Gorgeous views with the snow. It can get windy and cold at the top so dress appropriately. The snow wasn't deep. If I had to guess, it'll soon be completely gone at lower elevation and may melt then freeze higher up so if you hike this soon, you may want to bring traction if you have it. It took us about 4 hours.

Trail in great condition. Super clear, with views of the Cascades (roughly Baker through Rainier) and the Sound to the East, Juan de Fuca to the Northwest, and the rest of the Olympics to the Southwest. Windy and cool up top, but relatively warm and chill the rest of the way. Great hike.

For the activity this trail receives, it is in great condition! It is a hard trail, and elevation gain starts right away. Well maintained, only one down tree but a walk around has been created. Tree cover for a few miles that turns into full exposed sun (when out). Ruts in the last mile give a few options of the last climb. It gets windy toward the very top and loose pebble rock which can be slippery. There is another trail leading to Mount Townsend North (or something like that). A few trail runners, few backpackers at Camp Windy, not too crowded for a Labor Day excursion. Horse flies were out and followed us down for more than a mile, no bites tho. The road is paved, goes to gravel, and then paved and very winding. One big pothole and many chipmunk crossings.

Made a loop by connecting Silver Lake to Tull Canyon. Unofficial trail is rough but established with some cairns and plastic ties. We went via the ridge by staying left when the trail forks at Silver Lake, but could see there is another route that goes from the lake through the boulder field. Ridge has some loose sections but is definitely doable. 

One thing to mention is that the Little Quilcene Trail #835 is marked on my Gaia map as allowing bikes but had a no bikes sign at the trailhead. It was not technical but pretty steep so I’m not dying to ride it, but I had considered connecting this loop by stashing a bike which now is definitely inadvisable. 

Used the lower of the two lots; adds 1.2 miles each way, and we were the only ones in the lot. There's a pretty cool shelter near the beginning of the trail, right as you get to "Sink Lake" (currently a grassy field and not a lake).

Overnighted at the lower of the two lakes at Camp Windy. The lakes here are again, less lakes and more tadpole breeding factories/ponds. This means the water is less than pleasant, but not many bugs! Fear not, for there is running drinking water located in a small creek between the two waterfalls. Continue towards the end of the path, the lower down you are the better the water collection opportunities. 

Cross the stream to get to the lower pond. Getting there requires a little bushwhacking/off trail navigation but is worth it, there are a few spots down there and we were the only group down there on a crowded weekend.

Thimbleberries are out right now!! They are the best I've seen them and there are fields and fields of them. Huckleberries probably still have another 2-4 weeks before they pop off, though the red ones down near the bottom are good.

The north peak is very worth visiting. Not much further at all and the trip there is the most beautiful part of an already stunning hike.