Rattlesnake Mountain

View from Stan's Overlook

Distance: 12 Miles Out and Back
Elevation Gain: 2520 Ft

Trail distance chart and rules

In a typical Pacific Northwest winter weekend with gloomy overcast sky, I decided that I could do with some useful exercise by hiking a nearby trail. I also wanted to do a new trail. I had already done Rattlesnake Ledge near the Rattlesnake Lake before, though I have not written on this blog about that trip. However, the ridge line of the Rattlesnake Mountain runs roughly parallel to the I-90 highway, and it is possible to traverse the whole mountain between Snoqualmie (I-90 Exit Number 27) and Rattlesnake Lake (I-90 Exit Number 32). So I got started at the Snoqualmie trail head and headed east.

The starting part of the trail is on a forest road

For a shorter hike, Stan's Overlook at 2.2 miles would be a perfect destination. There are a couple of picnic table and a gorgeous view of several mountains including Mt. Si and Mt Teneriffe with a panoramic view of the quiet townships of North Bend at the foot of Mt Si and Fall City closer to the West. I met a few other hikers at that point, some of whom really enjoyed a picnic there. However, I decided to press on forward.

Stan's Overlook

Windy's Landing is another point offering views but dense fog prevented me from enjoying those views what would be at its most appealing on a sunny day. Rest of the trail was uneventful except for encountering patches of snow on ground near the East Peak. Yet at the East Peak, I had the novel experience of watching Steller’s Jays eating out of hands of another couple of hikers.

Steller’s Jay bird eating out of hand

That is where I turned around for the return trip. This trail being gradient being comparatively gentle, I committed the mistake of moving too fast through most of my return trip, even running at times. With the heavy hiking boots on, it took a heavy toll on my leg muscles around knees. As a result, I was not in a position to run - my other fitness gig - for next several months. Another lesson learned, the hard way of course.

Area Map on the Trail Head Information Board

McClellan Butte

Saturday, July 18th

Elevation gain 3800 ft

Trail length: 4.4 miles one way

Time taken: 2 hrs 40 mins on way up and 1 hr 45 on way down.
Level of difficulty: Hard

Another excellent Summer day in the Pacific Northwest, and what a better way to soak it up than being at the summit of the shear cliff of the McClellan Butte at an elevation of 5,160 ft?

Unlike other hikes I have undertaken so far, I started out late on the day: 4:25 PM at the trail head to be precise. I figured, with a long summer day and no inclement weather in the forecast, I would have enough time to complete the hike. But to tell you the truth, I ended up spending more time at the summit, being lost in the excellent views all around, oblivious to passing time. As a result, I barely made it back to the trail head just before it got really dark at 9:10 pm.

By getting to the summit late in the day, I also expected to have some nicer picture moments in the afternoon sun. Boy, was I disappointed at all! The sun played light and shades with the clouds and painted all sort of collages on the greenery below. You have to be there to enjoy the 360 degrees of unobstructed views of the peaks and the precipitous hillsides of the Cascade Mountains.

I encountered fewer people en-route compared to any other trails in the area. Everyone I met were returning. At the time of passing the last person, I was hardly a third of the way up. Obviously, I was all alone at the summit. It is nice for a change to not find a crowd on one of the popular hiking destinations. But a companion while hiking would sure have lessened the feelings of physical hardship associated with such an arduous effort as this hike.

The trail has changed slightly from the description in the book in terms of location of crossing the Iron Horse Trail. The book also did not indicate a loss of elevation at the beginning of the final stretch of the climb. Even on this bright July day, there were still patches of snow on some sections of the trail. At one point, the trail disappears under a large chunk of ice, which entailed special efforts to cross it.

The final 100 feet of climbing the rock scramble is not for the faint hearted. It can be dangerous for the average person on a good weather day, and even for the brave on a wet day. You could stop right there and not climb the scramble. Then you would perhaps always be mulling on what it would have been like at the summit. But once you make it, you are rewarded with feelings of satisfaction and pleasure that makes the whole exercise well worth it.

See more pictures here.

Granite Mountain

Saturday, June the 13th

Elevation gain 3800 ft

Trail length: 4.3 miles one way

Time taken: 2 hrs 45 mins way up and 2 hrs on way down.

It was a perfect weather to start with - bright and sunny. I was paging through my hiking book Beyond Mount Si trying to decide which trail to head too. After scaling the Mail Box peak a week ago, I was getting feeling confident of taking on one of the more difficult day hikes. There are many trails listed that are located between Mount Si and the Snoqualmie pass. However, most of them are marked to be good starting July. Then there is the Granite Mountain that is supposed to be good for the month of June and after. It is one of medium to hard difficulty level. Now I have my trail for the day.



After you exit I-90 East at #47 and turn left at the stop sign, you get a majestic view of the mountain. The trail head is about half mile away from here and a Northwest Forest Permit is required to park at the nice paved parking lot at the trail head. I saw a few NWF service personnel scouting the parking lot doing whatever they needed to do - possibly enforcing permits as well. The lot became quickly full and some folks parked by the roadside away from the parking lot too. Permit is also required for hiking this trail and the forms can be filled out for free at the starting point of the trail. The first half of the trail passes through forest tree rising steadily all the time and then opens up to fairly open sky with low shrubs all around. Starting here, nice views are available all the way to the top. By that time, the cloud covers increased to the point that I heard thunders and felt a few raindrops falling on my face. Despite possibility of lightnings, I figured the darker clouds were located further to the West and I decided to press on. The trail crossed two streams so far - on was frozen today and the other was flowing strong.

Soon after, the sky stopped thundering, and the trail started to disappears into snows before coming out of it for a short length. After playing hide and seek for a couple of times, it vanished for good underneath the snow pack that continued from the top all the way to here. The alternative to walking on the snow on a steeply climbing ridge line was to climb on all four on the rock scramble that ran parallel to the snow trail. After giving it a try for once, I reverted back to the snow route. The new trekking poles I purchased from REI came very handy to get a firm footing while climbing. I also improvised my steps by hitting the toe into the snow in order to get a firm foothold.

There is a lookout at the top, slightly to the South East off the peak. I rested there and ate my lunch while absorbing the breathtaking views all through all of 360 degrees of the horizon. There were several people already there; some were leaving while others were still arriving during my stay there. Soon I got on to my way back. I noticed other hikers using ice axes, very useful tool while climbing down a snow covered slope. I did not have one. So I improvised again by digging in the heel into the snow at every step to avoid skidding and sliding. But I realize I should get my next hiking gear - an ice axe, should I plan on hiking on a snowy trail like this.

With the fabulous excitement I got from this trip I should plan on coming back later in the season to see what the experience would be like in a warmer weather when all the snow is gone, .