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Jefferson Ridge Lookout by The Brothers is perched above the Hamma Hamma River. The southwest ridge extends to Mount Pershing and Mount Ellinor above Cushman Lake. Meanwhile, the Hood Canal in Puget Sound lies near the east.
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Jefferson Ridge Lookout at a Glance
Access: Route 2421
Round trip: 7 miles
Altitude range: 840′-3850′
Essential equipment: microtips
Route information: Joanne Najdzin
GPS tracking: available
Suitable for dogs: Yes
Playlist: Ethereal
Return to the Olympic Mountains via Hood Canal
It was the last good weather day of the week, so we resorted to the Olympic Mountains. Yellow Lab and I were once in this part of the forest, climbing the Brothers across the valley. Then, last October, the black puppy and I were near Gray Wolf Ridge.
After crossing the Hamma Hamma River, we passed through several hollows on Route 2421. This was OK before the dozen or so fallen aspens appeared beyond the first mile. The trees in the landslide were too heavy to be uprooted alone. So we walked less than a kilometer to the general starting point.
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Crossing East Ridge to Jefferson Ridge Viewpoint
Taking the logging road above the inversion, we soon reach the ridge trail at 1600′. The fork took a sharp turn, which we could have easily missed without looking for it. Across the clearcut on the ridge, pink flags and blue-painted arrows pointed the way.
There was a brief section of debris in the trees before getting back on the road. A quick walk around the bend brought us to the trail sign to continue. Snow appeared at 2600′ near the overlook, where I put microspikes while checking the clouds below to the east.
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Admire the Olympic Mountains from the top
Leaving the snowshoes in the car was a bad idea because it was pure slush by mid-morning. The trail faded into snow shortly after re-entering the trees past the upper road at 2,800 feet. Then he walked slowly across the old burn into the clearing, followed by crossing the ridge.
Jefferson Ridge Lookout was forested, with patchy views to the west and south. After watching The Brothers, we left the ridge following our tracks and lost a microspike along the way. Soon we ran a shortcut through the forest debris back to the road, saving us a half mile.
See more travel photos here.