El Nido to the top!

I climbed up from the Harrop trail to the South Ridge on Mount Douglas, realizing partway through that I’d lost about twelve minutes of recording, so I kept the recorder going as I continued. I adjusted my gear so I could climb hands-free, navigating rocky sections, loose gravel, and some steep, hands-and-feet scrambling while stopping to take photos of the camas, broom, and sweeping views out toward the Olympic Peninsula and Mount Baker. Along the way, I reflected on the busy running season, with the Times Colonist 10K happening that day, and thousands of runners out while I made my quieter climb. I encountered a few hikers, tricky terrain, and even had to reroute around a restricted construction area near the summit before reaching more stable ground. Pushing through the final stretch, I emerged at the windy top, shared briefly with a handful of others, and wrapped up my run-climb with a sign-off before heading home.