As the forecast called for 50 percent chance of rain, I was blessed with partly sunny skies.  As most people know, the route to Dog Mountain is rather steep, any way you go.  Taking the Augspurger trail, you climb 2400 feet In the first 2.8 miles.  Comparatively, the Dog Mountain trail is 2550 feet in 2.6 miles.

I thumped my way up to the Augspurger/Dog mountain junction and kept hiking straight.  The trail beyond, one I have not seen yet due to overgrown salmonberry brush and thistle, was a steep 25 percent drop.  After a quick, bone jarring 400 foot loss, you start to climb again via a forest road.

The trail opened up to a plethora of service roads, all heading in different directions.  I thought I should continue straight, but just laid about in the flowers, instead.  While staring at the clouds overhead, the sun tried desperately to prove it was later in the spring that it appeared.  There was peace here as very few people came out to Augspurger's trail.

I continued straight before the trail split from the service road.  Immediately I ran into crusty snow, err, ice.  I had confidence in my route finding skills,  but not for long.  I soon came to a avalanche shoot that had no signs at all of a trail.  With nowhere left to go, I carefully started up the shoot, kicking steps with my trail runners. 

I had to be careful as there were snow bridges over vine maple everywhere and I did not want to ruin my vacation with a twisted or broken ankle.  After 30 minutes of steep climbing, I topped out and noticed a trail just on the other side of the ridge I topped out on.  It was the trail I had been looking for, but how it got up here, I will never know.

The 270 degree views were simply stunning.  On a clear day, they would be more so.  In looking behind me, to the north, I noticed that I was not at the summit yet.  I also knew that Augspurger's peak was heavily forested, so the ridge I was on could not have been the summit.  I quickly turned north and plodded through the sometimes four-foot-deep snow.  I came to an open, snowy meadow that would be a perfect camping spot in summer, sporting views to the west and complete protection from the wind.

I soon lost the trail, again, but for good this time as the snow deepened even more.  I knew I was on the last, steep push of the climb and decided to call it a day.  Besides, I still wanted to hike up and over Dog Mountain, on my way back, as I needed to see how much longer before the flowers were on full display.  Turns out it will be a couple more weeks before the hillside turns its incredible shade of yellow.

After a knee-pounding descent, I changed before driving to Walking Man Brewery as it was also a tradition.  I gorged on garlic/parmesan fries with a Carne Pizza, washed down with two Crosswalk Wheats;  enough food to keep me from eating for a day and a half.

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