branches to aid in their hike. Not a good idea, as they are crisp and break.
- Proper footwear is highly recommended. It's slushy and very wet near the base of the trail, to about 1/3 of the way up, then is icy and slippery.

We went further than the summit, continuing on to the ridge trail extended Westward, for several miles, then turning back down. It was much quieter with few people (which was very nice) but had 4" of snow. Gators and poles recommended.

Hike was a bust, as we weren't properly equipped. Made it only about 1/3 the way up (turning back at the wooden stairs) as, with the sun was coming up, the compact snow & ice turned into a skating rink. Trekking poles are helpful, but I personally wouldn't try again without some form of shoe traction.

Beautiful day for a hike in the freshly fallen snow. Thankfully two of the parking lots had been plowed when we arrived Saturday morning.
Microspikes and poles were quite helpful today! The majority of the hiking hoards this afternoon had only tennis shoes on and were slip-sliding in the snow. Gorgeous, clear day meant beautiful views, if you could see past the crowds of people congregating on the snow-covered ledge. The hike was more crowded then I remember it being on past visits. Perhaps Spring Break had something to do with this?

We were surprised at how much snow there was on the trail. The depth averaged about a foot from just beyond the trailhead to the top. By mid morning it was easy to follow the trail as there were a few groups ahead of us and even at that the trail is well defined even in in the snow. Tha temperature during the hike went form 31 to 34 degrees.

Traction devices on the boots were a big help, especially on the descent. but boots worked fine also.

The view at the first ledge ranged from clear to clouds to snowing and back to clear. On the way back down the sun was out most of the time creating constant snowfalls from the trees as the conditions warmed up.

Couldn't even get to North Bend as 18 was closed east bound. Heavy snow on the road, bring chains if you have 'em. It's going to be cold and snowy on Rattlesnake today. If you are planning to hike Rattlesnake today or even go to North Bend make other plans cause it's miserable today.

Arrived at the trail head around noon with rain in the mid-afternoon forecast. There was a good number of cars already there, but plenty of spaces available for parking. We could see the ledge from the parking lot, so it was neat to see our destination. Half-way up to the ledge we started getting rain but it quit once we made it out of the "cloud." Saw several families hiking with young children and dogs (large and small). The view from the lookout ledge of the lake below was amazing! Visibility was limited due to the clouds/fog rolling past but still worth the hike. Encountered steady (cold!) rain half-way down the trail all the way back to the parking lot. Would recommend this place for a nice picnic and day hike. Trail was well traveled and well kept. Not too much mud for the amount of rain encountered. Thank you to the WTA volunteers near the top for trail maintenance!

I didn't know that this hike was going to wear me out so much! The trail was very busy, and surprisingly clear on the right hand side of the trail marker (the one that says .1 mile to the right, or 1.8 miles? to the left). Me and my group had a wonderful view on the right side! But as we followed the trail to the left, we found that there was too much snow to continue... everyone in my group had fallen at some point! Great view when you get to the top!! This hike has a good incline too.

Great hike, as usual. The trail is in great shape, very few areas with a small amount of water. Actually somewhat clear at the top. Could see the lake and out into the distance a little bit. For a Thurs afternoon, a fair amount of hikers were there as well.

Trail was in great shape, very small mud pools from the recent melts and rain. Great view as usual reawarding the hike.

Despite the rain, the 1.9 mile trek up to the ledge viewpoint was worth. A good amount of people on the trail, but never felt like it was crowded. Low visibility at the top, but we still had great views of the lake below and the fog rolling over the surrounding foothills. Excited to try this on a sunnier day to catch some mountain views.

It was a beautiful, clear, sunny day with temps between 55-58 degrees! The trail was completely clear with a little mud here and there, but no snow to walk through. Because the weather was perfect, the trail was pretty crowded, and it was hard to find a place to sit/stand once I reached the ledge. The views, however, were well worth it! Absolutely gorgeous!

Trail was in good shape, had some falling ice from the trees in the late morning. On the lower ledge there was some ice, on the upper ledges snow. I put on my microspikes just for added traction. After the third ledge the snow started to get deeper. Perfect day for a hike.

For more pictures visit http://survivingurban.com/rattlesnake-ledge-and-beyond/

Trail is in excellent shape. Snow on the ground from the outset, small accumulation at the ledge, but trail nearly completely clear. Little muddy in stretches. Plenty of snow falling from the trees, got a little wet.

Fine family hike - started at 3 pm to hike up Rattlesnake Ledge, trail is in fine condition, clean and no snow. We saw only about 15 other hikers and 3 dogs overall.

Reached the Ledge at 4 pm, finding stunning panoramic views, where Mount Si amidst the rain looked like the Italian Dolomites. At that point the wind is very strong and we got cold and turned back.

Hearsay: a hiker coming down from East Peak said there is about 3 feet of snow on top.

