Author: Daniel Van Rossen

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Hardy Ridge Hike with Snow

It seams like on Northwest trails every time you hike it it is a new experience. This time I did the Hardy Ridge Loop Trail clockwise with snow being the new point of interest. I started find snow at the 1600 elev. level and 1900 elev. it was solid. It was only two to four inches down lower but by the time I got to the ridge crest it was six to eight inches. The snow was slushy so a lot of slipping and sliding. I found only few tracks of folks getting up to ridge and no track running the ridge. I did about 8 1/4 miles with around 1880 ft gain.

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Trails at Beacon Rock State Park

Connecting several backcountry trails at Beacon Rock State Park to make a loop. Surprises: snowlevel lower then I thought they would be, finding my gear was not up to how cold it was with 20 plus mile and hour winds, the longest patch of blow down on a trail I have ever made my way through and how much fun it was to get through it.

The number: 10 1/4 miles, 1965 total elevation gain, Time on trail 5hr 20min.

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Hardy Ridge Hike

I got my new Washington Discovery Pass so I decided to put it to use with a hike up to Hardy Ridge at Beacon Rock State Park. The forecast was for a nice clear sunny day and I needed to get some exercise so more reason for hike. I went up the East side trail and went to Phlox Point. Returned the same route. This may have been the first time this year to have clear views of Gorge and Mountains. I was surprised when I pulled into the parking lot at the Equestrian Trailhead and found the lot almost full. Turned out at WTA was having a workday and had a good turnout of volunteers. Just a few people on the hiking trails.

By the number: 10 miles, 2341 TEG, Time on trail – 4:51 moving, 1:15 stop and 2.1 moving average.