Today I was talking to a professional photographer friend of mine and we came up with a really neat idea. This summer we want to take a group of people up into the Olympics and hold a photography workshop. I’ll guide you to all the neat spots, and she can teach you how to shoot them.
This is still in the idea stage, there’s no real plan as to the cost, time, etc, but if this would be something you would be interested in fnding out more about as we get into it, please send me an email. aron@olympicwanderer.com and I’ll keep you apprised.
I look forward to hearing what you think. Thank you.
Sunday, my friend Terry and I got out and did a quick morning hike before the Super Bowl. He had never done Pyramid Peak or experienced crossing the landslide up there, so we decided to truck on up there.
We reached to trailhead at 7:30, it was just getting light enough to see, and the weather was cold and wet, but not actually raining. It was more of a heavy fog. Regardless, we set off.
On the trail
The trail climbs steadily for the first 2 miles or so crossing a couple streams and eventually opens into the probably most exciting part of the hike. Sure the peak is awesome, but crossing this slide is probably the most heart pumping part.
The first time I ever came upon this washout, I looked down, I looked up, the ground was dry and sloughing away as I was looking at it… I decided, since I was alone that I wouldn’t risk crossing it. The next time I went up there I had a few friends with me so that if one of us fell, the others could call for rescue. Today, due to the moisture, the ground was a bit more secure and I didn’t feel it was as risky as before. It was still quite an experience:
Shortly after the slide, the trail crosses a couple more little, easily crossed washouts and then turns upward, switchbacking right up to the top of the ridge. Once at the top of the ridge you cross in and out of the National forest boundary a couple times, catching sight of the old logging road that ends right up at this point. I’m not sure if the road is gated off below, but presumably, you can drive or ride your bike right up to this point.
From here, it’s 1 mile to the peak. There’s a couple more switchbacks and a few steep pushes before a cedar shingled building comes into view. During World War II this was a lookout station keeping the northwest safe from invading Japanese warplanes. Its a great spot to look over Canada to the north, Storm King Mt and Aurora Ridge to the south and Lake Crescent below. Watch your step as there is a sheer drop on 3 sides of the point. Today there was a solid wall of fog sequestering the view, so Terry stated he’d have to come up on a better day to get the full effect.
The Lookout
Shortly after reaching the top, the wind and moisture was thoroughly chilling us, so we set off back down the mountain. Needless to say, the trip down was much quicker than the trip up.
An interesting little event; on on of the switchbacks I happened to glance down and I saw a carrot on the side of the path, but something about it caught my eye. I picked it up and noticed that it was just a regular little carrot, but it was half-eaten and remarkably, it had started taking root, growing a small tuft of new growth. It was pretty cool. I transplanted it a little further off the path and next time I head up there, I’ll check on it.
Returning across the landslide was a little easier this time and soon we were back at the car. The trip up was about 2 hours 15 minutes. The trip down took 1 hour 10 minutes. It was an eye opening experience for both of us as far as our fitness level being atrophied over the winter. We need to get out more this year.
Here’s a Google Earth file of the path: (Pyramid Peak) (The path from the parking area to the east is driving, I forgot to turn of the tracking.)
