December 23, 2020 8.21 miles 1,500 feet gained
Hiked up to Hugo Peak then hiked the Trail of the Giants trail to the Mt. Rainier viewpoint.
Father Guido Sarducci
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Hikes by Father Guido Sarducci in 2020
December 12, 2020 5.37 miles 2,250 feet gained
Section Line Trail to Tiger Summit #3
December 4, 2020 6.1 miles 3,250 feet gained
No issues driving to the lower TH. Snow on the trail began a bit after the junction with the upper TH. Took the winter route up the avalanche chute. Snow was a bit mushy so used crampons. Had the summit entirely to myself which was pretty sweet. It was a very clear day and I could see all 5 of Washington's volcanoes from Ellinor's summit.
November 27, 2020 8.22 miles 3,250 feet gained
Up Section Line Trail to summit 3 then hiked to summit 2, the Hikers Hut, and finally to summit # 1. Back to the car via the High School Trail. Zero snow.
November 21, 2020 10.44 miles 2,500 feet gained
Hiked as far as 5 mile camp. Trail is notorious for its blow downs due to past fire damage and as expected there were some, I would say around 20ish, but they were all easy to negotiate.
November 15, 2020 3.71 miles 1,750 feet gained
November 7, 2020 11 miles 3,750 feet gained
Began the hike at the Upper Big Quilcene TH. Weather forecast looked promising for sunny conditions but the sun never materialized and the day was mostly foggy with occasional light snow showers. Still a great day in the mountains nevertheless.
October 31, 2020 12.17 miles 4,500 feet gained
The plan was to take the Perry Creek Trail to Mt. Forgotten Meadows and from there determine if a climb to the summit was feasible within our turn around time, 1430 hours, and with the gear we had brought, micro spikes and ice axes. When we got to the meadows we decided to give it a go and at least attempt to find the climbers trail to the summit. It took us...
October 24, 2020 8.85 miles 3,000 feet gained
Started the hike on the Tunnel Creek TH which follows the south fork of Tunnel Creek. At around 2 1/2 miles you reach the Tunnel Creek Shelter and from there the climbing steepens. After climbing approx. 1000 vertical feet you will reach Harrison Lake and get your first glimpse of Valhalla Peak. A 1/2 mile past the lake you reach 5050' Pass where there are n...
October 19, 2020 6.11 miles 3,250 feet gained
A "mostly sunny" weather forcast became a mostly foggy reality. Only a few fleeting peek-a-boo views from the top.
October 8, 2020 5.39 miles 2,500 feet gained
September 30 to October 1, 2020 10.95 miles 3,500 feet gained 1 night
Hazy smoke and fog moved into the area on Wednesday. I camped within the Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest so no permit was needed to overnight but if you go beyond the Hannegan Pass cut off up to Boundary Camp a National Park permit is required. Nice views of Mt. Ruth, Shuksan and surrounding peaks but Mt. Baker was obscured due the hazy conditions.
September 29 to September 30, 2020 8.23 miles 3,000 feet gained 1 night
This is a crowded trail even for a Tuesday. One can see why though with the great views. Lots of available places to camp and no permit is required as it is not in the National Park. Also, water supplies are abundant. I would like to return and spend more time exploring the area as there are multiple peaks one could scramble up. The views of Canadian peaks f...
September 28 to September 29, 2020 3.09 miles 750 feet gained 1 night
Was going to sleep in my car at the Mt. Baker Ski area but decided the short hike up Table Mountain and camping up there would be much more fun. Not sure if it was legal to camp up there this time of year, I did not have a permit, but there is plenty of space up there to stay hidden from the day hikers.
September 20, 2020 7 miles 3,000 feet gained
The smoke cleared out pretty much in my neck of the woods Saturday afternoon so was looking for something relatively short and steep to clear out the lungs and this fit the bill nicely. This used to be a nice solitary trail in which one would rarely see anyone, but the masses appear to have discovered this trail as trail traffic has increased significantly s...
