Mount Townsend

Mt. Townsend hike

My wife, son, and I had never hiked in the snow until last November, when we hiked Mt. Townsend a few days after the first snowfall of the year. It was green at the bottom but dusted with white on top, with some small drifts approaching a foot in depth. We've done Townsend twice now but have yet to reach the summit in crystal-clear weather. Nevertheless, the hike is worth doing even for just the occasional peek-a-boo view.

We caught the highlights on video:

I would imagine this is a great conditioning hike for taller peaks -- and Townsend is purportedly one of the first mountains in the area to become snow-free in the late spring, albeit often after the wild rhodies have bloomed.

Peek-a-boo view from Mt. Townsend. Photo by Gibson Kite.