Starting from the Cedar Falls parking area across the road from the Rattlesnake Lake/Ledges lot, we hiked 1.8 miles to the Olallie Trail TH. (There's a kiosk along the Palouse-to-Cascades trail there, showing the mileage and viewpoints and marking the TH). From there, we hiked 5.5 miles to the 5th viewpoint. The 5th viewpoint comprises a rough-hewn log bench with views out to Si, Teneriffe, and other peaks I cannot name. It is a very private, pleasant destination, and it's about 1.3 miles from a route up to Mt. Washington. Given that we'd already come nearly 7.5 miles, gaining in my estimate 2400 feet, we decided to call it good at that point. I see from reading today's reports, that we were within striking distance of kidzwonthike and his friends, who came from the opposite direction :-) !
Edelman and I like the Ollalie Trail for a few reasons: it's quiet, at least on weekdays (we were the only hiking party, and there were about 15 very polite bikers--thank you!); it's a great conditioning hike at 14.6 miles RT and 2400 feet elevation gain; and there are some lovely, if subtle features, such as the alder grove up on the ridge above the first viewpoint, some nice wildflowers, and a stand of hemlocks right in front of viewpoint 5. The views are pleasant (though they include I-90), with "minor" snow-covered peaks in view, and you can hike as far as you like--summiting Mt.Washington if you're an animal! Edelman and I are small animals, so no. We hope to work up to it by age 70.
Flora and fauna: wildflowers included plenty of prairie (or yellow) violets and bleeding hearts, some trillium, bugbane, buttercups, candy flowers, herb Robert and a few others I could not name. Fauna included a couple brown frogs and a chipmunk.
Oh, and negligible snow approaching the 5th lookout. No problem at all! Like, 50 feet of easily-walkable white stuff. We used poles on the way down, as stewards of our kneecaps.
Happy and safe hiking, Everyone.
Comments