happyfeet

  Distance: 2.5 miles Elevation-gain: 1000 ft Rout-type: out and back Pinnacle peak, also known as Mt.Peak or Mt.Pete locally, is a 1000 ft high dormant volcano rising from the flat farmlands of Enumclaw. Osceola Mudflow , a massive mudflow triggered by an eruption swept the top 2000 ft of Mt.Rainier passing the location of current day Enumclaw spreading as far as Kent, 70 miles away. So, what we were walking on may have been a part of the summit of Mt.Rainier 5700 years ago!  Our journey required two buses to reach the South Renton transit center. Unlike our last hike where we missed the information about the bus detour and then sprinted for a mile trying to catch the bus while it galloped away in front of us, this time we did our homework the day before. Not that it helped, as delay in the first bus changed the plan to using the suggestions by Google Maps at the last minute. The bus moved swiftly as there were very few passengers early morning and ...

We started searching for hiking groups as going on hikes in a group would give us the opportunity to interact with different people. Raj came across the Seattle Hikers, Climbers and Peak Baggers group led by Greg Lasala and signed us up for the Mt.Pilchuck hike. As I read more about the group and Greg, I felt terrified thinking if I will be able to keep up with the other group members during the hike. The night before was the worst as I lay in bed fearing for my life, thinking about whether we should cancel, and before long the alarm started ringing. The mixed feelings of fear and enthusiasm were churning my stomach in all directions as we were getting ready. Pichuk!!The journey began fine as we jumped into the bus in time, somehow managing with our flowing bags, trekking shoes, water bottles, some lunch, spare clothes, caps and what not. Now I think we could have started a civilization on a new planet with the stuff in our bag that day. Hari and Vignesh also manag...