December Decisions

To hike or snowshoe--that is the question 30 trip reporters faced this past weekend as clear weather confined snow to the mountains and left many trails open for hiking. Since the weather is not forecasted to change soon, this week's Trip Reports can be especially helpful planning your next holiday season outing.

In the Snoqualmie Pass North Bend area, hiker whitebark reported the CCC Truck Road is, with the exception of a few muddy spots, dry and in good shape. He also noted that the CCC crosses, "high on the sunny side of the valley, nice on a clear December day."

Other mountain trails that remain mostly dry include Heybrook Lookout on Steven Pass and Green Mountain in the Olympics. Three Puget Sound area hikes were reported: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Discovery Park, and Sharpe Park Montgomery-Duban Headlands.

For snowshoers, Olga recorded her amazing excursion on Hurricane Hill in the Olympics. In the Snoqualmie Pass region Old Rod followed the Gold Creek- Alaska Lake trail to Gold Creek where he admired the sunset reflecting on Rampart Ridge and Gold Pond.

Whether you choose to hike or snowshoe, remember to be safe. When you return, help out next week's hikers and snowshoers by writing your own Trip Report.