In an attempt to burn off the last of our 2008 vacation days, Doug and I skipped work to hike up Pratt Mountain. After a short discussion about who had the least expired NW Forest Pass and which route would be best this time of year, we took my car up to the Talapus Lake trailhead. The snow started falling just as we arrived at the trailhead, and got heavier and heavier as we climbed up. I imagine there are some great views from the top, but by the time we got there we could only see about ten feet.
We only stayed on the summit long enough for a couple of photos and an energy snack before the storm drove us off. (I had a new overpriced OR jacket that I brought along just for this part of the trip and it was working great, but Doug didn't want to hang around long enough for me to test the theory that I could sit around comfortably in it for an hour in a howling snowstorm.)
The hike out was easy if a little damp. The only injury was suffered by my phone when we got back down to Olallie lake and I tried to take a call and the snow shorted out the LCDs. By the time we got down to the parking lot, the temperature was back above freezing and the preciptation had changed to rain. Probably 4 inches of snow fell while we were hiking, but at the trailhead elevation (2600') it was disappearing fast in the rain. Still looks like a good start on the winter snowpack though.
A quick hike like this beats work anytime. Here's a few more photos:PrattMt
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