As I got to the base of the scramble at the summit a couple I had seen leave the trail head a few minutes before me was coming down from on top of the scramble. Good job! Me, I’m chicken of climbing up there. Here is what it looks like if you fall:
Great day for this hike. I left the car to head up the trail about 5:10 am and I was not first out (see above). But I was up there second and had the summit to myself for a while. As I hiked down many, many people passed me going up. And why not, a Sunday in June with perfect (albeit slightly warm) weather.
There is one very pesky avalanche chute to negotiate. This would have been even tougher than when we were up there looking for Mt. Kent except some kind soul put a very helpful rope up:
Without that rope I am not sure how I would have gotten down. As it is I have rope burns on my right hand.
Plenty of views on this beautiful day:
This hike is never a piece of cake but right now it is a little bit challenging. Aside from the avalanche chute, there is still some snow up towards the top:
Also, several very challenging blow downs, although someone has helpfully sawed a couple of the larger ones that were at a lower elevation. Every bit helps.
Anyway, supposedly 10.8 miles (I think this hike is only about 10.2) and 3,700 feet of elevation gain. A very fun day.
Visualization of the hike:
http://adventures.garmin.com/en-US/by/djhiker/mcclellan-butte-6-26-2016/#.V3A4dpXls5t
Loved the shot of Mt. Rainer! Really beautiful. Fran
Oh yeah, and the sky was so clear yesterday. This part of the world is eye candy all over.