Lookout on top of Mt. Pilchuck

I have been training for our trip to Madagascar. I started in January with 20-40 minute walks and have slowly increased to jogging. We are also doing the stairs at Richmond Beach Saltwater park once or twice a week.

We are now trying to get out on the trail to strengthen and use different muscles. Tiger Mountain 3 is one of the main training hikes and we did it on May 3rd (5 miles, 2000ft, ~1:20 up). We did Easton Ridge on May 18th (4.5 miles, ~1700ft). Last weekend we did Mt. Pilchuck. Now that was a lot harder, not so much the length or elevation gain but more the condition of the trail. Over half of the trail is on rock talus which makes it harder to hike plus the typical roots in the forested part. But I made it up. It was 5.4 miles, 2400ft, 2:25 up. It definitely was a workout and I’ve been sore this week.

Lots of Skunk Cabbage at start of trail

Lots roots and rocks in the forest

Views of the Cascade crest

Trail signs in the rocky area approaching the top

Remnants of the old rope tow when there was a ski area on Mt. Pilchuck.

Strange Rocks along the trail

Cairn and vista out west and the Puget Sound