Mount Washington, Olallie State Park - Olallie Trail & Change Peak — Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021

Headed out under partially blue skies and headed up north where blue was no longer visible, nor did it look to be a possibility for the rest of the day. Road signs along 90 around exit 34 warned of FOG. Yeah, it was downright raining. Got to the Homestead lot with plenty of parking. Put on raincoats to go along with our non-Gore-Tex shoes and shorts. The trail had good traction both up and down despite the rain and at points water running down the trail. Saw about 17 people in the first 2 miles - only a few of which had raingear on. We turned off onto the Great Wall trail and headed up along that giant slab of rock. There's a spot where the trail washed out a bit a couple years ago and someone has put a tree along that to serve as a rail - good idea! For the first time along this hike, the trail becomes flat and padded with fir needles - but continues climbing. After about 0.5 from the turnoff the hum of I-90 starts to fade. This trail soon turns into 5010-370 and then meets up with the Olallie Trail marked by 2 pink ribbons and a cairn - remember these on the return trip. Went left onto Olallie where it opens up into talus fields and lots of flowers with a distinct floral scent present. In 0.3 miles the trail splits - Olallie continues to Change Creek to the right and rocky 5010-350 continues to Mt Washington among other places. Now completely exposed, winds whipping through the Change Creek Valley, and obvious lack of view from the top we decided against Change Peak and headed back down feeling the constant squishing of water between our toes. This isn't the best trail for running as most of it is on rocks - both of the loose and fixed ankle-twisting nature.