2021-11-21 - Mt Towsend (Olympics)
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With Lu, Brian, Christie.

Worked out surprisingly well for second half of November! Prior week had some
rain/snow in the region and was worried about snow on the route and summit, and
also cold temperatures.

Road up was mostly not bad. Long paved forest road with just a bit of unpaved
pot holes at the start. Towards the top (over 2,500ft?), road started having
some snow, but mostly the wheel tracks were clear. After the turn-off for the
upper Townsend trailhead, the road got pretty snowy and even ice-y. Was spicey
in Honda Fit, and no way to turn around, but made it without any close calls.

There was snow at the trailhead, but only a couple inches. It turned out there
was "a couple inches" basically from the trailhead to the summit, from 3,300ft
to 6,200ft. Was worried there would be a couple feet based on trailhead, but
was not the case. There were a couple slippery/icey/melty bits, but microspikes
were fine and could have made it without. Top was fairly windy, but not very
cold, and got sunny at the end.

Beautiful dusting of snow on deep forest at the lower bits, then pretty clear
snow/rock views from the summit. Could see 5 volcanoes (Baker, Glacier Peak,
Rainier, Adams, St Helens), clouds over the sound, Pt Angeles, etc. Pretty nice
day!