I got picked up near an I-5 exit ~6:15am. 5 of us in 2 cars drove to Granite Creek TH. Only a few cars in the large parking lot. It wasn't even 8am yet. I've been to Granite Lakes from this TH once before. It was cloudy then, so not much of a view. The trail wasn't memorable.
The trail to Granite Lakes is a typical forest trail, no very interesting. Gradual: ~3.3 miles, gaining ~2200' until the junction (~3100') with the spur trail to the lakes. Almost no snow until here.
Halfway there is a nice bridge over Granite Creek, and a nice log bench at one end.
We made a brief stop here and continued, soon put on snowshoes. A mile or so later, passed the connection to Thompson Lake (4000').
Then, we were walking on decommissioned road: long gradual zigzags.
Soon getting views to the south and west: Olympic mountains in the distance, and 2 Granite Lakes below us (half thawed). Mount Rainier pops its head.
Another mile later, at ~4800', we scrambled directly to the end of the road, an unamed peak of 5125', instead of following the short road to Thompson Peak first.
Took a break here. ~11:30am. It's about 4000' and 5.6 miles from TH, pretty easy so far.
Now the adventure began.
It's tricky getting off this peak on its easten flank, which leads to Revolution Peak - our goal.
It's very steep on both sides, topped with rocks without room to manouver around them.
I packed up my hiking pole, took out ice axe, put on helmet. I should have taken off my snowshoes at the same time.
After scrambling over some rocks, this last one has a slightly larger drop. There's a rope tied to a tree.
This rope is fraying.
We stopped here, and R. tied another rope next to it.
While waiting, we could admire the view, and our destination ahead.
It took some time and then, one by one, we eased down.
There are trees rooting in the rocks, provide handholds, but our packs, especially the snowshoes got entangled on the branches.
One guy's snowshoe almost fell out twice.
This about 100m scramble took over an hour.
After this, going down to the saddle and back up, all is straightfoward.
Put on snowshoes again, and continued all the way to the summit. 40 minutes after that photo, I was at the summit.
We spend quite some time relaxing at the summit. No wind.
Back as we came. I was able to climb up that rock without using the rope.
Once back at point 5125, we followed the road to Thompson Point, where once stood a cabin. Now only a small square concrete is left.
Would be nice to camp here, flat, no people, great view.
In fact, we didn't encounter anyone since we left the junction to Granite Lakes.
However, we did see a track to Thompson Point.
On our way down, met one guy who may be going to Thompson Point, and another lady planning to camp at Thompson Lake.
Going out on the forest trail without much of a view for 6 miles is boring. Saw some trilium, yellow violet, salmonberry, 1 skunk cabbage. Mosquitoes are out at the parking lot. They are big.
I was dropped off at an I-5 exit. Got home ~9pm. Total ~15 miles, 5000'.
