Day Hike - Dirty Harry's Peak

Meet 7:45 am at trailhead, ready to hike. (If this seems early, please think of it as 8:45 DST, and we were in DST just a week earlier. ) Early to avoid crowds parking and crowds on trail to balcony. (My first time to visit DHP on a sunny weekend so being cautious.)

From Seattle, take exit 38 towards the Fire Training Academy. After exiting, head right at the stop sign and drive 1.8 miles. The road comes to a junction. Turn left to go underneath the freeway and you will see the parking lot ahead of you with a trailhead sign and a bathroom.  Dirty Harry's Peak — Washington Trails Association (wta.org)

If you care to carpool, let me know. I can meet anywhere W of trailhead along I-90. Please be fully vaccinated with at least recent 1 booster (in the last 8 months) to carpool with me. Or, if coming from north, south, or east, contact other participants about carpooling.

Please be ready for snow with appropriate footwear, microspikes, poles, and appropriate clothing. Please be ready for this elevation gain (3300') and this distance (8.5 mi) at approximately the suggested pace.

Weather permitting, we will spend approx. 30 min at summit ridge area, so please bring snacks, appropriate clothing to spend that long at the summit, and something to sit on if you like.

Weather forecast for 3500' elevation https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-121.69576263427736&lat=47.510680896602736

Hourly forecast https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=47.5107&lon=-121.6958&unit=0&lg=english&FcstType=graphical

We will be a generally stick-together group. Definitely waiting for entire group at all junctions. If you think you'll want to go faster, please consider bringing extra weight so it will be more of a conditioner for you. (I recommend full water containers for extra weight so can dump the water if turns out to be too much weight.)

Due to the strenuous nature of this hike and the snow conditions, members and participating members' guests only, please. Thank you for your understanding.

Up to one (1) LEASHED dog is welcome on the hike. The dog must be OK on doing this hike on snow -- if you have any doubts about your dog's ability to hike that long/far on snow, please don't bring them. If you bring a dog, tell me when you sign up that you are bringing a dog, so I can note that on this hike description so others will know. Be ready to have your dog leashed the whole time and for you to bag and carry any poop. No baggies by side of trail to pick up on descent.

If you DON'T want to hike with a dog, let me know that when you sign up and I'll remove this part about one dog allowed.