Snow Mountain Ranch Run

Our fridge was in need of Costco replenishment, and I was in need of a solo trail run, so yesterday (Saturday), I combined business with pleasure. I drove to Snow Mountain Ranch in Cowiche, WA (57 minutes away from home) and went on a run up to the top of the hill there. It was a bright sunny 76 degree clear day but the breeze kept me from getting too hot. The trail was much crispier and browner than it was when we hiked it six weeks ago in May. Most of the wildflowers were dead (and the wind rattled their dry leaves in a very creepy way), but as I climbed higher, I discovered a few hardy little blooms among the desert crust and sage brush.  For the first mile of the trail I was wondering why I had driven an entire hour to run somewhere that was browner and drier than the irrigated planted countryside at home. Thankfully the rest of the trail had enough variety in flora and fauna (however dry and muted it appeared) to feel different and worth the drive.


In regular intervals, the rocky thin single track trail was entirely covered in waist-deep overhanging sagebrush bushes, tall grass, or tall tangled tiny yellow flowers. At those sections, I had to endure tickling grasses all down my legs as I plunged through on the trail beneath. I also endured an uncomfortable helping of snake-anxiety throughout the whole run, but especially during the first half when I was going uphill and felt too slow to sprint away from danger. Plus I didn't have much bounce in my bungee to begin with thanks to our extra long tiring week. Thankfully I did not encounter a single serpent during the entire 7 miles.

The trail was much rougher and steeper than I remembered it. We only hiked out 2 miles when we went there with my Mom in May, and I was determined to go the entire three miles to the top of the hill this time. I stumbled a lot and shied away from startled birds rattling in the bushes. Once a large buzzing insect flew straight into my armpit and bounced right out again. I was overly jumpy! I usually avoid running in hot dry places at this time of year because I get super nervous about the reptile situation. But I'll always go running for a good view! The view from up top was sweeping with the tip of Mt. Rainier barely visible in the distance. I don't feel quite as strong of a natural high from running in the shadeless scrubby dry potentially poisonous-snakey hills of eastern WA as I feel when I run in deep green forests, but it was still a good run with plenty of satisfying scenic photo opportunities and a lifetime supply of vitamin D! I remembered to wear sunscreen and felt so virtuous and responsible.

This reclaimed ranch had all kind of random items along the trail--my favorite was the bathtub trough conversion.

A smattering of these gorgeous purple beauties was an unexpected bonus.

Seriously, too much of the trail had overhanging plants and bushes. I was convinced that every bush had a rattlesnake wrapped around it in the shade at the base. I did a lot of not-so-cute yelling and shrieking and high-knee-ing through the thick growth, haha.

Queen Anne's Lace are so delicate, but apparently hardy enough for this dry place.

The higher I ran, the better the view. The trail was a loop that went up on the way out and back down on the way back.

Balancing Mt. Rainier on my fingertip.

Zoomed in in case it was too hard to see the mountain-tip.

I'll always take my hat off to a good view.

Balanced my phone on a bench at the top of the hill, set the 10 second timer, and RAN for it. 

Random ranch junk. That fence made the whole place feel less wild, but I also was not worried about getting lost.

It did feel a little jail-yard-ish if I thought too hard about it.

There are so many shades of brown! and so much texture!

Thank goodness for these signs, as well as some pikes with neon orange spray painted tennis balls jammed on top. The grasses obscured long stretches of trail on the return (east) loop, and I relied on the trail markers to keep me on track.

I'm standing on the trail. These tangled tiny yellow flowers were hard to get through, not to mention stressful since I couldn't really see the ground through the tangle.

When I got back to the car, I changed into sandals and walked down to the ditch to cool off. It was SO NICE to rinse off the dust and grass seeds from between my toes.

I went to Costco on my way home.