"Elbow Peak is situated close to the center mass of a small grouping of mountains between the Cle Elum and Teanaway River Valleys. In winter the Middle Fork Teanaway River Road is plowed to about 2.5 miles from the spur road that leads to the start of Trail 1222 at the southern base of Yellow Hill. I left the car and started out on the snowmobile-groomed road at 7 a.m. with Maverick the Mountaineering Mastiff. This was his first hike since he ripped off a toenail over a month ago, and he was clearly very excited to finally be back out in the wild. We crossed what looked like cougar tracks several times on the road, and twice more on the way up Yellow Hill. The spur road that begins the first mile or so of the trail was also groomed but I strapped on snowshoes to cut the switchbacks. The wind was calm enough that even before 9 a.m. I could feel it's heat from behind a thin layer of overcast. Shortly after the road ended I began to notice the larch and lichen that give Yellow Hill its name. The summit has limited views of Mount Stuart and the Enchantments through surrounding trees. I quickly left for Elbow Peak, hoping to make it back to the road before the predicted rain which ..." — Jeb • Mar 2, 2013