Mount Rose — Sunday, May. 15, 2011

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

What a hike. The day was rainy and cool. Kind of miserable but we went anyway, we were prepared. Overall this was a good strenuous hike. Snow level is at about 2900 ft. The snow as sloshy and at parts postholing was inevitable. You could use snowshoes but our group didn't use any. I packed well enough for the most part. The trail to the left of the horse camp at 3050 ft (1.1 mile to peak from here) is marked with orange ribbon. Sometimes difficult to see. But we definately left a good trail through the snow. We had 10 of use plodding all the way to the summit. Once at the summit we had a clouded in view and could barely see Lightning peak accross to the south. We were there for abour 15 min and then couldn't see Lightning peak at all. The 2 big trees across the trail at about 1800 ft are supposed to be cut through on 5/16. We met a worker that told us this. If not, then there is a rope for support and some foot holds cut into the trunk for easy cross over. Each trunk is about 2 1/2 ft in diameter, at least. Currently these are the only 2 blowdowns across the trail. Who is to say once the snow melts. Due to the rain, the trail without snow was also muddy and some of the wood steps got slick.