Mount Rose
The rains of November gave way to the rains of December, but a short break between systems opened a good hiking window. As Mountaineers members since 2019, it was about time to participate in our first official Mountaineers trip. The target? Mount Rose, on the Olympic Peninsula.
We met our trip leader, Nancy Lloyd, assistant leader, Jerrick Linde and Mel Courtney at the trailhead for a 9 AM start. The crisp air and clearing sky beckoned us up the steep but well-maintained trail. About 1.5 hrs up the trail we arrived at Trail Camp and took a short break.
We soon encountered patchy snow gradually giving way to a 2-inch layer, adorning trees in a blanket of white. Sun and blue skies filtered through the burned trees near the summit.
Switching to microspikes, we navigated the final 200 feet to the top. After a summit photo session, we continued clockwise around the loop. On the ridge beyond the summit, we had stunning views of snow-capped Mt. Ellinor to the east and Copper Mountain to the north.
Dipping back into the forest, we navigated three small stream crossings, the first of which required a little more care due to the slick logs spanning the water. We swapped stories about prior trips, Mountaineers courses and future plans as we made a quick descent to the trailhead, enjoying views of Lake Cushman along the way.
Starting elevation: 875 ft | Elevation gain: 3,626 ft | Distance: 6.86 mi