Weather Forecast Outlook 10-5 to 10-11

Extended models for the period October 5 to October 11 are indicating below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. This trend is indicated with the trough of low pressure that is off the Washington. This is depicted by the 500 mb chart below (about 18,000 foot level)

Weather Northwest End of September- Extended

Issued 9-21-2011
Models indicate above average temperatures and average precipitation for the mountains in Washington state for the last week of September 2011.

KUOW Hike of the Week: Palisades Lakes Trail

Updated Friday 9-16-2011. Hike at Mt. Rainier National Park via Sunrise entrance. Wildflowers are still out.Weekend weather brings chances of rain on Saturday 9-17 but with some brief dry periods for the afternoon. Sunday 9-18 forecast brings higher chance of rain and breezy conditions at times. If you want to hike in a relatively drier location try in the East Cascades like Iron Bear and do it on Saturday 9-17.
Photo below is of the Upper Palisades Lake, photo by Michael Fagin

Photo below is of lupine flowers in the meadows,photo by Michael Fagin

Photo below is of the Palisades rock formation, photo by Michael Fagin

Trail stats: 7 miles round trip. High point 6150 feet and with the ups and downs there is a cumulative gain for the entire day of about 2000 feet.
Driving directions: Enter Mt. Rainier National Park via White River Campground entrance and drive up towards Sunrise and just before the Sunrise Visitor Center park at the Sunrise Point trailhead.
Directions and trail stats are our best estimate however please have a good local map and or a GPS unit.

KUOW Hike of the Week: Iron Bear

Updated 9-16-2011. We visited this hike in June but offer this hike as a second option to the Palisades Lakes hike since there will be less chance of rain for Iron Bear on Saturday 9-17. However even on Sunday 9-18 there will be a chance of rain for this hike. This is located in the East Cascades near Cle Elum. Photos and hike description provided by Karen Sykes.

Photo below is Mt. Stuart

Photo below is Michael taking a nap with a view of the Stuart Range



Iron Bear

Getting there: Drive east on Interstate 90 to state Route 97. About two miles north of Mineral Springs, look for Forest Service Road No. 9714 (Iron Creek Road) going off to the left (west). Continue about 3.5 miles to road's end and the trailhead and parking at 3,600 feet. In early May, a snow patch blocked the rock about 1/8 mile from the end.

Trail data: From the trailhead to the high point (5489 feet) is about 6.4 miles round trip.
Directions and trail stats are our best estimate however please have a good local map and or a GPS unit.

Northwest Forecast end of September

Issued September 14, 2011. The forecast models are indicating some changes starting this weekend with chance of moderate precipitation on Sunday (9-18) and there will be changes towards the end of the month.
The map below is for the period 9-21 to 9-27 and is the 500 mb map (for levels 18,000 to 19,000 feet). The map shows the average position of the trough of low pressure which is off the Washington Coast. This type of pattern indicates above average precipitation for the Northwest.

KUOW Hike of the Week- Norse Peak

Updated September 2, 2011, Norse Peak, near Crystal Mt
We are expecting a mostly sunny holiday weekend from Saturday September 3 through Monday September 5. This is one of two hikes we have the other one is Source Lake near Snoqualmie Pass . The Norse Peak trialhead is near Crystal Mt(near Mt. Rainier) and this old Lookout offers great views of Mt. Rainier. A few flowers might still be found at the higher elevations.
Photo below is views of Mt. Rainier that you get on the way up photo by Michael Fagin
Photo below is flower in the rocks, photo by Maria Lamarca Anderson
Photo below the view of Mt. Rainier up close!Photo by Maria Lamarca Anderson

Driving Directions: From Enumclaw drive east on State Route 410 past the town of Greenwater and turn left on Crystal Mt Road. Drive 4.2 miles past milepost 4 to the fork at Gold Hill Road (which is not marked). Turn left and park on this road (next to Crytal Mt Road) and walk the road about .25 mile up (unmarked Gold Hill road) and you will find the Norse Peak trailhead on the left hand side which is also not marked.
Trail Stats: Hike Norse Peak number 1191 to the top which is about 5.5 miles or about 11 miles which is an elevation Gain 2800 ft and high point of 6858 feet.
Directions and trail stats are our best estimate however please have a good local map and or a GPS unit.
Trail Passes Needed

1. Washington State permit This provides access to state parks and recreation lands
Yearly fee $30
The fine for not displaying the pass is $99.
To get information on purchasing the pass http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov



