[Opus]

With our streak of sun at an end and various scheduling conflicts, we set our sights this week on a close-in trip to Snoqualmie Mountain from the Alpental side. Joining us after an injury, Chihuahua, and road-trip induced absence was Trailpair. Despite their best efforts of cheery orange clothing it could not overcome the familiar curse: cloudy summits. We left the cars a little after 8 am and headed upwards into the high fog. Gusto was already beside himself after discovering a new ball. Before he went into sensory overload we confiscated the ball for later. The area covered by avalanche debris last year has been cleaned up and the trail across easy to follow. Much easier travel than my attempt last year. The trail was rocky and slick but still decent for an abandoned route. We made it all the way to the sign for Snoqualmie and Guye before hitting real snow. The waterfall crossing was no problem, with my camera being the only casualty. While taking some photos I slipped and smacked it hard into the rock with lens extended. Happily it only acquired a few character marks (dents) and seems to be working. Shortly beyond we hit real snow and put on our microspikes for traction. We were more or less on snow the rest of the way up. An unknown hiker ahead kicked most of the steps and we were happy to let him continue and stealthily follow out of sight back in the clouds. We left him to his lunch on the false summit while we continued on to the true peak. Surely he was happy to see us go after Gusto's repeated attacks on his lunch. Views from the top were awesome. As far out as we could see everything was visible. Cirrus. Cumulus. Stratus. Any type of cloud you could think of with no peaks or lakes to clutter things up. No register yet again, only a soggy little geocache on the top. We had a nice lunch and group photo before giving up hope of cloud burn off. Team Osprey started the descent, led by free-agent Barry of Team Marmot. Most everyone had a few nice glissades back to the Snoqualmie/Guye saddle, except for myself who plunge stepped it. The rest of the descent went faster than expected but was slick and rocky. I fell behind due to soreness from building a tool shed the day before and was last to return. Many cars were in the lot now, I assume most heading towards Snow Lake. One can tell a popular trail by how many sign-in boxes are posted: this one now has two. Still no luck with the skies so we packed up for a nice early return to the slightly sunnier city. Good day to be out despite the fog! The snow difference between last year is pretty amazing. There is much less coverage in early June this year versus my trip at the end of June last year.

Trailhead

Surviving snowman

Crossing

The falls

Emerging Trillium

Into the fog

Bob and Kolleen

False summit

Group photo

Trillium

Orchid (?)

Blooming trillium

[Middle E]

I took several hundred pictures of the amazing views and fantastic trail. Unfortunately, due to an anomaly on my data card, I could only recover one to post...

True from false

[BPLlama]

trip!

[TrailPair]

A short, steep trail with no views today. We were up there five years ago so know that the views are very nice. It was also nice being home before 2:00 PM!

Waterfall crossing

Basin below Cave Ridge

Up the slope

Summit ridge

Foggy ridge

Heading back to false summit

[Sadie's Driver]

And now, for the punchline - - - but wait, there are a few more shades of grey!

Gus has found a sucker . . . er ball tosser - another game that there can not be too much of for a dog!

Gus with a little warm-up ball toss game

Clear-cut/avalanche start of the trail

The first junction

We took the high road (to the left)

The Falls at the creek crossing

Barry and Kolleen and Gus on the other side of the creek crossing

Crossing the creek at the falls

Man at Falls

Barry and Gus below the falls

Bob and David lack direction without Jim K

Even Kolleen is searching for some direction

Heading up from the basin

The great beyond - a different shade of grey

Barry and Gus ahead almost to the false summit

David, Bob and Kolleen on their way up the steep slope

Kolleen, Bob and David almost to false summit - warm enough for short sleeves

And now for the punchline - Barry and Gus are still perplexed!

Barry and Gus on the summit searching for an Osprey

. . . just like rabbits (and Chihuahuas) - they keep multiplying . . . it starts with one little, then

Two little (matching) Ospreys . . .

Three little Ospreys . . .

Four little Ospreys. . .

Definitely a quick trip - less than 2 1/2 hours up; nice lunch on top with no views (probably why we took pictures of backpacks - nothing else to focus on) . . . about 1:45 down. Maybe 5 miles and about 3300' of gain. So nice having Trailpair back, eh Ragman??? Who needs those stinkin' views anyway - just more pics to label!

[belowfellow]

nice trip. always more fun in the snow. the orchid (?) photo is a violet, most likely Viola adunca, but hard to tell from the photo.