Rachel's Adventures: Mount Pilchuck

This hike was a total of a little less than 6 miles with an elevation gain of 2200 feet. Difficulty: moderate. The hike was boasted by one of my friends to be the least amount of effort for the amount of views - and he sure was right! After the initial ascent through the forested area, the hike opened up to some amazing views for the majority of the trail. That made this hike not well-suited for mushroom hunting, but as there was snow on the upper half of the trail it wouldn't have mattered anyways.

In the distance, Mount Glacier can be seen (it's the one covered in a ton of snow, right of the center).

I have bought both cheaper and more expensive hiking boots but have taken back every single pair I've had except the $15 pair I wore on this hike. I have yet to find a boot I find comfortable and worth the price, and the same applies to the $15 pair I was wearing on this hike, they just weren't worth taking back. Generally I find my running shoes to be the most comfortable but they're not waterproof, don't support my ankles, nor will they hold up if I'm carrying a lot of weight. So my quest for a decent pair of boots continues. Meanwhile, my feet didn't get soaked on this hike but they were cold.

It gets cold fast without gloves and a hat if you're not moving. However, while hiking you get warm incredibly fast so the gloves, hat, and additional coat I had were all stuffed inside the pack Greg was carrying.

Reached the summit, where the last bit was scrambling over large boulders and then up a ladder to the small building that was put there by a Mountaineers club. You could scramble out over more boulders and have a wonderful view all around as Greg did -

Lunch inside the cabin -

Eating Lunch at the Lookout on the Summit!

The descent was certainly more treacherous than the ascent - my boots, not having good tread, kept slipping with just about every step I took. Good thing my years in Wisconsin taught me to 'walk and slide' easily. I think Hannah was bit amused at how well I could do this :)

While this wasn't my first hike in the snow, it was certainly the first *planned* hike in the snow. It was somewhat cold... I certainly enjoy summer hiking more, but it wasn't too bad. I suppose I better get used to it... I'm going home this weekend and I am probably taking a mountaineering class in the spring - and perhaps going up Mount Rainier next summer!