This was a good afternoon stroll avoiding (all) the crowds at the popular trailheads that were quite packed for a Tuesday afternoon! I started the hike by taking a right at the gate on the Hansen Ridge Loop. At about 1.3 miles, the trail met up with the spur to Lake Hansen so I took the right there and headed up the slightly less shallow trail. I was expecting the left for the summit trail to be hard to find but it was well-used and a ribbon, a stick stabbed into the ground and several rocks on a log to mark the turn. It was a beautiful day to be on that trail as it slowly wound around and up to a saddle, eventually turning so that the sound of traffic on I-90 faded away. Rainier behind the beargrass was beautiful. While the trail at this point stays obvious for the most part, there are some spots where you have to pay attention so as not to lose it.
There was plenty of scat on the trail, the birds were curious and a buck popped out of the bushes quite near the summit. Overall a great and relaxing one I'm sure I'll do again with the kids.
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