What a difference ten days makes! We attemtped this hike the last weekend of June, and there was still a bit too much snow for my liking. Now, all is well. Still some patches through Camp Windy, and a bit just before you reach the summit ridge. No problems, though. Slushy yet much more packed down than on our earlier visit. With the skies finally clear, the views were spectacular with Baker, Rainier, Adams, St. Helens, Canada, etc. all making a showing. And the wildflowers are underway, with mats of deep pink douglasia blooming and plenty of phlox. We even saw a mountain goat wandering along the ridge in the distance.

Hit the trail at noon. Foggy all the way up. Made it to the top at 3:00p. Still fogged in. I convinced my partner to wait for a half hour, since the clouds seemed to be clearing. What a great choice. The clouds started parting, the sun shone through. A mountain goat traversed the summit (really). Absolutely stunning views and clear views all the way down! I feel sorry for all the early birds who got an early start and missed the view. There's a bit of snow toward the top, but just as you think it might get bad, it clears up. Don't turn back--the summit is clear. No bugs at all. Lastly, we found a pair of glasses on the trail about half way down. They're dark with yellow fleur de lis pattern. Yellow strap with rainbow colors. They look like reading glasses. We hung them on the registration box at the trailhead.

Today we decided to check out the wildflower and snow status at Mount Townsend. An earlier trip report said that the patches of snow were not too bad, but I guess everything is relative in the world of hiking. At 9:30 a.m. we appeared to be the third party to head out. The previous day's hikers left comments on the trailhead register, warning of "snow in the last mile" but another noted a "splendid hike!" We enjoyed the beautiful miles up to Camp Windy, plenty of yellow violets in bloom, and we saw two Calypso orchids just after entering the Buckhorn Wilderness. So many others are poised to bloom soon. We soon climbed out of the fog/marine layer and enjoyed a view of the Cascade ridge. At Camp Windy we began to encounter snow on the trail, although the trail could still (sort of, carefully) be followed. Now, I like postholing in soft slippery deep snow about as much as I like picking my way through a boulder field (that is, not so much). For an unsure-footed person like me, both are nothing but compound fractures of the lower leg waiting to happen. We were passed of course by strapping young adults tromping and slipping their carefree way through the deep drifts, not to mention a senior, a couple of dogs, and a guy in sandals. Whatever. I nonetheless endeavored to get my companion to call it quits. We pushed on a bit further, since beyond Camp Windy the trail was substantially drier with many switchbacks snow free. So we made it to about a half mile or so below the summit, when I simply had had enough of the periodic drifts of snow. We'll be back soon, though, as the snow is melting fast. We did enjoy spectacular views of Rainier and Baker today. On the hike out, we encountered a sensible couple who elected to stop at Camp Windy, have lunch, and call it a day. For those of you who prefer an obstacle-free hiking experience, give this trail a bit longer to melt out before you head up.

Had a lovely afternoon hike up Townsend from the upper east trailhead. Not many flowers yet, although the rhododendrons are nice on the drive up. Snow starts a couple hundred vertical feet below the bench, at around 5000', with the usual slow, soft, postholing, steep snow on the trail. Not too bad, though. Complete snow cover on the bench. Much of the trail is melted out on the more open slopes on the way to the summit. The summit ridge itself is completely dry except for the one usual snowdrift halfway up. There are 2 step-over logs across the trail low down. Also, the road to the upper trailhead has been greatly improved since the last time I was up there. And the trailhead is even free! As for flowers, there lots of yellow violets, a couple honeysuckle bushes, some phlox, and up on top a tiny yellow mustard and Phacelia - some of which was already past. Meadowrue on the slope that is covered with it has nice purple buds, but hasn't bloomed. The usual nice hike, nice views, including the Friday afternoon cruise ship rush out of Puget Sound, and only saw a few people. If you want to go, though, please be prepared for snow, at least for the next couple weeks. I really hate to see the vegetation destroyed by people trying to avoid snow.

Lotsa snow on the way to the summit, but despite the rangers' telling us we would have to stop at Camp Windy due to deep snow, we (and many others) kept on going. We had Yaktrax, and that made it kind of fun to navigate the many snow fields. However, we didn't make it all the way up; we'd left late and the snow made for slow going so we turned around just below the summit. Gorgeous day, though, and gorgeous hike. Wildflowers are just starting; a few patches of avalanche lilies, few trilliums. In a few weeks the trail should be a lot easier. There is about 7 feet of snow at the top, according to the Quilcene rangers.