Granite Mountain, Granite Mountain - Winter — Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

Close-in and doable were the leading issues. The fact that it would also be Spring played a role, too. No snow until way after the gulley. Oh, yes, there were some packed to glacier ice-mud patches before that in very hit and miss fashion but there was very little snow until near the last switchback or two before the ridge hits the trail at what I refer to as the old pond area. Took the ""Summer"" route since laziness meant following the packed trail around to the north. That wound its way around and up and finally just made a beeline for the Lookout. It was quite firm in places, particularly on the way up when it was still pretty solid. There was definitely a hardy wind blowing. Took shelter in some trees on the west side of the lookout and it was sunshine and pleasant. The wind was refreshing on the way up but not so once there. Ate, drank, chanced into a dry shirt and gawked at the lack of snow in general. The snow was more yielding on the way down but my ice axe was a comforting companion. Rainier was showing through a high cloud that was not over Granite Mt. The clouds did definitely move in when I was back at the parking lot. Oh, still thin but definitely congealing. Lots of folks were starting up as I was heading down and even as I got to the parking lot around 2:20pm. So, can you believe that's the lookout and slope in February, late Feburary. And that's the area north and east looking to Mt Stuart (or is that Stewart?). Whoops, oh, its the lookout instead with a crow circling. No bugs but that was probably more due to wind than hatching temperatures!!!