Mount Washington — Sunday, Mar. 8, 1998

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

Arrived at the Mount Washington trailhead at Olallie State Park, (I90 east to exit 38, then right and right again into gravel parking lot, gate usually opened by 0630) at sunrise on a beautiful, clear and unseasonably warm (40-50's) March Friday. Trail is in excellent shape and it was ""Springtime"" hiking to just past the ""Owl Spot"". The snow started at 2800' and by 3200' was deep enough to make snowshoeing a better option. After putting on a pair of Red Feather Blawkhawk's it was easy going on up to the logging road. There was 2-4 feet of well consolidated snow covering the logging roads all the way to the ridge leading to Mount Washington's summit. Fantastic views of Mailbox Peak, Mount Defiance, Bandera and Granite Mountains and McClellan Butte. Mount Rainier was hidden in clouds, but I know from previous visits that it's spectacular when viewed from MT Washington's summit. The summit ridge had about 4-6 feet of snow and the large summit rock was totally buried 2 feet below the surface. After a quick breakfast I headed down arriving back at the trailhead at 1230. This is a great Springtime hiking/snowshoeing trip which will cover about 12-13 miles and 3,400' of total elevation gain depending on which trail variation you take after the ""Owl Spot"" to reach the logging roads. Whoever is maintaining this trail is to be commended for doing a great job!