     Decided to do this hike a second time after encountering heavy fog and no views last week. I started out at 7:40 am and reached the lower ledge just as the clouds and fog were beginning to break. The snow level had retreated to 2500 ft. (600 ft above the first ledge). Last week it was below the first ledge.
     At East Peak the snow is substantially deeper than anywhere else on the trail. Unless doing off trail travel snowshoes are unnecessary. Trail is packed down, but slippery. Traction would have been useful. The entire descent I enjoyed warm sunshine, blue skies, and incredible views of the surrounding peaks. Great trail with a decent elevation gain. Looking forward to hitting the ridge from the west TH.

Another foggy day in Seattle so we headed out to Rattlesnake Ledge to attempt the east side of Rattlesnake mountain after our earlier hike this year on the west end. As expected, the first part of the trail was crowded all the way to the first ledge. As we climbed higher, we encountered fewer people. About a half mile or so past the last ledge the trail became snow covered. We came prepared with micro spikes so no issues. But we saw plenty of others with just sneakers attempting the hike. Had lunch at East Peak. Great view of Mt. Rainier from the top. All that is left now is do the whole hike from end to end.

The hike to the ledge was great! No issues at all. The trail has a little bit of mud here and there, but overall it was an incredible day for an uphill climb.

I opted to continue on past the ledge up towards the East Peak (signs indicated it was another 2.5 miles). I probably made it about a mile before I had to turn around. The snow gets thicker and thicker as you go up, of course, and while it was packed down in most places, it seems like not many people have ventured much past where the snow line starts. There were several blow downs I climbed over, but nothing insurmountable.

I did get a glimpse of the very top of Mt. Rainier, so the extra climb was totally worth it. My suggestion if you're planning to go past the ledge would be to bring some traction devices, and definitely bring your hiking poles!

Good conditions. Just a few people on the trail earlier in the morning around nine but then got much busier around ten thirty. The top was a bit chillier with a little snow. Just wore a flannel shirt and pants
and that was enough

Gorgeousness day for this hike. Sun, almost completely dry trail with the exception of a few damp spots, not really any snow on trail, although a few light dustings off the trail. Lake is almost completely frozen over. Had fun walking on it close to shore where it's very shallow - wouldn't venture out too far yet though - although a few people dared to.

This was an easier trail than I had remembered- nonetheless... still a good workout!

The Trail up to Rattlesnake Ledge was fairly clear of ice/snow- the last 1/4mi has some icy spots and the ledge has a bit of ice on it as well. Remember: Ice is slippery... and Cliffs are dangerous! Please be safe when visiting the top!

The (compact)snow starts covering the trail fairly quickly after the ledge, and turns into full snow around the 3rd overlook of Rattlesnake.

The snow is fairly easy to walk on in the sunny parts- but we ended up needing our snowshoes due to excess post-holing around Windy's Point- we could have used them earlier however.

The snow continues to Grand Prospect where enough people have made that journey to make a solid and a tad bit slippery trail.

Overall- not a bad hike to do in safe conditions- I would recommend avoiding powder when doing the crossing (check the forecast/recent weather patterns). A GPS is also handy as the trail gets a little hard to find in some areas. Ooh and be ready for downed trees.

Two words: ice sheets! We did this hike without crampons, but wish we had them. About 45% was a sheet of ice!

There's been a spate of reports on this lately, so to be brief: TRACTION RULES! With black ice in the parking lot I used my Stabilicers up and down and blew past everyone without a care in the world (other than keeping the traction on the boots).

Gorgeous day - no wind - sigh, it was "loverly."

The trail had spotty ice at the bottom and was mostly between the top and the last two switchbacks. Places that you could get slightly off the beaten path into the snow or where running water had kept it from freezing were more manageable, but it was very slow going on the way down without any extra shoe traction. The ledge itself had a decent amount of snow and was stable instead of slippery.

Did a quick trip up to the first ledge this morning. Arrived at the parking lot before 7:30 AM – no other cars and 37 degrees with mixed rain and snow, also quite breezy. Mixed rain and snow all of the way to the top turning to snow at the ledge. Some snow accumulation in the trees and of course much more as you climb. No snow or ice on the trail with only a light dusting on the ground at the top. No views at all on this day, it was totally socked in. On the way back I took the shortcut old trail – saw no one on this portion of the trip and saw only one other hiker who passed me on the way down. Trail in very good shape with some water running down on portions. Got back to the small overflow parking lot and still no cars – a very quiet day on the trail. Good rain gear was a must on this cool day. Have fun on the trails!

Well, a great day to take the first hike of many in 2013! Got on the trail at about 11:30 and was up to the first ledge in about an hour. Quite a few other hikers out there today. It was a light rain when I started out but that trickled off to nothing and at the first ledge it was not too windy but foggy, hard to enjoy the views this time. Couldn't help but break out the backpacking stove and heat up some water for a cup of hot cocoa. Met some nice folks at the top, enjoyed the cocoa and limited views and headed down. Not too bad. Very little snow remains at the first ledge, although the rocks are still a little slippery. The rest of the trail is clear with a little mud.

