Mount Jupiter — Saturday, Aug. 17, 2002

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

Last time I did Jupiter it was in a fog, and each time I arrived below an outcropping, I assumed I was at the summit...only to find there was more to go! Today - it was just the opposite. All mountains around were in full view, making this one of the best hikes I have done in a while. After driving up the dirt roads that are well signed to the trail head, we started on the trail at 9:30, and enjoyed the first five miles drapped in shadows of trees above the trail. As we broke into the sun, the summit came into view - and the path which had seemed so strange and long in fog, was fast and fun in the sun. Switchbacks up the last mile as we gained a thousand feet in elevation...marveling at the views around us - and the valleys below. Once on top, the weather was perfect, a slight breeze to stay cool, full sun to stay warm - after an hour there we headed back down, a quick three hour jaunt. The only strange part of the whole trip was the random roll of toilet paper about 500 yards from the beginning of the trail - who knows, bears????