Snowshoeing Mt Angeles (6456 ft elev) in Hurricane Ridge Area--- About 5.6 miles with 2900 ft elev gain. 1030-1530. Fri, 2-1-2013
Les and I wanted to do a hike to get some exercise. Les suggested snowshoeing Mt Angeles. I liked the idea since I have not summited the Mt. I solo-hiked the loop of Heather Park, Khlane Ridge, and Lake Angeles. My plan was also to summit Mt Angeles but I was on the wrong side of the Mt. Luckily, Paul joined us for the trip. He drove his car since he had an AWD car with a snow cable. Snow chain is required to drive up the Hurricane Ridge Road in the Winter. Rahul was planning to go with us but did not make it. Rahul and I hiked the most strenuous hike I've ever done last summer (Upper Lena, St Peter's Gate, Mt Stone, Lake of the Angeles, etc. 16 miles with 7200 ft elev gain).
It was an excellent day up in the high country. It's probably the best day in recent days and only sunny day in a week. Temp was in mid 30s in the morning but looked like in 50s in the afternoon. We left the Hurricane Ridge parking lot at 1000 and steadily snowshoed. Since we were mostly on the ridge, we were soaking in the views of the Olympic Interiors. However, there were ups and downs dropping and gaining 200-400 ft elev about 3 times before climbing 1300 ft straight to the Mt Angeles summit on the West Side. We got to the summit around 1300 and took a good break there with a 360 view of the Olympics. We used an ice axe to reach the last 100 ft elev to the summit. It was quite steep but we were able to kick in with the steps. Extra precaution and the use of an ice axe were necessary. If the slop was icy and frozen, we would need the crampons. It was a short distance but had quite a bit of exercise. My both legs felt fatigue. It's less the distance but the elevation gain with heavy snowshoes made tough. On the way back, I struggled (slowed down) a bit with those ups and downs. Surely, I had a good work-out. It was well worth the trip for the winter.
Trip itinerary:
a. Left Paul's house 0735.
b. Pick up Less at Fat
Smithy at 0815.
c. Started snowshoing at 1000.
d. Summit at 1300. Left
Summit at 1330.
e. Arrived back at Hurricane Ridge Parking lot at 1530.
f.
Arrived Paul's house 1740.
g. Arrived Home 1800,
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