I've climbed Hamilton twice this month, partly because I love this hike and partly to get my money's worth out of that $30 Washington State Discovery Pass. Don't do this hike without it, I've seen people getting ticketed ($99) and rangers check the lot daily.
Our New Year's Day climb was during an especially windy period and we estimated gusts at the summit ridge and the open saddle to be as high as 70 mph. One of my party was actually blown off her feet. The trail became icy soon after the "Difficult / More Difficult" sign, but we were able to summit with nothing more than microspikes and poles. The ridge itself had heavy snow and even with my Lightning Ascents on I was into it up to my knees in places. The snow stayed with us all the way down the back side of the loop, even past the bridge across Hardy Creek where the picnic table is.
By January 27 conditions were much better. We didn't hit any ice or snow until after the cliff-face switchbacks and then hit the snowline a few hundred feet from the summit. After that the snow was much deeper on the return loop, but consolidated enough for boots. No snowshoes this time - I wore ice-trekkers - but we remained in snow until Don's cutoff. We took the cutoff down and encountered plenty of ice and packed slick snow. Then more snow down the road until the first junction just past the outhouse. (Very clean, a fellow hiker reports)
Hamilton Mountain January 27 and January 1st
- Splintercat
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Re: Hamilton Mountain January 27 and January 1st
Thanks - nice report!
-Tom
Ain't that the truth -- I think I'll have to spring for a pass this year. Last year, I boycotted the Washington Trails in (futile) protest...partly because I love this hike and partly to get my money's worth out of that $30 Washington State Discovery Pass.
-Tom