Nice hike to Mt Washington via Change Creek trail - using an unmapped trail connecting the Olallie trail to Forest Road 5010-530 to eliminate the switchback that goes past Change Peak. To find it when traveling uphill, after arriving to the Olallie Trail (which is an abandoned logging road), look up over your left shoulder immediately after crossing an unmarked creek. Blue markers will confirm you're on it.
Isolated patches of snow only in open places (forest road) starting about 3100ft. Great clear view of Rainier and not too crowded nor gray jay issues at the top.
On the Change Creek trail, near the bottom just before it reaches the ridge, there were a couple newer downed trees across the trail that were a nuisance to get across and would benefit from being cut so the trail isn’t chewed up in steep spots from people end-running them.
Saw two bikers who’d arrived to Mt Washington via the Change Peak forest road, I didn’t know that was possible.
Comments