Day Hike - Tatoosh Ridge

We will gather up  at 9AM at the Packwood Mobil station on the corner of highway 12 and Skate Creek road.  Carpools will be worked out once we know where everyone is coming from.  The trailhead road can be very rough, though 4WD is not required - low clearance vehicles not advised.

This trail climbs steeply on a south facing slope through forest, then brushfields, then open meadow to a cross-trail traversing the Tatoosh Ridge.  We'll turn right there and ramble through incredible flower fields, up and over multiple ridges, to a side trail that climbs to a panoramic old lookout site.  Various reports say this route is 8 miles and 2400' gain but WTA says it's  10.4 miles and 4100' gain.  I can tell you that it's a very strenuous push.  There could be a few late snowfields to cross so microspikes and poles will be advised, though recent trip reports say that it's mostly melted out.  I will watch trip reports and keep you posted.

This trip requires very good fitness so recent experience maintaining a moderate pace on a strenuous to very strenuous route  of 10 miles and at least 3000' of gain is essential (Mt Si, Granite, Defiance, etc.).