Trail was clear but damp. Avoidable ice on trail last 50ft, unavailable ice last 10 ft.

Trip is definitely worth the view... It was a beautiful day and a great opportunity to see all the surrounding peaks. Really slippery at the top be careful.

It was a beautiful, sunny day in North Bend. Cold, too--about 34 at the TH, and plenty of black ice in the parking lot to slip and fall on. *cough.

We set out around 10am and met only a few fellow hikers on the lower trail, but the crowd increased significantly on the upper trail, and the first ledge was downright crowded, with people and dogs all jockeying for position on what little not-iced-over ground was there. Bring trax if you have them. It'll be worth hauling the extra ounces up the trail.

The hike was muddy, wet, and steep but the payoff was, and always is, amazing.

Last hike of the year for Geezer Patrol along with two daughters around for the Holidays. We were the number two car in the parking lot. The trail is still free of snow except for the last 100 yards to the ledge, which by itself, had a hard covering of iced down snow. Of course one kid had to jump the crevasse to get the better view which her old father would not have done without a safety rope. Happily, this day, she did not get naturally selected.
In search of a sunny, less trafficked lunch spot, we continued up to the top of the ridge stopping at the third ledge outlook with its commanding 270 degree views. The route back down to the first ledge was less icey as the snow had mooshed out a little in the relatively warm weather and we met no less than 128 fine folks, half with doggies, on the way down to the TH.
The GPS said 5 miles and 1400 feet total gain for this little jaunt on the minor miracle of a sunny day in Cascade Winter. Go for it !

It was snowing heavily on the trail, but we still went hiking. We were from the south, and had no idea whatsoever. Wind was blowing and you could hear the cracking noise from the forest. Some of those big trees were barely hanging out there and they could fall on you for an instant kill.

Getting to Ledge was rather easy. However, we couldn't get really close to the cliff. The visual was so bad due to the heavy snow, and we could be blown away from the cliff, since both my wife and I were skinny.

Even though it was Christmas, we still met many hiking comrades along the trail. They were very friendly. I guess if you got frozen to death on that mountain, someone has to carry your body down, so be nice to people becomes important. I also really want to tell the dude how much I admired him for jogging on the snow with shorts.

Happy holiday everyone!

We decided to hike the Rattlesnake Trail from Rattlesnake Lake to Snoqualmie Point.
The trail was the usual between Rattlesnake Lake and Rattlesnake Ledge in that there was no snow until we reached the Ledge. The views were spectacular on the ledge.
We then headed up over Rattlesnake Mountain and immediately encountered snow. The higher you went, the deeper it got. Well over 3 feet when you were above 3000 ft. Because of the snow, it took us over 5 hours to travel between Rattlesnake Ledge and the Snoqualmie Lookout. We did pass one other hiker who was traveling in the opposite direction.
After the lookout, the trail was much more packed down by other hikers and the trip was made a lot easier.
We started before sunrise and made it to Snoqualmie Point an hour after sunset. Fortunately the gate at Snoqualmie Point stays open until 8:00, so we were able to get our car out. The gate at Rattlesnake lake closes at 6:00 and we parked in the overflow parking lot which is just outside the gate.
All in all, it was a good hike and we definitely got our exercise while above 3000 ft.

The trek up to Rattlesnake Ledge was quite busy on a Saturday... which is normal for such a quick hike to see fantastic views of the valley. The skies actually cleared up and had patches of blue for my jaunt to the top. It was a beautiful day to take in the views of snow capped Mount Si, Mount Teneriffe, Mount Washington, and the Chester Morse Watershed!

I meandered along Rattlesnake Lake before hitting up the trailhead. The trail is in good condition with a few issues towards the top. Just before the 2nd footbridge, there is quite a bit of water on the trail, due to a rock water bar that needs to be reworked.

Snow starts showing up on the trail at the last ½ mile to the lower ledge. The snow is less than a ½ inch, slushy and compact, with a few areas of ice. When you ascend the actual ledge it IS REALLY SLICK.

Snow increases slightly to the upper ledge but isn’t as compact, nor did I experience any ice. Regardless, foot traction or a walking stick is highly advised. ^_^

We hiked with our 9-month-old baby in a carrier; beautiful weather; beautiful trail. Saw lots of kids hiking, and lots of dogs.

There was small amount of water on one or two bits of the trail, but hardly enough to notice.

Fortunately, we made it to the ledge in time for lots of sun and amazing views. Great day hike!

Day hike: Rattlesnake Lake / Ledge
Saturday 11/25/12 @ 10 am
Weather: Cold with Patches of Fog & Sun, Started 40's Ended 50's
Experience Level: Low (children in carriers, 3-12 kids, 30-60 adults)

Parking when the Pack assembled (early) was easy. Our group of 30 total Cub Scouts & Adults were able to keep to the same parking area - making hearding the turtles easier. Note that the parking is actually a short distance away from the actual trailhead.

