This is my favorite hike close to Seattle. Much, much nicer than Mt Si with pretty heather meadows and a nice, rocky ridge one can scramble to the summit if mere walking is not enough of an adventure. This was the mountain that got me into climbing. I have ran, hiked, and skiied it many times since.
Matt Lemke - Dec 21, 2010 6:55 pm Date Climbed: Dec 21, 2010
Winter solstice ascent...followed standard trail
Climbed on winter solstice and got great weather. Avalanche conditions were extreamly low and the snow conditions were fantastic. Despite this we still took the longer route and followed the standard way up. Great climb in the winter!
breauxtrahn - Dec 8, 2010 9:28 pm Date Climbed: Jan 30, 2007
Only with snow
Did it first in January '07 then in March '10. Crazy glissading.
Mike Lewis - Nov 4, 2010 12:17 am Date Climbed: Nov 3, 2010
Punchy Crust
Punched giant holes in a snowy crust after 5,000', crawling in certain places to stay afloat. Barely made it. Great views. Today was the hottest day for November 3 in Seattle on record at 74 degrees.
Started at the trailhead at about 7:30. Got to the top in about 2 hours 20 minutes and was disappointed to find that their were 2 reference pegs fro the true summit marker but the actual one was missing with a suspicious hole in a rock located where it should have been. Some Vandal must have a nice souvenir.
Aside from that The view was excellent Hiking above the clouds for the majority of the above tree line meadow. Even noticed a female deer chomping away at some of the sub alpine foliage.
Boonie1 - Jul 1, 2010 10:46 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2010
10 ft. of visibility
Visibility was so bad I almost hit my head on the lookout tower when I got there.
I got about four extra feet of elevation due to the snow cap.
fzte - Jan 27, 2010 2:40 pm Date Climbed: Jan 27, 2010
No summit but a nice hike
Started up the trail at 6:45am with headlamps. Clear skies and plenty of stars to be seen. Didn't encounter snow until a bit below 3000'. As we got higher we watched the neighboring peaks as they were engulfed by some pretty fierce clouds. Stopped for a snack at 3800' and watched the upper slopes of Granite vanish. We could hear the wind howling and it looked like even more weather was headed our way so we decided to turn back. Most of the clouds had burned off by the time we were back on the road. It was a good hike but climbing into a whiteout just didn't sound like tons of fun.
Bryan K - Oct 19, 2009 5:42 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2007
Trip with Dad
Hiked up here with my Dad. Great views and weather
Granite is a splendid day out in the snow (when conditions allow) or in the summer. The fall colors are tremendous too. The wide open spaces higher up with views gives Granite a classic alpine feel. Have seen both bluebirds and crossbills higher up.
Had beautiful weather while ascending the chute. Above treeline, the wind was gusting fairly strongly, and it was damn cold at the summit. Good times!
Kyle Bissell - Jan 12, 2009 8:16 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2007
nice summer afternoon
Beautiful hike with wildflowers abound. Grade was steepish but very consistent
Curtissimo - Dec 8, 2008 9:17 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 1996
love this hike!
first of many hikes up here. classic hike has a different face each season of the year.
Drunkcaballo - Oct 15, 2008 12:17 am Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2007
Interesting Trip
Climbed up the Avalanche chute. There was a dusting of snow near the summit. Great views of Ranier. I came back off the mountain to find my truck broken into though.
bmwboarder7 - Aug 17, 2008 2:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2008
Good Night Hike
Left at 1:30am and speed hiked to catch up to my buddies. We made it to the top by 4am and had a little bit of time before the sunrise, which was absolutely beautiful. Even hiked by just the moonlight for the meadow section. Saw two bears in different areas while coming down in the morning. A great way to climb this one, as we also realized we escaped the majority of the mosquitos and heat. There also was somebody sleeping in the tower at top... which we discovered at about 4am. Oops. Overall very amazing hike though.
cthomson - Jul 21, 2008 12:57 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2008
trail run
This was my trail run, and qute a run it was. Spent quite a bit of time walking due to the elevation change, but still managed to make it to the top in about an hour. Overcast the whole way until the ridge, where there was nothing but blue skies! Will be back!
ExcitableBoy - Dec 28, 2010 9:11 am
Multiple timesThis is my favorite hike close to Seattle. Much, much nicer than Mt Si with pretty heather meadows and a nice, rocky ridge one can scramble to the summit if mere walking is not enough of an adventure. This was the mountain that got me into climbing. I have ran, hiked, and skiied it many times since.
