Mount Townsend — Friday, Jul. 30, 1999

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

Wildflowers marvellous - probably the best we've ever seen on this trail (which is among the best flower trails in Washington). Rhodies pretty much in full bloom in the woods. The rock gardens farther up were in full color, and the alpine flowers on the summit were great. However the mist blowing up the east side of the summit plateau turned into a full-fledged cloud, interfering with the superb view panorama. Snow conditions are about what you would normally expect around the first week of June. Trail quite passable, with patchy snow on the trail limited to the fairly flat area in the neighborhood of Camp Windy. The Camp is mostly snow covered. People unfamiliar with the trail should have no trouble following it, except possibly at the junction with the short spur to Windy Lake. This junction is under the largest remaining snow patch. Just hang a sharp right here (rather than going straight ahead), and the trail will soon reappear.