Mount Rose — Friday, Mar. 26, 2004

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

Good early Spring conditioner. The trail is good shape up to Horse Camp and beyond until about 2500' where snow begins in earnest. Chose the ridge loop for the ascent, following the diamond blazes (sometimes covered by snow drift) until the ridge was obtained. Snow shoes are an absolute must since at least two feet of new snow had blanketed the slopes from the previous week. The snow made for some strenuous work breaking trail but also had created some amazing sculpture atop the silver firs which made all effort worth it. Following the ridge south, Copper Mt. made its appearance, as did a partially obscured Mt.Ellinor to the East. The final rocky pitch to the true summit was engulfed in ice and snow and (at least to me)only an idiot would try to scramble it at this point.