Getting there: Drive
to exit 47 off of I-90, and follow the signs. The Trail: I had to be in class by 1:30 so I got up early (6:45 am), my earliest start ever and was on the trail by 8:00. The route begins on trail but in about a quarter of a mile snow begins to show up. From here it was easy to follow footprints, for perhaps another mile or so when the trail breaks out into the open. Well the open is now 2' of powder so I stayed to the left and went up the forested southwest ridge (mainly south). There was at least a good foot of new powder and going was tough breaking trail (without snowshoes). Visibility was almost nil at times making for some disconcerting walking at times, but you just need to keep heading up and hoping for the best! At about the point where the ridge begin to swing to your right the soft powder turned a bit icier which made for easier walking (tops of some rocks and shrubs are snowfree). As I neared the summit, staying on the west side of the ridge, the snow was piled into some huge deep drifts (no cornices). Eventually I got to a point where I should have been able to see the lookout tower but I couldn't see anything, finall by chance I sort of ran into it! The day was almost windless (hence the fog) and I imagined the endless views in all directions (which there weren't). After spending a little while under the lookout it was time for the slow descent (no chance glissading in this stuff!). I arrived back at the car before 11:30 with two more hours still before I had to be in class, nice! See ya on the trail, everyones favorite Siamese, Pilar! PS A special ""how are things going'"" to ""Wally Bear"". Send me a line, and maybe we can run up Teneriffe sometime soon! (redoubt@u.washington.edu)