Mount Townsend — Sunday, Jun. 17, 2012

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

Started at 9am from the upper trail head with my 8 year old son. We passed a couple about a mile up from the trail head and were later met by another guy who caught up with us. We spent most of the rest of the way up to, and back down, with this person who made the hike more interesting. It seemed as though we took a different trail up than we did down. At 5000 feet or so the snow begins and ends above the tree line which made for clear hiking well past Mount Townsend. The trail was difficult to follow in places and we probably just walked off the end of a switchback and picked back up on them on the way down. Either way you wont get lost as long as you follow some sort of downward trail. On the descending hike we ran into a pair on the way up who warned us about a mountain goat they just encountered. About 50 feet later we were staring at it, walking slowly up the trail. We just stepped off the trail and let it decide when and where it was going, pretty formidable looking beast which was "clearly in charge" and showed no fear of people. Got a few shots of it once it was a little bit off the trail and we continued down thrilled about this little excitement. Ultimately the trail above and below the snowline is in great shape with a few wet spots but for this early I won't complain. It was all worth it once we made it to the top. The "goose bumps are my drugs" I told our hiking partner. Truly amazing view (see pics). I'd planned on Silver Lakes but the snow appeared to be more of an issue heading that direction and I would guess on the east side of the slopes going down to the lake probably had even less snow melted off, saving it for later on this summer. My first time all the way to Mount Townsend definitely two thumbs up. (Nice meeting you Lonny!)