Trailhead was well marked, plus has a cluster of porta potties for use by hikers & visitors to Rattlesnake Lake. The lake was low and steam / fog was rising off of it as we re-assembled at the large interpretative sign just below the trail proper. It also became obvious that our group of 30+ would not stay together for long.

Trail conditions were remarkably good, considering the amount of rain the Cascades / Issaquah Alps have taken recently. There were a few areas of run off due to gravity taking over parts of the trail, but none of these areas were impassable with regular (read: non waterproof) shoes. FYI - with a group of young boys, those that seek out puddles will find them - so in that case waterproof shoes may be indicated.

Plants - we are well into fall, did not note flowers, but the usual suspects abounded: sword ferns, cedar, firs and assorted moss & fungi. In fact several areas reminded me of the Olympics with arches of moss covered branches creating inviting portals to both walk through and take pictures of (lower part of hike).

As elevation was gained, our group stratified (as predicted) and views of Rattlesnake Lake began to peak out from between the trees. This re-energized the boys who were starting to loose steam through the series of switchbacks as we gradually gained altitude (Gatorade & snacks didn't hurt either). Also the fog burned off and the temp steadily rose - so Parents became pack mules for discarded layers of clothes for our boys. The final 10-15 minutes (100 yards) became very steep and this was where those with trail runners & tennis shoes accelerated past most of those in heavier hiking boots & duck shoes. Do not bail out as the payoff was spectacular. The views of Mount Si & Little Si dominated as they were the closer then the Cascades. Visibility had increased to well over 20+ miles. Boys were re-fueled (leave no trace was preached & practiced), pictures were taken and we safely egressed our Pack from Rattlesnake Ledge.

If can add photos later, will update as they are on my Canon camera and iPhone. Not this iPad.

Trail is in great condition, very few puddles and no sogginess to worry about. It rained the whole time and was snowing at the top so views were not the best but great hike nonetheless. Saw about 5-10 people during our hike.

So that's what it's like to hike on an easy, close in trail on a Saturday when it is supposed to be sunny - over 600 hikers on the trail, 14 babies in carry packs, 120 dogs, and cars parked in every stall and all the way down the road. I originally wanted to do McClellan's Butte or Silver Peak but the sunny forcast apparently did not apply east of North Bend. I ran into a blizzard about Tinkham Road and turned around.

Rattlesnake Ledges is an easy 2 mile hike up a nice trail built by WTA a number of years ago. There are no obstacles or drainage problems. Once past the first ledge, the crowds thin out only a few folks get up to the third ledge. If you are lucky you can see mountain goats there. My favorite part is between the third ledge and the road-turned-trail. This part is dark and spooky as it sneaks around up and over along the ridgeline - very much like the Old Forest outside of Buckland.

There was frost on the ground and one cloud kept teasing with snowflakes but otherwise perfect hiking.

I haven't much to add to Janice's report today, but thought I'd post a few photos.

The trail was quite crowded, but people were pretty cheerful and if you approach this hike kind of like a walk around Greenlake on a sunny Sunday, it's fine.

Fabulous! A perfect Sunday Fall hike, with spectacular, breathtaking views. So glad to know such splendor is so close. Next time, I'll take my Nikon! I It was great to get my new hiking shoes a little dirty!

The fall color was peak! The understory positively glowed and there was very little trail traffic, we had the Ledge to ourselves. And ideal and lovely fall family hike.

No Turning Back Hiking hiked up Rattlesnake Ledge on World Hike a Mountain Day. Check us out on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/NoT[…]ckHiking?ref=ts&fref=ts
or our website. www.noturningbackhiking.webs.com

This trail hits the spot this time of year. It's ideal with the summer crowds thinning out due to our fall weather coming rapidly upon us. In general it's a great all-around trail for people of all fitness levels. It is a fairly wide path and easy to manuever, and it's actually a really good trail for kids considering its length and level of difficulty. And there is never a shortage of dogs scampering around.
  As a trail runner I like to clock my miles, and this is a solid trail for one, two or even three rounds, especially when you don't have the time to drive to the pass for the best trails. And it's always fun to see the wide array of people on the trail. I always have a grand old time chatting with people about the mountains, various trails, etc. On a cool sidenote, on my second round of running back up the trail, one woman called me "dynamo", and another, once she saw me on round two, told me I had become her hero. Now if that doesn't totally rock, then I don't know what does. Have a blast mountain-goers!

Great day hike for families with kids. We had 9 and 12 year old, and 2 year old in backpack carrier. Views were breathtaking. Very crowded on the weekend. On ledge itself, the noise resembled that of a crowded room. I wouldn't consider it a deterrent, but maybe would do it on a weekday if we were to go again.

It was a cloudy, overcast day for a hike but we've had so much great weather for hiking this year, I can't really complain. Plus it wasn't hot at all and the tree cover kept any of the rain that fell the first part of the hike off me.

