PNW Hiker Babes climb mt Persis

The PNW Hikerbabes are at it again!! Today we tackled Mt Persis! We left at 5 am to hit the trail by 7am. There were originally four of us who car pooled. Much to our surprise three more rad chicks showed up at the trail!! A great group of gals! 

It was a brutal and extremely steep unofficial trail. This was definitely the most intense hike I have done in years. No switch backs just straight up.. It was my third hike in a week and my legs were shot. I was mentally weak lol and complaining. Literally grabbing from tree to branch for stability and pulling myself up the mountain. 

WOW, but the views were worth it. Good morning! The colorful sky was breath taking. We got the privilege to enjoy 360 degree views. Mt baker to the North. Straight west to the Puget Sound and clear to the Olympics as far as the eye could see. and Rainier to the south in all her majesty. It never ceases to amaze me how close everything is and how far you can see when you get up there. The stunning views are the fruits of our labor and a privileged perspective only few get to see for their own.

Sooo the Wta trail description was way off. Claiming 4 miles roundtrip to the summit and 2600 ft elevation gain. We came in expecting a slog but this was more than most of us had expected.. Turns out most all of the report was wrong. we were about three miles in and straight up the mountain when we got cliff top views of Mt. Persis. We thought we had made it! ...SYKE. We were still at least a mile from the summit. Not to mention additional elevation gain.

Gazing across to the summit that we had thought we reached we were taunted with lust to continue but had no option but to break for lunch and turn around due to other girls afternoon work obligations. Truly I was thrilled with the view and content on turning around because my knees were knocking by the time we got back down. Idk if I physically could have done the whole thing in one day without total exhaustion. 

I do look forward to climbing Persis again and reaching the summit.. but now I have a better idea of what to expect. I would probably plan it as an over night or two night trek! 

My little iPhone does not do justice so I have included some photos from the other girls with their fancy lenses.

Snow lake with Ethan

Sooo I met this really cute guy on tinder.. and after a couple dates it was my turn to plan a day! We woke up early and set off to hike Snow Lake. It was a magical day of fun in the snow with great company. 

We stopped for coffee and headed out Snoqualmie Pass. It was raining a little bit at the beginning but dried out to be a crisp cloudy day. 

10 miles round trip with a minor 2000 ft elevation gain. The trail was covered in a couple feet of packed snow. It was a challenging hike and snowshoes could have been helpful but we did it with just micro spikes and trekking poles. Ethan was so sweet the whole time holding my hand and helping me across the streams or large steps up an embankment. We had no place to be and no rush on time. Slow and steady we made it to the top. 

Lots of other people on the trail of various preparedness. haha I found it quite comical, I have never seen so much impromptu gear. Lots of tennis shoes. socks duct taped to pants. rain boots.. just plain stupidity!! I don't know how people do it, I would be miserable. 

At the intersection to the summer and winter trail it was impossible to follow. We wandered back and forth a bit trying to find the best route. We saw many groups turning around at this point. but made some friends who were a little more familiar with the trail and  followed their lead straight up the final steep climb to the ridge line. passed huge rock faces with large icicles hanging down. From there we dropped inward to the lake.. 

Unfortunately it was a completely cloudy day and the lake was socked in so we had no views. We still powered through it and sat on the bank to make lunch with my new jetfoil!! YUM! hot fajitas and chicken and potatoes on the mountain top. Nothing can top that. 

My highlight of the day was feeding the whiskey jacks from my hand. Those birds have no fear and kept coming and landing right on both of us to eat bread. It was the most exciting and thrilling event to be so secluded in nature. After a long lunch break we packed up and headed home passed various snowmen home to a hot shower , a pho dinner, and cuddling on the couch. 

I couldn't have asked for a better day or better company <3 Hoping for so many adventures to come!