(Herodotus - 5th Century B.C. - not the U.S. Postal Service) Well, perhaps today would have been just a lovely day on Mailbox, but given the prediction of heavy snow, winds of 35 mph/gusting to 50 mph, I opted to drag my friend John on a more "sheltered" hike up W. Rattlesnake to Grand Prospect. OMG, , who would have guessed this was an April hike?
Not terrible - yet
We weren't 1/4 of a mile out of the parking lot (and, the only car IN the parking lot - do you think others may have known something we didn't? Or had more common sense? ) anyway, it started snowing! And, it didn't stop the entire hike - although it was more a combination of rain/snow/sleet as we got back to the car.
Snow starts
A spring walk
The wind was blowing pretty hard through the area where you cross under the power lines and we wondered what it might be like at Grand Prospect.
Entering the trees
But once we were in the trees again, it was calmer. The snow was sticking - we didn't hit evidence of old snow until you cross the creek near the ridge. By the time we reached Grand Prospect, there was quite a bit of new snow and no longer any evidence of fresh tracks. It was a tad chilly, too! This looked quite a bit different today (April 2!) than it did on January 24!!!
Snow blowing like crazy!
Late January
Driver and Gus
I'm sure John enjoyed the lovely weather and spectacular views! But that's ok, he needed to get out and stretch his legs before he heads down to the Southwest for two weeks of hiking!
Enjoying the view . . .
Gus didn't care that there was near-blizzard conditions!
More than paw deep!
"Winter" Wonderland!
The dip can always take a dip!
It is definitely crazy weather!
January?
April?
Even the poor flowers are confused. (Saw my first Trillium today, too!)
I thought it was Spring!
Of course, by the time we got back to Issaquah, there were some sun breaks! Oh well, Springtime in the Northwest! A nice 8+ mile hike and decent gain - still no one in the parking lot when we got back. We didn't take anything but hiking poles and yak-trax/micro-spikes, and didn't need the traction devices. (However, if the snow keeps coming down like it was near Grand Prospect earlier today - snowshoes might be needed this weekend above 2000'!) At least there's no avalanche danger on Rattlesnake!
(I told you Rich, this was a Rattlesnake kind of weekend!)
Thanks for the report. I was kind of wondering. Yea I suspect it could end up being a snowshoe or at least being able to use snowshoes. I suspect similar on the East Peak side....
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, who would have guessed this was an April hike?
Or had more common sense? 
) anyway, it started snowing! And, it didn't stop the entire hike - although it was more a combination of rain/snow/sleet as we got back to the car.
But that's ok, he needed to get out and stretch his legs before he heads down to the Southwest for two weeks of hiking! 
Oh well, Springtime in the Northwest! A nice 8+ mile hike and decent gain - still no one in the parking lot when we got back. We didn't take anything but hiking poles and yak-trax/micro-spikes, and didn't need the traction devices. (However, if the snow keeps coming down like it was near Grand Prospect earlier today - snowshoes might be needed this weekend above 2000'!) At least there's no avalanche danger on Rattlesnake!