We arrived around 8am on a Saturday morning and there was only 2 or 3 other cars in the lot. We passed three or four groups of people on the way up, but many more on the way down. The lot was full by the time we got down around 11am.

This is a moderate hike on a well maintained trail. There is a bit of elevation gain over a short distance, but it wasn't too bad. When we got to the top we only had to share the view with a couple of other people.

If you bring a dog on this hike, please be sure to put it back on its leash before you get to the very top. There are large crevices that dogs can fall in trying to chase the chipmunks that are there. We saw one dog take off after one. If it hadn't been on a leash, the outcome could have been heartbreaking.

Watch your footing too! It was a bit slick at the top with the light amount of rain that fell.

The view from the top was beautiful despite it being cloudy. I'd love to go back on a clear day. However, I think the trail would be very crowded.

Next time we are talking about parking one car at the other end of the Rattlesnake Mountain Trail, parking at the Rattlesnake Ledge trailhead and hiking through.

Another nice day, so another crowded hike. Lots of children and dogs on the trail. Got to the trailhead around 10am, still spots available. Parking lot was overflowing onto the street when we got down around 1pm.

The hike was nice, as always. Very well kept trail. The view at the top was lovely.

Hiked up this trail with two happy dogs in tow. Although its almost all uphill, with very few flat areas to rest, its not as such a steep incline as to make it very difficult. And the views at the top are well worth the hike. We went on a cloudy day, which was perfect so our long haired dogs wouldn't get too hot, and it was even misting at the top of the mountain when we got there. Tons of "friendly" chipmunks and douglas squirrels running around the top attempting to get food from people. Watch out though- they bite! (I didn't personally get bit, but you run the risk of it when trying to handfeed wildlife, not something I condone anyway). At the bottom of our hike, took the dogs for a swim in the lake, and then headed home. Great hike, with a decent amount of people on the trail but not too many as we started at 2:00 on purpose to miss the crowds. Definitely recommend this hike!

Weather was warm, trail was crowded. Overall great hike!

Went on this hike with a few friends, and the trail was pretty busy I guess. Once we got to the top ledge, there were probably 15 people up there but still a lot of room to sit down and check out the lake and view. Once we hiked back down, we walked alongside the lake and let the dogs swim for a little bit. Overall great hike, and really easy!

Alright! So it was my husband's birthday yesterday and we decided to the rattlesnake trail together. We started at about 9:30 am and reached the top of the trail in 42 mins. (2 minutes break for some water). The view at the top was absolutely breath-taking. The lake looked truly stunning and we rested for about 15 min at the top of a huge rock to replenish ourselves with some food and juice. In total, we completed the trail in about 1.5 hours which my friends say is good. There weren't many people on the trail although we did meet up with a little group of college kids at the top. A very well-maintained trail. All in all, a wonderful experience. My suggestion would be - Go for it, this hike would give you the most beautiful view from the top. It's going to be Mt.Si next for us. Looking forward to posting some good reviews once we get that done. Cheers!

This is a hugely popular trail. Even on a Tuesday there were hoards of people, kids, dogs, and seniors. The trail up through the ledges is solid and in good shape. There are several places where people have cut switchbacks or even created their own paths. Most disturbing was all the trash and especially tissue. There should be a sign next to the "mutt mits" dispenser that these are for humans, too.

have you ever gone to disney land??, waited at a TSA checkpoint during the holidays?? This place was crowded!! I arrived at the park at 12:00pm on a nice Saturday and had to park about a 1/4 mile from the park,, no biggy, on to the trail to the ledge and it was packed full of families with small screaming children, crazy teenagers and all types of dogs, imo none of these should have been on the trail,but hey we all pay taxes.About 1/2 up when people started to wheez and stop, I actually made some headway, but you could not get to the ledge it was so insanely crowded. The descent was worse, I was stuck behind a group of teenagers who just hogged the trail and would not move. BUT.. I wanted more.. so I returned on a cloudy Saturday made it to the park at 8:30 am, I was able to park, and made it up to the Ledge in 35 mins,basically I owned the trail. So avoid on a nice weekend(unless you like the malls at x-mas) If you are looking for a workout/quiet time get there early

This hike is a popular one! But there are numerous reasons for it's popularity. It's a 40 minute drive from Auburn/Federal Way, the views astound, and it's short enough to squeeze in during a free afternoon or evening.

I spent 38 minutes (rather quickly) hiking up the trail and just under a half hour coming down.

Note that there are three ledges. Although you'll be tired of walking uphill and tempted to stop after viewing the area from the first ledge, continue on to the second and third. I was there this evening and, although the trail itself was fairly busy, no one even came by the third ledge during the 45 minutes I spent there. And the view is even better!

No snow, water, or blowdowns- a great family hike.