September 9 to September 11, 2020 8 miles 2,000 feet gained 2 nights
We did this trip as a loop starting and ending the trip at the Bagley Lakes TH. Camped next to Hayes Lake. It was hot so swimming & aimless meandering was pretty much par for the course.
September 8 to September 9, 2020 9.4 miles 3,000 feet gained 1 night
Sublime views of Mt. Baker, Shuksan and numerous U.S. and Canadian peaks. Nice camping spots along the Divide but water was scarce this time of year. Was going to hike Hadley Peak but got side tracked exploring so definitely a redo is in order.
September 6, 2020 10.63 miles 3,750 feet gained
This was a nice lonely hike on a bustling Labor Day weekend at Mt. Rainier.
August 25 to August 27, 2020 23.5 miles 5,500 feet gained 2 nights
Started trip from the Snowgrass TH and made camp on the bypass trail above Snowgrass Flats. Had got an early start so my goal for the remaining afternoon was to head up the PCT and summit Old Snowy. The trail up Old Snowy was snow free and it's an easy scamble to the summit which has exceptional 360 degree views. The next day again got an early start and mad...
August 22 to August 23, 2020 12.5 miles 2,250 feet gained 1 night
Just a quick overnight trip to the old ONP car campground.
August 15 to August 16, 2020 15.84 miles 5,250 feet gained 1 night
Camped at Peggy's Pond which has Cathedral Rock as your backdrop which is pretty sweet. The mosquitoes, which are typically bad in this area, were as advertised. While we brought crampons, and ice axes the route we took was pretty much snow free so they stayed in the packs. There are Couple class 3 sections but nothing to technical, just a lot of climbing an...
August 9 to August 10, 2020 14.5 miles 4,750 feet gained 1 night
Have day hiked to the lake several times but this was the first time I have overnighted there. It was great to have extra time to explore the ridges above the lake. There are 2 head walls you have to scale during the hike and and on our way up there were ropes at those sections to assist climbing that area. On our way down the next day the ropes had mysterio...
August 1, 2020 9.5 miles 3,250 feet gained
This hike never disappoints. The great views start at the parking lot....how can you beat that! People were doing a really good job social distancing and masking up. Now that's more like it people! Big sign at the TH indicates no pets but still some people with their dogs on the trail. What's with that? I'm a dog lover but you really give us responsible dog ...
July 31, 2020 3.2 miles 1,500 feet gained
Some traffic heading up to the saddle and I would rate the mask wearing and social distancing as poor. C'mon people....get with it! But had Plummer Peak all to myself.
July 25, 2020 7.2 miles 3,250 feet gained
Trail is now snow free all the way to the summit. Very nice 360 degree views in which all the surrounding volcanoes could clearly be seen.
July 18 to July 19, 2020 18.4 miles 4,000 feet gained 1 night
Timed it perfectly for this overnighter. Flowers blooming but the bugs not real bad yet. Both of the usual water sources were available. The skies were very clear with unobstructed views of Mt. Olympus & surrounding peaks. At sunset I could even catch a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean in the distance.
July 11, 2020 10 miles 4,000 feet gained
Steep hike to a former lookout site. The lookout site is not the final destination as to reach Davis Peak one must hike the ridge for about a half a mile with a final scramble to the summit. Nice views of Mt. Stuart, Mt. Daniels and surrounding peaks.
July 4 to July 6, 2020 22.2 miles 7,000 feet gained 2 nights
Entered via the Tubal Cain Mine TH and made base camp approximately a mile and a half past Buckhorn Lake. First day was a cloudy fog fest which limited any views. Woke up the next day to blue skies and summited Buckhorn but not before the fog began rolling in.....RATS! From there descended to Marmot Pass and then down to Camp Mystery to resupply our water......
June 21, 2020 6.16 miles 2,250 feet gained
The majority of the elevation gain is within the first mile and a half. After that it's a nice up and down ridge hike until your reach the trails end. Nice views of the Stuart Range, Lake Kachess, Lake Easton and Cle Elum Lake from the ridge.
