Actually, the sand is ash left over from the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, which looked gorgeous and ragged in the setting sun as we set up the tent and cooked dinner. It's very desolate up there. We had to melt snow for water, and the temperature plunged as the sun went down. But the stars were simply outstanding, and there was just a sliver of moon setting in the west. The wind came up and we moved into the tent for the night.
Some people like to start the climb by starlight.
From the Lunch Counter to the False Summit is a half mile expanse of snow and ice which gains 3000 to 3500 feet that takes two or three hours, rest breaks included, to acquire. The entire way up this part of the mountain is like working out on a stairmaster, in steps kicked into the snow and ice. Even with the heavy packs left at our base camp, sheer determination is required to make slow and steady progress up to the False Summit where the route then swings to the right with a fantastic view of the true summit across a broad, snowy saddle. The route heads north across the saddle for a quarter of a mile and then heads straight up another very steep snowfield for the the last leg. It takes about an hour from False Summit to the summit.