Your’s truly atop Hawk Peak
While looking for a place to hike this fine fall weekend, my friend Cheryl and I decided on Hawk Peak in the Olympic Mountains. You get to Hawk Peak by way of the Tubal Cain and Tull Canyon trails. I had been this route before on a hike we called the Koski Loop which is named after a guy in our hiking club, but the difference this time was while we still did a full loop, we didn’t end up going up and over Mt Townsend this time. Instead, we came out via the Silver Lakes way trail which cut off three or four miles and around 1500 extra feet of elevation gain. See the bottom of this post for a map of the route.
B 17 wreckage along the trail going up into Tull Canyon. An account of the crash can be read here.
B 17 wreckage along the trail going up into Tull Canyon.
B 17 wreckage along the trail going up into Tull Canyon.
Cheryl taking in the view at the saddle between Worthington and Hawk Peak.
Looking into the rugged interior of the Olympics from Hawk Peak
The way trail we would take down to Silver Lakes cuts across the mountainside. It was very steep.
The way trail we would take down to Silver Lakes cuts across the mountainside. It was very steep.
Silver Lake below. The way down was via a steep way trail that cut through a large boulder field of which the rocks would shift when stepped on and they were generally unstable.
Puget Sound waterways and the Cascade Mountain Range in the distance. Silver Lake below.
Three volcanoes in view. Rainier, Adams and Saint Helens dot the horizon.
Silver Lake zoomed in from Hawk Peak
Silver Lake zoomed in from Hawk Peak. A small tent can be seen near the shore (center of image).
Warrior Peak from Hawk
Mt Worthington from Hawk Peak. Note the zig zagging climber’s paths leading up to the saddle.
Seattle from Hawk Peak
Cheryl below the boulder field we had just descended. Hawk Peak, top right of center.
Gnarly boulder field.
Silver Lake. Welch Peak in the distance.
Silver Lake
Silver Lake
Silver Lake
A harlequin duck enjoying the beautiful afternoon
A harlequin duck enjoying the beautiful afternoon
A harlequin duck enjoying the beautiful afternoon
Roll mouse over image to see route taken down from Hawk Peak