Started off this sunny morning heading to the peninsula for a hike!
The trail is snow free until just past horse camp. I would highly recommend spikes and poles but if you're extra coordinated you might be able to do without. A few feet of snow at the top and there' lots of postholing off the boot path. I almost got lost (story below); my advice is to rely not solely on the boot ath but also make sure you still see the orange tags. I ascended and descended via the left fork.
Story:
I went left at the fork and for awhile was following a boot path coupled with the orange tags on trees... the boot path was hard to follow sometimes because of all the tree debris on the ground, but it got easier as it went. Unfortunately I was so tied to the boot path that I didn't notice when I lost sight of the tree ties - there's a sort of branch off where one path goes off to the right and ascends abruptly which leads to some ridge areas with nice views but NOT the summit - it dead ends not long after. I kept looking for a continuation and didn' find It, so resigned myself to returning home summitless. Fortunately on the way down I happened to see the orange tags going both directions so I finally found my way up the mountain! View was lovely, temperature was chilly but nice, and all in all it was a great day to be out there.
ALSO I highly recommend grabbing food at Kelsey's all natural on 101 and eating it at potlatch state park after your hike!
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