PEAK PUTTERS

Having missed the snowpocolypse the weekend prior, the mission for the trip was to simply see what was left. We launched from the West Richland Maverick shortly before 0700 in a driving rain, but there was a very defined end to the weather pattern visible on the horizon:



We hung a left turn off Hwy-12 and onto NF-1302 and immediately started gaining elevation:



About halfway up the first climb section we stopped to air down:



Quick view from the first switchback looking West down the canyon:



The ascent was easy and rapid. OG stopped to do some yardwork:





We carried on, and came upon a small herd of elk:





Soon enough, we started to find patchy snow along the trail, and stopped for our first good look at the dirtpile some call Mt. Rainier:







Onward:











Somehow I didn't end up with a single picture of the lookout structure, although I did snap a picture of us having signed the log book inside It probably had something to do with the group of trail fleas that came up on us just as we reached the edge of the canyon and managed to overtake us on the remaining 30-yards of trail leading to the structure :





After we soaked in the views, and growing weary of the trail flea pilots sucking down Coors Light, White Claws, and various shots of hard liquors we decided it best to move out before they did. We stopped for lunch near the intersection with NF-1201:



Bellies full, we headed down NF-1201 towards Reynolds Creek, starting off in snow and ending up on a dusty gravel road:











We aired back up at the staging area a few yards from pavement:



Overall it had been a fantastic day in the hills. The snow level and conditions were still a massive disappointment for this time of year, as the overall feel was much more late-May than late-March. Fingers crossed for the summer season