CHS 1 Hike - Yakima Skyline Ridge

7:00am at the  Issaquah Transit Center off SR-900.  (Not the one at Issaquah Highlands.)

Those who are comfortable carpooling are encouraged to do so.  Driving individually is OK too. 

Yakima Skyline Ridge is a spectacular wide-open-spaces ridge hike in Central Washington south of Ellensburg.   Its a desert landscape, with low plants instead of trees, which means we'll be completely exposed to the open sky above and will have expansive views extending miles in all directions.  It is a bit of a drive to get there, a little over 2 hours each way, but for many the drive is considered worth it after an early spring spent hiking among the close-in trees and frequent grey winter skies west of the Cascade Crest.  As a bonus, on our way to the trailhead we'll drive through beautiful Yakima River Canyon, one of the prettiest driving routes in the area.

In order to satisfy CHS1 route guidelines for May our turnaround point will be the saddle at elevation 2500' about 1/3 of the way along the upper ridge that leads to Gracie Point.

 After the hike we'll stop to eat at a location in Ellensburg or Cle Elum TBD.