We hiked this trail for the first time with our 3 year old and 5 year old. It was definitely exercise but pleasant and safe so long as small ones know to stay clear of ledges and yield to faster hikers. There were quite a few people on the trail but not too many to make it unpleasant. It has ample parking, considering we found a spot even on a rare gorgeous day at what is obviously a popular swimming area - wish we'd have known to bring a suit!

Summer is officially here, which means that this trail will be fairly busy most days. Two pieces of advice if you want to get the most out of this experience: A) go on a weekday and get there before 10am, and B) continue up the trail and hang out on the upper ledge (maybe 3/4 of a mile above the "actual" ledge)to enjoy better views and quieter surroundings. As you make your way down, be alert for trendy young Seattleites with poor trail etiquette. I had a near-collision with one who had stopped in the middle of the trail to send a text. Another nearly tripped over me because she was too busy looking disapprovingly at my footwear to pay attention to the trail. In spite of the many annoyances, this hike is always worth it. The views are amazing, and it's a great early-season conditioning hike. Some wildflowers were just starting to bloom along the exposed parts of the trail.

With Jeff and his friend Matt. On a sunny Friday, and still very busy. Short hike with lots of kids drinking beers at the top. Very busy trail, but very convenient.

Just a bit muddy in spots under tree cover. Today was a really nice day, so *hugely* crowded. Probably every 5th hiker had a dog (or two), so this trail is effectively a moving kennel. Grand summit views - our first time - and a great half-day warmup for bigger Cascades goals later this summer.

Super easy hike. Casual stroll reached the top in 50 minutes. Lots of traffic on this holiday weekend. Lots of kids (which is cool). Lots of dogs (that's cool too). Lots of dogs without a leash on (not too cool).

The trail was dry enough that this would be a nice trail to run during the week when there is less traffic on the trail.

Perfect weather to hike today. About 60F and mostly clear skies.
 

Beautiful day for a training hike and my first double hike. I started out at Rattlesnake Ledge as a warmup hike. Arrived at trailhead at 8AM, only four other cars in the parking lot. Trail was wide open and in amazing shape. Virtually completely dry, except for a small portion after the first big switchback (a bit past halfway to the ledge). At the ledge, met two other people who were enjoying the view. One was a bird watcher and i suggested to hike up to the third ledge (15 minutes further up the trail) Was back at my car by 9:30 and headed over to Mount Si.

Arrived at Mount Si Trail 20 minutes later to find several dozen cars parked and people milling about. Began hiking about 10:00am. Trail was in amazing condition, no snow at all, except at the very top there were a few patches on the trail that heads over to Haystack. Found the two benches near haystack and sat and enjoyed the view of Seattle, Bellevue and the Olympics for almost an hour. By the time i started back down the trail a minimum of 30 people were at the top soaking up the sunshine. On the way down i passed a minimum of 50 people (closer to 75) that were assending the trail. At times, there was a log jam of people coming up, so patience was needed and the rest appreciated as people passed. When i reached the parking lot, four rows of cars were parked.

As i began to drive back down Mt. Si Road, the sky's opened up and it began to pour.

Overall...both trails at Rattlesnake Ledge and Mount Si are in amazing condition.

Total hiking distance: 12 miles
Total vertical climbed: 4310
Total hiking time: 5hours 15 minutes (not including time at the top)

On a side note...I am thinking about starting up a hike for charity and would like to call it the Mount Si Rattlesnake Challenge, one reason i did the hike today was to test my endurance. If there is anyone that is potentially interested in helping run a charity hike, or participating in a charity hike...please contact me. The earliest i would think a charity hike could happen would be late summer/early fall of 2013. I am happy to share more details about this potential charity hike with any fellow hikers.

Enjoy the trails!!!

Someone on the trail said that all of Seattle seemed to hiking the Rattlesnake trail. I guess that is what you get on a beautiful Sunday. We bypassed the first ledge and went up above to have lunch at the middle ledge. There were only six of us there looking down and across the way to the first ledge and to people taking turns on the rock to get a view. We then went up to the third ledge and had the place to ourselves for awhile. There were still a few Trillium to be seen while hiking the upper ridges trails.

Even with the throngs of people, it was a great outing with views of Mt Si, Little Si, Green Mtn, Mt Teneriffe, Rattlesnake, Chester Morse Lakes and Masonary Pond.

Arrived just before 9:00 a.m. and there was a lot of hikers. Made my way up the trail which is well kept. Upon arriving at the "Ledge" it was crowded, but did manage to find space to take some photos and enjoy the view. Going back down, there was a sea of people/hikers headed up, it was like being at the mall!:) My advice, avoid the weekends, and make sure that if you want to have a serene hike, get here early (before 8:00 a.m.) and during a weekday. Also, try to go on a clear day, so check weather reports prior. The lake is beautiful and I walked around the perimeter, well at one point in the lake shore, but it felt good to cool down my feet from the hike.

Busy day on Rattlesnake Ledge but it was a blue bird day. Cars lined down the street for at least 200 yards. It was hard to find a spot on the ledge. Hiked down to the lake afterwards. It was nice.

