that today was totally sunny and mild. The fog dissipated over Portland but seemed to be hanging on further N.
Snow started at about 3800' but was easily managed with just boots.
I used part of the S Ridge trail (#180) and followed these odd prints up - which turned out to be the melted tracks of a fox or coyote.
It being sunny, all the usual suspects were visible: Hood and Jefferson (arrow),
Sturgeon Rock and Saddle Mtn in the Coast Range (arrow),
St Helens and Rainier,
with St Helens having an unusual cloud cap,
and Adams.
I climbed up Sturgeon Rock after getting a closer look at its columnar basalt.
Then the Tarbell Trail back to the TH and from there back to work. 8 mi and 2100' of bliss.
