10 of us met at Eastgate at 8am. I took Trailhead Direct, because it's only one stop, but the bus was late.
We piled into 3 cars. I was in the car with De and Mi, because they are going to UK in a week.
There's not really a TH, just park on the road in the middle of the loop (see map at the end).
It was getting hot. 70°F. Waiting for the other 2 cars to show up.
We approached via the Camp Creek Route (going clock-wise), which follows an old mining road from our parking spot off the main FS road (4330-128), until around the 5000 foot level.
The track then sweeps south before becoming indecipherable in the trees at around 5500'.
At or around 6000', the trees thin and the rocky summit becomes visible.
Scrambled directly up-slope (the dark red track), aiming for a small saddle just south of the true summit.
The last 100 feet or so is between rocks and scree. Steep, but nothing too bad.
On the way, we could see Rainier.
The summit is wide and flat. There's a summit registry. Inside there's a pen, and a receipt where someone signed. No log book.
We took a long lunch break (~1 hour), waiting for everyone to get up.
Thankfully, the forecasted thunderstorm stayed across the Teanaway valley west of Stewart, but never reached us.
The clouds made the temperature comfortable out in the open.
Our descent route follows the ridge south and then west (the yellow track on the map).
There's a visible track most of the time.
This starts steep-ish, so minor scramble, then it's a primitive hiking trail following the open slopes with views all around.
We ended on Hawkins Mountain Trail.
My favorite part of today is this ridge walking before it enters the trees.
We lost the trail briefly at one point in the trees, and last the trail gets to the road, and back to our cars.
It was still early when we finished. My driver decided to have a beer in Roslyn.
Some of us don't drink alcohol. So only the 4 in my car went.
Roslyn Brewry had only about 6 on tap today, brewed behind the store.
I had their Pilsner, tried their IPA. Out of these 2, IPA is less bitter.
A nice outdoor seating area (beer garden). They don't serve food, only sells small bags of chips.
We were allowed to bring our own chips, so D&M brought their 2lb bag of Costco chip to share. They go well with beer.
Back at the P&R around 8pm, but over 20 min wait for my bus back into town.
It was almost 10pm when I got home, still had to prepare for the Sunday hike which is set to meet at 6:15am.
Today, total ~8 miles, 3800'.