Here is some link to some panoramic shots I took.

http://www.csdesign.ws/downloads/RattleLedge_Panorama.jpg

http://www.csdesign.ws/downloads/RattleLake_Panorama.jpg

Nice day hike from Rattlesnake Lake to East Peak on Rattlesnake mountain. Weather was sunny and temps. in the 60s. We started about 9 am. The trail is in good shape and without snow until about 3000 feet elevation. From there, snow patches quickly multiplied, causing a fully snow covered trail up to our destination. At East Peak, the snow was up to 5 feet deep. A good crust on the snow allowed hiking the trail without post holing, however, using poles or microspikes is recommended. The top couple inches of snow was getting slushy and slippery upon leaving East Peak.

On the return trip, in mid-afternoon, the ledge above Rattlesnake Lake was crowded with hikers enjoying the view. On the trip down from the ledge, the trail was full of hikers and it was hard to pass the slow moving larger groups that were going down.

On our way down, we also saw many children, several babies in backpacks, and dogs that were going up on the trail to the ledge overlook. We started to count the number of people on the trail hiking up from the lake shortly after leaving the ledge. We saw more than 400 people! That number is not a typo! Upon leaving for the day, we saw cars parked along the access road up to a half mile away from the parking lot, since the lot was full.

My suggestion is to plan to start early on weekends. The crowds thin out after passing the ledge. It is a wonderful hike with wonderful scenery.

We absolutely loved this trail. As mentioned in the description the ascend is quite steep. This is probably the most steep trail we've done till now. Fortunately the distance is not a lot so by the time you start asking "are we there yet?", you actually reach the top! The view from the top is simple awesome! It is so gorgeous! You can see the lake below and all the trees. The descend is quite easy and after all the rigorous muscle-work going up we were really thankful for the downhill slope. We spent some time at the Rattelsnake lake too - it was so serene!

Highly recommend this hike!

Last Thursday morning (April 26) in Seattle was rainy and overcast, so I figured I’d pass on my planned hike to Rattlesnake Ridge, but by noon the weather had lifted and I was in the car, heading east. When I arrived at Rattlesnake Lake the sun was out and the temperature was quite warm. The ledge is visible from the parking area, and I could see that it was shrouded in clouds, so I opted to take a jacket along, as I knew it would be cold up there if the weather turned for the worse.

The trail was nearly deserted on a Thursday afternoon. I’d read a few recent reviews where folks had taken this hike in very crowded conditions, but that wasn’t the case for me. I saw fewer than 20 hikers all afternoon. I stopped often to take photos as the light was very nice, but even still made the summit in around an hour. Unfortunately a storm was brewing at the ledge. I had hoped to get a few good photos of the lake and the Cascades to the east, but that was out of the question. I like to keep my camera dry!

One of the great things about this short hike is that you get the sense that you’re on a real mountain when you reach the ledge. I was so glad to have my coat along, as being caught in a storm on a mountain can be dangerous. The temperature had dropped at least 20 degrees and I would have been soaked to the skin without protection. I didn’t spend much time on the ledge, as the wind was howling and the rain coming down hard.

I first hiked up to Rattlesnake Ridge back in the 90s, and in those days the top of the trail was quite steep. It’s since been reworked with new switchbacks, so it’s a more gradual incline. I was glad for that trail work on my way down as the trail was quite wet, but the footing was always very sound. Within 15 or 20 minutes of leaving the ledge I was back in nicer weather: dappled sunshine with drippy trees and ferns all around. I spotted some vivid red berry blossoms on the way back and got a few good photos.

I love Rattlesnake Ridge because it is so close to the city, and yet it’s a real mountain hike: short, vigorous and full of beauty. I’m very grateful to Mountains to Sound Greenway for their work in this part of Western Washington. All in all, a great afternoon hike.

As usual got there later in the day, tend to hike this quite a bit if I I can during the week because the weekend trips are way too packed.
Hiked with my mom today, took it a bit slower but it was just as enjoyable as always. My dog, Oly, hiked with us, happy to say she is not a barker, attacker, run at you on the trail and chase wildlife kind of dog.... There are a lot of people who are so anti dogs off leash but to be quite fair this is a voice control trail, which is why we hike it so often. There are some dogs that are just awful off leash but really that is a people problem...
Anyway, only saw maybe 10 people on the trail, including a little baby strapped to a dad's chest - so cute.

Heading out to another hike tomorrow which I hear is not as snow free as this hike. Get up and enjoy this hike on a weekday to really get the most out of it, it is too well known and close to the city to be free on the weekends.... The joy of being a nurse - weekday hikes with other nurses are totally possible :)

I will say up front that the only information in this trip report about Teneriffe Falls is that we intended to hike there but, when we arrived at the little parking area around 10 a.m. on a partly sunny Saturday, there were probably ten vehicles already filling up the small turnaround area, and we would have had to wait for two other cars to find a place to squeeze in before we could even begin to figure out something for ourselves. So, while I'm sure that the Teneriffe Falls Trail is less crowded than the Mt Si options, plan to get there early if you're hiking on a nice weekend day, unless you're prepared to do what we did and cross I-90 to hike at Rattlesnake Ledge instead.

