John Guilford's Hikes

Date: 2005-05-30

Location: Mt. Pilchuck

People: (including myself): Pam

			Alt.	Miles
Start:		12:10	3140	0
Wreckage:	1:20
Ridge Trail:	1:54
Pam Summit:	2:10	5324	3
John Summit:	2:25	5324	3
Leave:		3:00
Ridge Trail:	3:15
Wreckage:	3:40
Out:		4:45	3140	6

Despite some unseasonably warm weather a few days before, Memorial Day was cloudy, cool, and damp.  The cooler temperature was better for hiking, but we would have preferred some sun.  On the way up to the trailhead we drove into the cloud and spent almost the entire hike inside mist and fog.  At times the mist added some nice effects, but it really limited views. 

After a bit more than an hour, we encounted the wreckage of what we believe to be building(s) from the old ski area.  This is scattered around some large concrete blocks that anchored the rope tow (?).  In some of the rocks you can find old, large bolts cemented in or holes that had been bored through the granite. 

A half hour beyond the wreckage, we came to a place where one can exit the main trail (which continues on straight) or climb the rocks on the left side of the trail and start following a yellow blazed trail scrambling over rocks up the ridgeline to the lookout.  John chose the blazed scramble while Pam continued up the main trail. 

Shortly after leaving the main trail, the blazed trail comes to a well marked junction.  One part leads back to the main trail (which John had just climbed up), one part leads to a little lake (for drinking water, says the sign), and the third leads up the ridge to the summit.  It had been years since John had climbed the ridge trail, and it was a bit more challenging than he had remembered.  It isn't that difficult, but it is a scramble, and it is definitely slower than the main trail.  Pam got to the lookout about fifteen minutes earlier than John. 

The lookout wasn't nearly as crowded as we had expected (with it being a holiday), but we went down the ridge a bit from the lookout, got off the trail, and sat down for lunch.  There, we were out of the wind and it felt reasonably warm.  I did pull out my fleece (I had been hiking with just a short sleeve shirt) as I started to cool off just sitting there.  On the way up the trail, people coming down told us that there lookout was above the clouds and that there was a view up there.  However, by the time we got there, the clouds must have risen a bit as we were pretty fogged in.  The sun tried breaking through a couple times with limited success. 

A half hour later we started back down (both of us going down the main trail).  The mist seemed even thicker on our way down than it did on the way up. 

Despite the mists, we were just surface damp.  Along the way we heard ptarmigans, owls, and marmots.  Besides a few birds and a chipmunk or two, we didn't see wild life.  The hike was a successful hike for our first hike of the year, and we enjoyed ourselves.  Pam hiked in her lightweight black socks with her orthotics which seemed pretty effective at keeping her feet comfortable. 

Trees in the mist half way up Mt. Pilchuck. 

Blazed trail up rocks on ridgeline towards lookout.