Day Hike - Hugo Peak & Windy Ridge

Pack Forest Entrance off of Mountain Highway (SR7) at 8am. No parking pass required.

Join me on a less traveled trip to Hugo Peak where we stick to mostly trails.  On this trip we will summit Hugo Peak using the steep and rocky Advanced Horse Trail then hike a relatively new path to a viewpoint overlooking the town of Eatonville and Ohop Lake. Take in the views of Mt. Baker in the distance on a clear day from this lovely viewpoint. After a brief stop at the viewpoint, we will descend to Kirkland Pass  and hike the  Trail of the Giants and travel up Windy Ridge  to our destination, the former Pack Lookout Tower where a memorial to one of the UW's forestry deans has been placed. There is no current lookout on this high point but if we get a nice day, Mt. Rainier will be out in all her glory as Mountaineers  hike leader Lisa Elliott reports here. 

On our return trip we will hike back the way we came and turn on the Hugo Peak Trail to see the old Mountaineers sign and to observe the big leaf maple syrup project. This is an active research project being conducted by the UW Forestry Department. Learn more about how UW is researching big leaf maple production in our state here.  Download a trail map here.

Trip will initially open to Tacoma Branch Conditioning Hiking Students. Trip will open for registration to all Mountaineers, based on availability, 7-10 days prior to date of the hike.