Rattlesnake Ledge was every bit as crowded as one would expect on a day like this, but we were able to slip into a parking space and join the crowds headed up the trail. Trail is in good condition (one thin muddy spot). We continued up beyond the main ledge to get a lookout slightly higher up that we only had to share with a few other folks. Some nice yellow violets in bloom along the trail and we also saw a few trillium.

Walking the fairly wide path I couldn't help thinking of the thousands of feet that pass over it, and I say thank-you to the people who keep these trails maintained and in such good condition.

Started: 11 AM
Reached the peak: 12:30 PM
Spent half an hour at the summit
Came back:2 PM

We decided to take this trail today to start off our hiking season and because I read in a recent trip report that there was no snow. When we got to the parking lot around 1pm, it was packed and cars were lining the road leading to the trailhead. The trail condition was fine, but there were way too many people on there. Lots of casual walkers and it was hard to keep a pace because we had to slow down and stop so many times. The views on top were great, but on the way down again, way too many people. We usually hike further out, but wanted a shorter hike as our first hike this year, so we picked Rattlesnake Ledge. I doubt that we'll come back, at least not on a weekend. Views are definitely great, but the place is too crowded and people lack "trail etiquette."

Hiked this today last minute with my brother, have hiked it many times before as it is sooo quick! The trail was completely snow free and there were surprisingly few people on the trail as we headed up at 445, right when I thought the after work crowd would be kicking off their weekend right.
View from the top was amazing as always, love this hike.

We were the second car in the parking lot. There was a small amount of snow on the ground from the beginning. The snow around the lake and surroundings made the lake more enjoyable than usual. The snow on the trail at the beginning was insignificant but still present. Snow, slop and water were falling from the trees at the lower elevations. The higher we got the less slop fell and just the occasional wind blown dusting of snow. The snow was fairly wet and provided that satisfying crunch as it was compacted by our feet. Snow on the trail was 0-2 inches most of the way to the first ledge. We were the first group to the first ledge, the group ahead of us skipped the first and went right up to the higher ledge. The views were pretty good considering the clouds kept rolling in and out over the area. You could see Si one moment and not the next. We proceeded to hike up to the higher ledge and were glad we did. In our opinion this was the highlight of the hike. There was a lot more snow on the trail between the ledges. Up to 6 inches in places I think. Same cloudy/foggy conditions at the higher ledge made the first ledge only occasionally visible but the sun was out and the sky behind us was blue and it was a beautiful time to be out. By the time we were back down to the lower elevations the snow had melted and the trail was muddy and the forest was glowing with green. We didn't put on gaiters or traction. Poles were really only helpful for a little bit on the beginning of the decent where the snow had been compacted by everyone who left before us. The way down was very wet as the sun was fully out and melting all the snow in the trees. It may as well have been raining. As long as there is snow I would try to get to the trail early and enjoy the semi-solitude.

We set out to hike Rattlesnake Ledge at about 2:00 this afternoon. We were a little worried because it had poured the whole drive to North Bend and was still raining a little bit when we got there. We have never done this hike though and decided to give it a go rain or shine. SO THANKFUL WE DID! The trail up was difficult just because of the intense climb but the conditions weren't bad. It was raining a little but the tree cover kept us mostly dry. When we (and our two pups) made it to the top we were amazed, totally unprepared for the awesome view. The lookout was incredible and as we were hiking back down the mountain we were already planning our next trip back this summer. I highly suggest this hike, one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen!

With Mt Si trail being closed, I drove across the valley to Rattlesnake Lake.

The trail going to Rattlesnake ledge is a busy trail but is well maintained. Only one small blow-down crossed the trail. The trail itself is very good shape, but you can expect some water on the trail.

After the first ledge, the tail continued uphill, with some water but no real mud. As I reached the third ledge, there was the beginning of snow on the trail. The snow was partially icy, slushy and a bit slippery.

The next ½ mile found shallow slippery snow, but was still manageable. I put on YakTrak and continued on. The snow deepened but the trail was packed and very manageable with hiking boots.

Most blow-downs were cleared. The few remaining ones are small and easy to maneuver around.

For this hike, I suggest crampons and poles. Gators would also be a nice addition. I took mine, but did not wear them.

Wound up at Rattlesnake Ledge after learning (the hard way) that Little Si/Mt Si/Talus Loop are still closed.

The trail was in good shape. There were a few pooled/muddy spots but the only issues we encountered were about 3 little stretches of compacted slush about .25 mile from the "ledge". They were pretty slick in spots and poles or a stick would have made them a non issue but we just took it a little slower over them but all-in-all they were no problem. Otherwise it was great trip up/down and the weather cooperated for some good views at the top!