Mostly a rainy hike with clouded-in views, but air was cool and clean. Much better than smokey and hot!

Parts of the trail have turned into rivers. Thanks to WTA work setting down rock on the trail, it's not muddy for the most part. I suspect this will abate in a couple of days (certainly by next weekend).

About ~200-300m of trail with unavoidable snow in the flat section before the final push to the summit, but steps have been cut in and notched so it's not a problem. Highly recommend hiking this one with poles so you can get across the snowpack sections without sliding.

Definitely don't hike this without actual hiking shoes / boots, preferably with goretex or something similar if you have it.

This is a good loop trail with plenty of varied scenery.  I parked at Homestead Valley TH.  A brief hike east on the Palouse to Cascades Trail brings one to the unmarked Change Creek Trail.  This climbs steeply up the rough rib between Change Creek and Hall Creek.  This bootleg trail is well made, but steep -- fine for hiking up, but I don't like coming down this trail, so doing this loop means you hike out on the comparitively civilized Mt. Washington Trail.

Beyond the spur trail to Hall Point, the trail emerges onto a series of ancient logging roads, and the grade suddenly moderates.  From here to the head of Change Creek Valley, the trail has become quite brushy again.  Next time I will bring clippers and a small saw.  You do the same please!  If each of us does a little, then no one will have to do a lot.  At the head of the valley, there is a sign with an arrow pointing to the right saying "Pond / Mt. Washington.  Rather than take this cutoff trail, which I do not like, I crossed the small creek and continued straight on the old road bed.  15 minutes of mild brush bashing brings you to the current start (or end) of the Olallie Trail.  This very fine trail continues north and up, to a high point on the north shoulder of Change Peak, just below it's summit.  There is a junction here.  Left is the Great Wall Trail, the old standard summit route to Mt. Washington.  Going right, the Great Wall Trail and Olallie Trail proceed together for a while, until the Great Wall Trail splits off to the right at a poorly marked junction.  (Alternately, just continue on the Olallie Trail until it intersects with the Mt. Washington Trail.)

The lower part of the Mt. Washington Trail is more eroded and rough than I've seen it before, and there are a few minor blowdowns.  

There was some snow at the head of Change Creek, near the pond, but it was so minimal, and melting fast, that I marked this hike "snow free".

3000' foot gain, 8 or 9 miles rt, but can easily be extended, so a good workout.

Went up Mount Washington on June 8^th. Were car number four when we pulled in to the trailhead around 8:30.

The trail is rocky. All blowdowns we encountered were easily navigated.  You need to cross a couple small streams and, in one area, the water flows down the trail.

There is intermittent snow. We used trekking poles across the snow put didn’t put our micro spikes on.

We took the boot trail up which requires a scramble up some rock and one patch of snow but the main trail had more, and longer, patches. 

We had the summit to ourselves but it was socked in until we started our descent when the north side opened for a view of Chester Morse and Rattlesnake lakes.

Bugs were noticeable at the summit but tolerable.

Past a group of two on the way up and maybe six other people – four groups – on the way down.  A pretty quiet day on the trail

The rocky trail was more annoying on the way down but, all in all, a great workout.

At the trailhead it was sunny, we knew we were in for rain but I started out hopeful.

I started raining HARD about 15 minutes into the hike and rained pretty steadily until we had returned to the trailhead. XD Still a great hike.

Saw foam flower, TONS of trillium, salmon berry flowers, and scouler's corydalis (a new one for me!)

A few trees down across trail, almost all were easily stepped over.

Snow on trail after the fork between the old trail and new trail. We had spikes but didn't use them, we post-holed a couple times. Boot path was easy to follow.

First visit to this local Snoqualmie valley peak, with views towards Rainier, Middle Fork, South Sound, Olympics, and North Bend.

Intermittent snow starting at Olallie Trail, slushy by mid-day.  Gaiters a plus.  You can use traction devices, but you will be taking them off and on.  I used mine for ~15mins, but mainly to try out some shiny new K-10s rather then a necessity:)

Frankly, given the potential for busting through the slushy snow, I'd recommend either giving the trail 1-2wks more at this point, or come early and use spikes.

Overall trail in good condition, just don't expect Mt Si / PCT level grooming.  Route-finding was easy with GPS, though the area could benefit from a little more signage.

Ascent to Olallie Trail

• Follow ( I imaging ) an old logging road, can be rocky in places, especially lower down, but nothing unusual
• Pass multiple weeping cliffs and climber's walls ( and cave! )
• Couple minor blowdowns, easy to skirt
• Water ( creeks ) on trail in several spots, but easy to work around.  I had waterproof low hikers and was fine.

At the Olallie Trail you have a choice between the "main trail" and the "0.3mi" boot path, I choice to ascend via the later, and come back the former.

Ascent via "0.3mi" ( turn climber's right at Olallie ):

• A surprisingly pretty little boot-path ( doesn't hang around )
• Follow Olallie trail for ~5mins, then look for cairns marking trail on left
• Was mostly snow free except for the top 100-200' which was awkward because of deep / soft snow, recommend coming early if go this way
• Joins main trail ~3900

3900' to summit:

• Intermittent snow (50%), much of which you can walk beside
• Last couple hundred feet covered in easy snow
• Great views from Summit ( north / west ), and just before ( south / east )

Descent by "main" trail ( turn climber's left when ascending at Olallie ):

• Intermittent snow (70%), no real obstacles,
• Be wary of punching through, especially on descent

Parking @8:15am on a Wed: Empty, @2:30pm: 10% full ( it's a big lot )

Toilet in good condition, though always amazing how these things must appear to be trash bins to some.