The pups went up to Mount Townsend yesterday. Then today, I sought out something more challenging. I’ve had my eyes on Preacher Mountain. And today’s low avalanche danger was a perfect time to go.
See more trip photos here.
Access: Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trailhead
Round Trip: 11 miles
Elevation Range: 1040′-5924′
Gear: snowshoes
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: with guidance
Middle Fork Snoqualmie
It was going to be sunny. So I convinced two coworkers to come with me. They thought seeing Rainy Lake would be great. But they weren’t sure about going up to the mountain. So we drove separately in case they wanted to turn around at the lake.
There was one other car in the lot when we drove to the trailhead at 7:30 AM. After crossing the Middle Fork bridge, we realized the trail blasting work was underway. So we walked around the machinery and went onto the path past the creek.
See more trip photos here.
Rainy Lake
We brought snowshoes with us. But we ended up not using them to Rainy Lake. The snow was firm enough not to need a floatation device. So after a short lunch break, my coworkers decided to go back to the car. Meanwhile, I continued up on the ridge east of the lake.
Snowshoes were a must-have past the lake. The snow had become somewhat wet from the morning sun. So it took a while to get from the ridge up to the 5200′ tarn. There were several steep sections to bypass. But the snowshoes worked out well.
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Preacher Mountain Summit Plus Outro
There was still lots of snow up on top, with a thick layer over the rocks. There were even cornices hanging off the edges. Peaks near and far were all visible, with Caroline Peak right next door. It was also a three volcanos day with Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and Glacier Peak.
I spent 45 minutes savoring the breathtaking views and a free tan. Afterward, I began the long way down to Rainy Lake. Then it took even longer to get back out to the car.
See more trip photos here.