Alpine Scramble - Foss Peak

We met at Narada Falls at 7:45 and were on the go at 8:10

Our group consisted of 8 students from various branches and myself. 

We headed up the trail past Ruby Falls and then onto Stevens Canyon Rd.  We walked the road to Reflection Lakes and then followed the obvious footsteps all the way up to the saddle to the east of the Castle.  We did not need to use any traction at all as the snow was pretty soft even in the morning.

After a break at the saddle, we descended down the ridge between the Castle and Foss staying on the south side of the treeline to the low point around 5,960 feet.  We then headed up to the top of Foss Peak using some self belay moves at the very top.  Our group arrived around 12:45pm.

The weather forecast had showed for a chance of showers, heaviest around 2pm.  Up to this point, we had only had a passing shower or two.  Being on the Tatoosh is nice because with full 5G from Paradise, I could periodically check the weather.  I was getting concerned because there was was a line of moderate showers heading our way and knowing that a low pressure system off the Washington coast could churn up thunderstorms (even though none were planned in the forecast), I decided to only allow a short summit break.  So, our group, descended the summit block and then glissaded down to the base and then headed back to the East Castle saddle. 

I was in the back of the line with a scrambler who was cramping up a bit, so I ended up being the last one to our break spot.  I pulled out my phone and "bam" a lightning notification pulled up the lightningmaps.org on the northwest side of the park near Mowich Lake.  One of group members thought they had seen a flash and another thought they heard thunder.  So, I told the group we need to head down from the ridge at 6,200 feet immediately.  Our group quickly glissaded as far as we could and then continued down the soft snow.  By this time, we had moderate to heavy snow and sleet, but fortunately, no more thunder or lightning.

Our group made it back to the road and then we headed back to the cars, drenched from the weather.  We were back to the parking lot around 4:15.

The trip got more exciting than I had planned.  When I left my home at 6am, I saw some showers off the coast and by Portland.  Even though no thunderstorms were forecast  I'm glad I trusted my gut and checked the weather periodically on the trip using my phone.  I realize that we won't always be near Paradise where we have 5 bars of 5G, but there are increasingly more places in the mountains that have cell phone service, so it's always worth a check of the current radar.