Climbing Mt. Jupiter - August 1999

Rob, Steve and Tom climb Mount Jupiter.
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     The Hike

 

The Hike

On August 15, 1999, three intrepid hikers walked off into the mountains in the rainshadow of the Olympics. They were never heard from again. A digital camera was found a day later, and these are the pictures found on it:

At the beach cabin. At the beach cabin.

We stayed the night over at a friend's beach cabin on the Hood Canal. We were hoping it would save us a lot of time, in fact we maybe saved an hour.

Rob and Steve around mile 2.5. Rob and Steve around mile 2.5.

The lookout at 3.9 miles. The lookout at 3.9 miles.

We hit a small lookout (basically a large rock outcropping with about a 180 degree view) at mile 3.9, two hours into the hike. It was cloudy at first but then started clearing up.

The lookout, the Hood Canal is now visible. The lookout, the Hood Canal is now visible.

We stopped for lunch around 4:00, almost 6 miles in. Then we started up again, this time the climb was around 1000 feet per mile.

Climbing up the mountain, a few minutes after lunch. Rob is visible in the lower left. Climbing up the mountain, a few minutes after lunch. Rob is visible in the lower left.

Steve climbing the same rock face. Steve climbing the same rock face.

We finally reached the summit around 5:15. We stayed there for 15 minutes, enjoying the view (fog in all directions). Then we headed back down.

Rob and Steve at the summit. Yes, they have identical backpacks. Rob and Steve at the summit. Yes, they have identical backpacks.

The three of us at the summit. The three of us at the summit.

We reached the lookout point about an hour later. It had cleared up even more (below the cloud layer), and we could see the ridge we would follow back down to the car.

Looking over Rob's shoulder at the ridgeline. Looking over Rob's shoulder at the ridgeline.

A final clear shot at the Hood Canal from the lookout point. A final clear shot at the Hood Canal from the lookout point.