Mount Townsend

Saturday morning, two weeks ago, I got up early and headed for the Edmonds ferry. It still took a while to get to the trailhead above Quilcene, where the weather was decidedly undecided. The clouds were low and provided only brief, limited views across the valley. It was clearer on the west side of the ridge itself, which allowed a glimpse into the main part of the Olympics, but the clouds only got thicker on top and there was never any view back towards the Sound.

I suppose the rhodies that lined the trail lower down were a few weeks past their prime, but the wildflowers were all blooming higher up. The trail was great and the climb challenging, but not grueling. The hardest part was finding my way out the north way (towards Sequim Bay) given the maze of forest roads and the vintage of my maps.