Saturday the 22nd turned out to be something special. I got up at 5:45 to clear skies and an expected warmer day. Finally.
I had breakfast of oatmeal with raisins, the let it settle a bit. I put on my shorts and a shirt and got my pack in and filled my waterbag. I woke Wendy up at 7:20, actually she was already awake. Soon as she was dressed we dropped the honda off at Rattlesnake and she then dropped me of at the Snoqualmie point trailhead at exit 27. I started my hike at 8:10 in some nice warm/cool weather. That is, it was comfortable enough to wear just a short sleeve shirt, but cool enough to not be hot. It was in fact about 45 deg.
There were a few other cars in the parking lot and several people that I passed early on the trail, but not too busy(yet), and that amazingly sweet fresh woods smell. I got to the halfway point – 4.8 miles, in just under two hours and had my first rest stop with a couple guys from N.Bend, one who said he was looking straight down into his backyard. He’d never been up there before, had been in NB for several years and was amazed and pleased that such a nice hike was so close. He was taking lots of pictures. He asked me to take a couple of them both, so I did. This was the half way point that looks straight down on the NB mall and shopping center. I had a snack and we chatted for a little while, and told him I was there just a month ago when there was still 4 feet of snow. Now it was mostly gone but I wasn’t to the high point yet either, there would be much more snow to come. They had a small but very detailed map of the Rattlesnake mountain trail, and I showed them where we were and where the next great viewpoint would be, Windys Point.
But as I climbed further in elevation the snow started getting heavier. Fortunately it slowed me only a little but not enough to turn me around. Good thing too ’cause the car was parked at Rattlesnake Lake and I had no choice but to continue one way or another. I met up with several others enroute and when I got to the sign for Windy’s point, the snow was so heavy that I had to make my own trail to the viewpoint. No one else had bothered yet. It was short, but boy was it worth it too. Its where I had my lunch and rested well for about 1/2 hour in a windless sun, and feeding a few begging birds that saw me arrive. I tried to get them to take some nuts out of my hand, they’ll usually do that on Mt.Si, but they’d only come up to a few feet away.
I was near the East radio tower, which is the highest point on the trail and the snow was heavy but slick and melting. It just meant going a little slower. As I got closer to the Ledge, I ran into the two guys I’d met earlier, and they asked how they got past me. I told them I had lunch at Windys Point and they said they must have missed it. I told them the sign was obvious but the snow was heavy so they probably just passed by without realizing it. Anyway, I continued down the trail to the car and there were literally HUNDREDS of people hiking up and down from the popular ledge. Part of the way I took the old trail which was quiet, no one else, but when it connected to the main trail, I was unable to pass any others and there were so many people and most could care less about trail etiquette. When there are a dozen people ahead of you, makeing fairly good time, it doesn’t really pay to say “excuse me” and try to pass, as you’ll only come upon another group or more.
When I got to the bottom I couldn’t believe how many people there were in the park and how many cars in the lot and on the street. The lot was full up, and street parking was full everywhere too, within a half mile of the park entrance. I knew it would be busy but not THAT busy! I got to the car just after 1pm so it was a 5 hour hike, just under what I’ve done in the past. Considering the snow which slowed me down slightly, I did quite well. I wondered whether I went too fast, not enjoying the time up there enough. But when I’m up there I just can’t sit still for very long, feel like I have to keep moving.
I rested a bit at home, had a couple hotdogs for lunch, then put on my coveralls and started some weekwhacking. Some miscellaneous other chores, and lo and behold it was time for dinner at 6:30. Its now 8:30 as I type this, and I’m ready to take a shower and call it a day.
Sunday Wendy and I are going up to Camano to do some yardwork for mom, just for the day. We’ll be back in the evening. Monday I have off, and its still supposed to be nice so am planning another hike, but not sure where yet.