A Ramble Along the Olmsted 50, Part 3-A, May, 2024

This one is the fifth of a 10-part series that follows The Mountaineers’ Olmsted 50. The Mountaineers are a Seattle-based hiking and conservation society. James Olmsted was hired by the city of Seattle in 1903 to put together a master parks plan. Olmsted designed some three dozen parks in Seattle and one of the Mountaineers put together are in-city walking route that explores the belt that Olmsted was given. It is 50 km long and since my walks are typically about 5k, this will naturally be a 10 part epic. This one picks up at the very south end of the University of Washington campus and crosses to Foster Island, goes through part of the Washington Park Arboretum and begins to climb Capitol Hill via Interlaken Ave E. It is primarily trails and off-sidewalk stuff. Enjoy!

• Start Address: NE Pacific St and Montlake Blvd NE

• Stop Address: Interlaken Ave E and E Galer

• Mileage: 3.14 miles

• Animated map: here

• Difficulty/Terrain: Stairs, trails, shin-deep muck, gravel, sidewalks, and grass.

• Ascent: 400ft, Descent: 164ft.