Mt Washington '07,  Olympic National Park,  July 1, 2007     page 5 / 15

I heard a few voices nearby from a small climbing group, but didn't see which direction they headed prior to continuing my climb. I did spot a second group of nine up ahead, however. Eventually, I caught up with them and discovered that they were a boy scout group from Aberdeen. They were led by a couple of capable adults, one of whom was quite familiar with the Mt. Washington climb. Despite their knowledgeable adult leaders, the group did not have ice axes, yet they did carry trekking poles. These tools would prove quite useful higher up the hill, as the snow pitch became steeper. While I had studied the map, as well as the climbing route description, it was good to get some first hand direction from the scout leader about the climbing route.

We would follow the snowfield to the base of a headwall, then turn southwest. In the winter, the snow chute should be followed to a higher headwall. In the summer, the chute is to be crossed, gaining a trail which circles around a rock outcropping. The short trail then emerges at the base of the second headwall. Following the snow along the base of the higher headwall will allow one to reach a saddle at roughly 5900 feet.

I followed the instructions across the chute and along the short trail. Reaching the base of the second headwall, it was apparent that this choice was better than following the chute to its top, for much of the upper snow in the chute had melted. This would have made for a difficult transition off the snow and onto the rock. I slowly continued on and off the snow. In another 20 minutes I had reached the saddle. It was 1:30 PM.

Much like the saddle one reaches on Mt. Ellinor, stunning views are achieved when reaching this point.