[Dante]

11/19/2020 lunch at Mason Lake (via Ira Spring Trail).  My son and I were the second car at the Ira Spring trailhead last Thursday.  We were happy it wasn't raining when we got there.  It started snowing shortly after we crossed Mason Creek on the way up.  We hit real (more than patches of) snow around 3,000 feet.  We passed the owner of the other vehicle shortly thereafter.  He had turned around because he didn't have snowshoes and got tired of post holing.  We put on our snowshoed after the trail switched back toward the lake--probably around 3,800 feet.  We had lunch at the outlet of Mason Lake, but got cold fast once we stopped moving.  I had planned to continue on toward Mount defiance, but we decided to head back to the car after lunch.  We didn't see anyone else.  Fun trip.

[Cyclopath]

[neek]

^ hey, that looks familiar

[seattlenativemike]

Dusk up to Artists Point.  You can still see the outline of the parking lot...more snow needed.

hiked up into Artists Point around dusk

hiked up into Artists Point around dusk

hiked up into Artists Point around dusk

hiked up into Artists Point around dusk

[Cyclopath]

Lunch with a view.

[Legionnaire]

[NBL]

South Bessemer Mountain on Saturday December 12. Perfect weather, blue skies. Snowshoes went on between 3500 - 4000. Broke trail to the summit. Crazy (and beautiful) surface hoar on summit, possibly signs of a weak layer around 5000 elsewhere on southern facing cascade peaks. Views of Garfield and the alpine lakes interior were epic. Would make a decent ski tour with a bit more snow.

[RichP]

12-22-2020
A visit to Capitol State Forest. We followed driving directions from Redwic's Summitpost page.

http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/578335

Recently clearcut Larch Mtn.

Spur road to Larch.

Summit area, Larch Mtn.

One of several benchmarks on Larch Mtn.

Down from Larch Mtn.

Sign at Capitol Peak.

Road up to Capitol Peak. This is a 15 minute walk from the gate below.

Capitol Peak summit. 1 ft shorter than Larch Mtn.

[Ski]

Pt. Defiance 122620 01

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"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. 
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."

[meck]

A fun afternoon visit to the Kitsap County Highpoint (Gold Mtn, SE of Green Mtn).  I'd been to the antenna farms a couple of times before, but somehow missed the actual highpoint, so I finally visited it.  Several antenna maintenance service vehicles passed me on the way up and down.  Lots of names in the logbook (including several from here).

3 labels

a view of the lower half of the eastern Olys.

the Brothers

now those are what I call tire chains!

a view NW from logging road clearcut (Green Mtn summit is to the left out of frame)

nearing the turnoff to the wooded summit (the antenna farms and clearcuts along the road provide better views)

one of the two summit medallions

view from the summit.

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*Just say NO to Rent-Seeking, don't give up the concept of "ownership"*

[Jc21088]

Summit Lake and Bearhead attempt:

Road is rough due to active logging operations. I wouldn't attempt without a vehicle with some clearance. Road is heavily snow covered and rutted about a half mile from the split to Coplay Lake. A 4/AWD, high clearance vehicle needed to reach this point. We parked here and walked the rest of the way. The road becomes steep, narrow, and remains heavily snow covered and rutted beyond this point. A lifted vehicle with large tires could probably make it to the parking lot, but attempt at your own risk and I would advise having chains for the way down due to ice.

Trail is snow covered the entire way, but well packed. The snow is firm due to recent rain/ice, so snowshoes not need. I would recommend spikes since the trail is fairly icy in spots, particularly on some forested sections with ice just before Twin Lake. There is a stream crossing at the Twin Lake outlet that requires a climb down from the high snow, crossing through water, and then a climb back up the other side. Not sure if there was a snow bridge here previously, but we decided not to cross. Attempted to head up to Bearhead, but it was a bit too icy to make it up the steep climb. There is a faint trail to follow and on a warmer day it wouldn't be too difficult.