This was a weekend climbing trip to Avalanche Canyon and Inner Constance Peak (7,670 ft). The Constance Massif towers over the Dosewallips River drainage and Hood Canal region of the Olympic Mountains. Situated on the eastern margins of the range, the Constance Massif is a collection of spires and peaks that holds some of the highest points in the range (3rd and 5th highest). Mt. Constance is one of the iconic ridge lines when viewed from the Puget Sound lowlands. It is unmistakable on the skyline to the west from Seattle. It is a climb that makes you pay in fatigue and exertion. The approach hike alone requires one to scramble up the steepest trail in the Olympics. It is a terror of an approach because after 4 miles of road walking the adventurer must ascend 3,000 ft in about two miles of "trail" with heavy packs.
Last year Sarah and I tried to climb both Inner and Outer Constance peaks in one outing. Choosing to climb the harder and highest of the two, we fell short of our big goal of both peaks in one weekend. We vowed to return the next year and give Inner Constance another go. The taste of both success and failure was the motivation to embark on this return expedition. Enjoy.