Granite Mountain, Granite Mountain - Winter — Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

The road up and parking lot are plowed with light compact snow. The trail starts out with a light dusting of snow, but after the Talapus-Olallie-Granite junction it steadily increases, and mostly compacted by hikers on the trail. Nearer to the summit, snow is windblown and firm. I climbed with crampons and an ice ax, but I met two on the summit that ascended in boot chains. I felt crampons were more appropriate for the conditions. Granite is a gem in the winter and views of the cascades over the upper ridge are breath taking.