Matt Lemke - Dec 21, 2010 6:55 pm Date Climbed: Dec 21, 2010
Winter solstice ascent...followed standard trailClimbed on winter solstice and got great weather. Avalanche conditions were extreamly low and the snow conditions were fantastic. Despite this we still took the longer route and followed the standard way up. Great climb in the winter!
breauxtrahn - Dec 8, 2010 9:28 pm Date Climbed: Jan 30, 2007
Only with snowDid it first in January '07 then in March '10. Crazy glissading.
Mike Lewis - Nov 4, 2010 12:17 am Date Climbed: Nov 3, 2010
Punchy CrustPunched giant holes in a snowy crust after 5,000', crawling in certain places to stay afloat. Barely made it. Great views. Today was the hottest day for November 3 in Seattle on record at 74 degrees.
Arkitekt - Jul 18, 2010 5:21 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2010
USGS Summit Marker Missing!Started at the trailhead at about 7:30. Got to the top in about 2 hours 20 minutes and was disappointed to find that their were 2 reference pegs fro the true summit marker but the actual one was missing with a suspicious hole in a rock located where it should have been. Some Vandal must have a nice souvenir.
Aside from that The view was excellent Hiking above the clouds for the majority of the above tree line meadow. Even noticed a female deer chomping away at some of the sub alpine foliage.
Boonie1 - Jul 1, 2010 10:46 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2010
10 ft. of visibilityVisibility was so bad I almost hit my head on the lookout tower when I got there.
I got about four extra feet of elevation due to the snow cap.
fzte - Jan 27, 2010 2:40 pm Date Climbed: Jan 27, 2010
No summit but a nice hikeStarted up the trail at 6:45am with headlamps. Clear skies and plenty of stars to be seen. Didn't encounter snow until a bit below 3000'. As we got higher we watched the neighboring peaks as they were engulfed by some pretty fierce clouds. Stopped for a snack at 3800' and watched the upper slopes of Granite vanish. We could hear the wind howling and it looked like even more weather was headed our way so we decided to turn back. Most of the clouds had burned off by the time we were back on the road. It was a good hike but climbing into a whiteout just didn't sound like tons of fun.
Bryan K - Oct 19, 2009 5:42 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2007
Trip with DadHiked up here with my Dad. Great views and weather
Coyotzin - Sep 26, 2009 5:18 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2007
with East King + my dadi was 5, no help
snowclimber12 - Sep 14, 2009 11:15 am Date Climbed: Sep 13, 2009
sunnyvery sunny and warm above the trees, fun hike but i wasn't expect california hiking weather in washington.
bikejr - Sep 8, 2009 1:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2009
Hot but niceAn early afternoon hike before Hawaii trip in the heat of a hot day, but at least breezy in open areas thus no major bug problems and no crowds.
WeatherMan - Jul 22, 2009 12:11 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2008
Hot hot hotSizzling hot day last year when i went up. Lots of sun exposure up top so bring suncreen.
Merlin736 - Mar 6, 2009 9:56 pm
A favorite!Granite is a splendid day out in the snow (when conditions allow) or in the summer. The fall colors are tremendous too. The wide open spaces higher up with views gives Granite a classic alpine feel. Have seen both bluebirds and crossbills higher up.
Cascade Scrambler - Feb 1, 2009 8:02 pm Date Climbed: Feb 1, 2009
Excellent climbHad beautiful weather while ascending the chute. Above treeline, the wind was gusting fairly strongly, and it was damn cold at the summit. Good times!
Kyle Bissell - Jan 12, 2009 8:16 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2007
nice summer afternoonBeautiful hike with wildflowers abound. Grade was steepish but very consistent
Curtissimo - Dec 8, 2008 9:17 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 1996
love this hike!first of many hikes up here. classic hike has a different face each season of the year.
Drunkcaballo - Oct 15, 2008 12:17 am Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2007
Interesting TripClimbed up the Avalanche chute. There was a dusting of snow near the summit. Great views of Ranier. I came back off the mountain to find my truck broken into though.
bmwboarder7 - Aug 17, 2008 2:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2008
Good Night HikeLeft at 1:30am and speed hiked to catch up to my buddies. We made it to the top by 4am and had a little bit of time before the sunrise, which was absolutely beautiful. Even hiked by just the moonlight for the meadow section. Saw two bears in different areas while coming down in the morning. A great way to climb this one, as we also realized we escaped the majority of the mosquitos and heat. There also was somebody sleeping in the tower at top... which we discovered at about 4am. Oops. Overall very amazing hike though.
cthomson - Jul 21, 2008 12:57 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2008
trail runThis was my trail run, and qute a run it was. Spent quite a bit of time walking due to the elevation change, but still managed to make it to the top in about an hour. Overcast the whole way until the ridge, where there was nothing but blue skies! Will be back!
wildstar - Jul 11, 2008 5:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2008
Main TrailGreat views and a fun hike. Climbed with Jon and Marcus.