2. Annual Northwest PassYearly fee $30 To get information on purchasing the pass

http://www. fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72DTUE8TAwgAykeaxRtBeY4WBv4eHmF-YT4GMHn8usNB9uHXDzYBB3A00PfzyM9N1S_IjTDIMnFUBADW0rdA/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfMjAwMDAwMDBBODBPSEhWTjJNMDAwMDAwMDA!/?navtype=TOPNAVIGATION&cid=fsbdev2_027010&navid=200100000000000&pnavid=200000000000000&ss=1106&position=Not Yet Determined.Html&ttype=detail&pname=Region 6- Passes


3. Interagency PassCovers all national parks and national forest
$80 a year For information on this pass visit
http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPyhQoYAOUjMeXDfODy-HWHg-zDrx8kb4ADOBro-3nk56bqF-RGGGSZOCoCAPi8eX8!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNVVJNDAwMDAwMDA!/?navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=stelprdb5150035&navid=200100000000000&pnavid=200000000000000&ss=1106&position=Not Yet Determined.Html&ttype=detailfull&pname=Region 6- Recreation Passes


4. Senor pass 62 years or older
$10.00 lifetime fee. Honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites. For information
http://www. fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72DTUE8TAwgAykeaxRtBeY4WBv4eHmF-YT4GMHn8usNB9uHXDzYBB3A00PfzyM9N1S_IjTDIMnFUBADW0rdA/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNVVJNDAwMDAwMDA!/?navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=stelprdb5150306&navid=200100000000000&pnavid=200000000000000&ss=1106&position=Not Yet Determined.Html&ttype=detailfull&pname=Region 6- Recreation Passes

KUOW Hike of the Week - Source Lake

Updated September 2, 2011, Source Lake. Snoqualmie Pass
We are expecting a mostly sunny holiday weekend from Saturday September 3 through Monday September 5. Most people go to Snow Lake but instead of Snow Lake one can go to Source Lake for an easy hike and great views. This is one of two hikes this week, other is Norse Peak near Crystal Mt. Photo below is junction in which one can go to Source Lake or Snow Lake
Photo below is kids (and moms) enjoying the hike
Photo below is snow still on the higher ridges
Photo below is cascading of all the snow melt

Photo below is view from Source Lake Overlook towards the Kaleetan Peak
Photo below is of wildflowers of course

Driving Directions: From Seattle drive east on I-90 to exit 52. Turn left (north), and continue to the end of the road at the Alpental Ski Area parking lot.

Trail Stats: Hike about 2.5 miles junction with Snow Lake Trail (to right) and go straight another .50 mile to overlook of Source Lake. Total miles 3 one way 6 round trip. Elevation gain of about 700 feet.

Directions and trail stats are our best estimate however please have a good local map and or a GPS unit.

Trail Passes Needed

1. Washington State permit This provides access to state parks and recreation lands
Yearly fee $30
The fine for not displaying the pass is $99.
To get information on purchasing the pass http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov

2. Annual Northwest PassYearly fee $30 To get information on purchasing the pass
http://www. fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72DTUE8TAwgAykeaxRtBeY4WBv4eHmF-YT4GMHn8usNB9uHXDzYBB3A00PfzyM9N1S_IjTDIMnFUBADW0rdA/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfMjAwMDAwMDBBODBPSEhWTjJNMDAwMDAwMDA!/?navtype=TOPNAVIGATION&cid=fsbdev2_027010&navid=200100000000000&pnavid=200000000000000&ss=1106&position=Not Yet Determined.Html&ttype=detail&pname=Region 6- Passes


3. Interagency PassCovers all national parks and national forest
$80 a year For information on this pass visit
http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPyhQoYAOUjMeXDfODy-HWHg-zDrx8kb4ADOBro-3nk56bqF-RGGGSZOCoCAPi8eX8!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNVVJNDAwMDAwMDA!/?navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=stelprdb5150035&navid=200100000000000&pnavid=200000000000000&ss=1106&position=Not Yet Determined.Html&ttype=detailfull&pname=Region 6- Recreation Passes


4. Senor pass 62 years or older
$10.00 lifetime fee. Honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites.. For information http://www. fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72DTUE8TAwgAykeaxRtBeY4WBv4eHmF-YT4GMHn8usNB9uHXDzYBB3A00PfzyM9N1S_IjTDIMnFUBADW0rdA/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNVVJNDAwMDAwMDA!/?navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=stelprdb5150306&navid=200100000000000&pnavid=200000000000000&ss=1106&position=Not Yet Determined.Html&ttype=detailfull&pname=Region 6- Recreation Passes