June 18, 2020 6.78 miles 3,000 feet gained
Trail became entirely snow covered at 5300' and that is where I donned the micro spikes. I got as far as 6000' before I had to bail a couple of 100' from the summit due to unstable snow conditions. Probably could have made it to the top if I had brought crampons and an ice axe. Oh well, live and learn. Nice views though of the Goat Rocks, Mt. Adams and Mt. H...
June 6, 2020 8 miles 3,250 feet gained
Headed over to the east side of the pass off of I-90 to try to escape the Juneuary weather predicted for the weekend. Mostly were successful. I have never hiked this trail and it was fairly steep with a short section where you climb 1500' in one mile. Once to the top of the ridge you can see Baldy to the east and from there it is a nice up and down ridge hik...
June 4, 2020 7.5 miles 2,750 feet gained
Up the High School Trail to the TMT. Then TMT to summit 3..... back to the car via Section Line.
May 29 to May 30, 2020 12 miles 3,750 feet gained 1 night
This is one of my favorite spring time overnighters. The road to the Deer Park Campground remains closed so no car campers were present. It was quite nice having the campground to ourselves...….along with the 1/2 dozen curious deer.
May 23, 2020 11.07 miles 2,500 feet gained
Hiked as far as the ONP boundary.
May 22, 2020 5 miles 500 feet gained
May 15, 2020 10.69 miles 750 feet gained
Hiked from Mt. Rainier's Carbon River entrance as far as the Ipsut Creek Campground.
May 10, 2020 8.12 miles 3,500 feet gained
Hiked to all 3 summits plus to the Hikers Hut. Nice clear views from the Hikers Hut location
May 7, 2020 5.87 miles 3,750 feet gained
Was planning on climbing Mt. Ellinor but the road to the TH is gated approx. 5 miles from the lower TH so decided to hike Mt. Rose instead There is still a bit of snow approx. 1/4 past the horse camp but the final climb to the summit is snow free.
May 3, 2020 10 miles 1,000 feet gained
Decided to take a long hike at the Pt. The park will be reopening to the windshield tourists on 5/5.
April 26, 2020 8.96 miles 2,250 feet gained
I have not hiked this one in sometime and forgot how cool the first couple miles are. One hikes up a steep mossy valley with old growth Douglas Firs clinging to the rocky cliffs, with a roaring creek and a water fall thrown in for good measure. I frequently find it amazing the places where trees can grow. Hiked a bit past the 2nd view point.
April 24, 2020 7.5 miles 2,750 feet gained
Up the Section Line trail to West Summit 3, then traversed to the High School Trial using the TMT. Descended via the HS Trail.
April 19, 2020 9.2 miles 3,250 feet gained
Parked about a mile from the upper TH due to snow remaining on the roadway. There are varying routes and boot paths to the summit so this time of year its a good idea to have a GPS to refer to. Glissade a fair distance down the mountain on the descent.
April 10 to April 11, 2020 15.6 miles 3,000 feet gained 1 night
Hiked a couple miles past the decommissioned National Park Campground/Ranger Station and spent the night at Dose Forks Camp. There were a few people camping at the old campground but I had Dose Forks all to myself.
March 29, 2020 8.39 miles 2,250 feet gained
Hiked from the Big Creek TH up to the Mt. Ellinor lower TH. Zero snow on the trail but the lower TH parking area still has snow. It is drivable if you have the right vehicle..... which was evident by the 3 high clearance SUV's parked there.
March 28, 2020 5.2 miles 500 feet gained
With the park now closed to car traffic and one having to hike in to get to the trails it is eerily quite at PD.
March 25, 2020 5.39 miles 2,500 feet gained
Section Line Trail to West Tiger Summit 3. More snow at the summit then expected.
March 22, 2020 4.8 miles 500 feet gained
March 21, 2020 8.32 miles 3,250 feet gained
Bluebird day in the Olympics. Hiked the ridge to the viewpoint which is at 5600'.
March 19, 2020 6.18 miles 1,500 feet gained
Hiked the Hugo Peak Trail, Trail of the Giants and the Windy Ridge Trail.