Thread: Mt. Townsend East Ridge

Mt. Townsend East Ridge
August 1, 2011
Buckhorn Wilderness, Olympic National Forest

This is an interesting and fun alternate route to the top of Mt. Townsend.

I started at the Upper Townsend Creek trailhead and proceeded up the 6 switchbacks and began the long traverse. The access to the East Ridge route is from this traverse maybe about a half mile before it ends near Townsend Creek.

If you head straight up from the trail in the right spot there is not much brush. Even though it is a little steep just keep going up to the top of the ridge.

Once you get to the top of the ridge just follow it to the top of the mountain. There are some rock outcroppings in the way in some places but I was able to work my way around them on the south side or climbers left. The north side is a steep drop off in places.

I returned by way of the trail.

There is another kind of fun little ridge walk I like to do even though on this day I bypassed it because it was getting a little late in the day when I got there.

From the top of Mt. Townsend follow the trail down the ridge and once you get to where the trail drops down to the left just continue down the ridge until it intersects the trail to Silver lakes.

Upper Townsend Creek Trailhead

This is where I left the trail.

Where I left the trail.

Looking back down the route.

Route to the top of the ridge.

Views

Route

Route

Route

Views

Looking up the Route

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That must be the top. Not yet

Views

The top is in sight.

Puget Sound, Baker and Shuksan

Nice pictures Craig. I was just thinking of Mt Townsend today. I wonder if the trailhead is accessible or if it is buried in feet of snow.

Nice pictures, Craig. I am not sure if I took that route with the Climbers group in June this year. It was straight up but a shortcut. Jay, looks like there are lots of snow starting at 1300-1500 ft elev. Lower Quilcene trail had lots of snow about 2 weeks ago... I heard that the Big Quilcene trailhead access road is excellent for skiing in the winter...

Thanks Jay and Isaac.

As far as the road, there may be some snow at the upper trailhead. The Monday hikers were able to drive to the Upper Quilcene trailhead this week so maybe getting to the lower Townsend Creek trailhead might work.

I saw a report on WTA where someone tried to get to the Upper Dungeness trailhead on Nov. 26 and decided to turn around before they got there because of snow on the road.