Silver Peak

Description of Hike courtesy of vtrail.com

Mini-topographical map of the hike.

This hike was about half a mile shorter than Mount Si but much more complex and far steeper in parts.

Probably the best way to tell the story is from the beginning. Dan and I decided to get an early start so I left home at around 5:00 am and picked Dan up at about 5:40. We had directions to the Trail Head and drove to it. We got there at about 6:30. Unfortunately (or so we thought at the time) there was a parking pass required. So, we decided to cut our losses and do the other hike we had considered for the day Annette Lake. We drove to that trail head (10 miles away) and found that it also required a pass. DOH! There was a camp ground near by so we drove over there and looked at their information bulletin board. No information on how to get a pass BUT the camp sight beside the bulletin board was the camp information person. I walked over and talked to her. Turned out we could get a pass just up the road 2 miles.

We drove up the road and found the visitor center but it was not due to open until 8:30 (by this time it was 8:10). I said to Dan, we will just wait for 20 minutes. Funny thing was, the ranger had just pulled in and said "Give me 5-10 minutes to get set up and I can help you." A few minutes later we walked in and told the ranger what we were doing and went to buy the pass. She asked the right questions... We really had no idea where we were going. This is my second hike of my life really, and the same for Dan. We are complete novices. She gave us good written directions and a map on how to get on the trail off of the pacific crest trail to Silver Peak. It was not well marked.

If we had not gone to the station, we would not have found the trail at all! So, what we thought was an inconvenience, was a major stroke of good fortune! The hike out was long. It took nearly an hour to find the marker for the turn to Silver Peak. We could have gone faster, but no knowing how well marked it would be, we took the last half mile rather slow. When we got up the trail for silver peak, it was quite steep and there was some good snow fields in places. We lost the trail at one point and just went "up". Eventually we found the tail again. Total time to get to the top was just over 4 hours. (remember that time as it becomes important later).

My Siberian Husky, Isis, goes hiking with us. She did not care for the steep climb at the end at all. She loved the snow fields though.

At the top there was a mountain goat. Now, I have seen goats before. I have seen goats in the mountians on TV, but I have never actually seen a mountain goat live and in person. It was really quite funny. Dan was just slightly behind me and he did not believe me. I went out and butted heads with the goat. I won and we had the top of the mountain to ourselves (Dan, Dan, Isis, Isis, me, and me)

We stayed on the top for 20 minutes or so and decided to make our way back down. We went a really quick pace down. We were both feeling good this time and the snow fields were a lot of fun sliding on. Total time back out to the car was about 1 hour later.

I was not sore at all the next day unlike the day after Mount Si. I have one heck of a sun burn especially my neck (being from West Virginia, this seems appropriate). Dan told me that the next time he offers me sun screen and I refuse, he is going to spray me anyhow. 

I brought my camera again and had it set to regular focus this time. Here are the pictures: