Photos from this trip can be found here.

Access: Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trailhead
Round Trip: 3.8 miles (including 1.7 miles to Nordrum Lookout)
Elevation Range: 1,040′-2,120′
Gear: none

Naturally the three consecutive forecasted sunny days this week would all fall on workdays. Taking advantage of the nice weather before sundown, pup and I headed off to Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley close to home.

I had planned to combine this hike with our visit to The Pulpit back in February, but decided to save it for a day like today when we needed something short and quick. However, this would still make an excellent snowshoe trip in winter months when the going is slow.

Photos from this trip can be found here.

About halfway to Rainy Lake trail turnoff I spotted the inconspicuous trail entrance. What I thought would be a scramble turned out to be a nice hike on a hikers trail through the old growth. Spotty views to be had on Point 2037 before dropping 50′ onto the west saddle of the summit.

As expected, the short stature of this butte meant that we’d be greeted by a woodsy summit. Views were on the south side facing Preacher Mountain and The Pulpit. The ridge line from Mount Teneriffe to Moolock Mountain was also visible. Unfortunately no view of Mount Garfield.

Photos from this trip can be found here.

The short hike made it possible to combine with a quick visit to the old Nordrum Lookout on the north side of Middle Fork Road just past the Middle Fork Campground. No views there, just trees surrounding the site. I could only imagine the magnificent views across the valley back in the mid 1900s.