Great Wall - Mount Washington 2014-04-30

9.78 miles and 3,560 feet of elevation gain.

This was our first time to the Great Wall.  On numerous hikes to Mt Washington I always thought about going to the Great Wall when we passed the sign on the trail.  So today we took a left and headed to the Great Wall.  This made a nice loop.

Most of this route is on old roads, some so old they don't look like roads anymore and some with portions that still look drivable.

Very little traffic on the Great Wall trail so the snow wasn't packed and I had to put snowshoes on at about 3,600 feet.  I took them off the last 1/4 mile up the ridge to Mt Washington.  I didn't need them on the trip down.   

Google Maps link  Click Terrain for a more interesting view.

Looking up the Middle Fork Snoqualmie

Mail Box Peak

Blue loves the snow

Catching snow clumps.

Looking east on I-90 about 3/4 of a mile before the Great Wall.

Looking down the road on the top of the Great Wall.  The top of the ridge is just wide enough for the road.  It drops off quickly on both sides.

Mt Rainier from Mt Washington

Mount Washington 2013-11-21

8.95 miles and 3,591 feet of elevation gain, per the GPS track.  It appears the GPS lost signal and added some incorrect points.  Actual mileage is closer to 8.55 with 3,327 feet of elevation gain.

This is a popular hike and even on a Thursday we met several people on the trail.  Needed microspikes for sheets of ice on the trail and the packed snow.  

Shortly after leaving the trail head, we came upon a mountain goat.  A quick blurry shot and then heard the boys up the trail to leave it in peace.

There are many rock faces along the trail and water seeps through the cracks.  The recent cold weather had produced an abundance of icicles.

At the pond about three miles from the trail head.

Just a few feet from the top.

Mt Rainier

Looking Northwest towards Mount Si.

Looking Northeast up the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River valley.  Mailbox Peak is on the right.

Mt Washington 2013-05-19

Mount Washington is a nice close in hike with some elevation gain.  The day was cloudy and didn't offer anything other than peak-a-boo views of I-90.  Blue and Sly were happy to get out to the mountains and never seem to care if there is a view or not.  I haven't started using the camera yet, so no pictures.