Mount Rose Part III clouds under my feet

I went out and got another good dose of Olympic Mountain therapy on Mount Rose today.   I’ve found two moms who want to swap childcare duties with me so our kids can have play dates. This time I did not have to race so much, but just for fun I kind of raced to the top.  I did not actually need to be home until 6:30, so just for shits and grins I went in and caught the last half of the Port of Shelton Commissioners meeting on my way home.  I bet I stunk up the room a bit with my hiker aroma.  I was wearing my bright orange don’t shoot me I’m not a deer shirt.

I started my hike at 9:15 and summited 2 hours and 15 minutes later, that’s probably a new record for me.  At least it’s a new record since I started keeping track last week. 

 I was faster today because I did not lose the trail at all.  When I reached the spot where I lost the trail on my last two trips I found another set of ribbons to the left.  To the left looked correct and I was thinking of going left even before I saw that ribbon.  There was a ribbon to the right too and it was clearly not on the trail.  It was quite nice to be on the trail in the burned out and snow covered area.

The view at the top was nice.  There were clouds below me but they kept blowing around and I could see everything there is to see from up there.  I like the partially cloudy views, its fun to watch the clouds moving below me.  I was greeted by snowflakes on the summit rock.  Who knows, that might be the last time I get snowed on for the season.

The grey route is the correct route and is the route I took today.
  I took the other two routes last week.
  Finding the correct route this time was nice!

I took the long route down and thus completed the loop.  On the trip down I mostly ignored the clock and just hiked at my normal downhill pace.  I think it took me about 2.25 hours to hike down.  I was home in plenty of time to be there for my daughter even if she did not have a play date.  Now I’m resting up and enjoying having my house to myself.

I’m pretty sure I will lose weight if I climb Mount Rose twice a week.  I know I will save lot of gas if I do Mount Rose because I can easily drive my car to the trail head rather than my gas guzzling oil burning Jeep.  I’ll probably take my daughter day hiking this weekend.  If we go on a day hike I won’t have to stand around with a heavy pack on my back while she pokes around.  Maybe I’ll even find some time to look at moss. 

7 miles 3,500 feet elevation gain

One hour rock

2 hour mark

On the top

heading back down

Rhytidiopsus robusta moss

twisty tree has seen some snow

The fog is now gone