Mount Townsend, Mount Townsend - Winter — Friday, Mar. 3, 2006

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

We had to park 1 mile from the lower trailhead because the road was covered with snow from there on. Up to that point, however, the road was easily accessible. That was in part due to a group of hikers before us that cleared the road from debris and trees. The day was wonderful with a clear blue sky, partially due to the chilly temperature of 34 degrees. The entire trail was covered with snow. Forested areas had about half a foot of snow. In open areas, we actually sank in up to our thighs! Due these implications, we didn't make it any further than a few hundred feet below the first summit. We were just not able to make it any further without snow shoes. I recommend snowshoes for any winter hike. With these this should be an easy hike/scramble to beautiful vistas.