5/4. Sunny 28°C. An off-trail hike , or rather climb (needs both hands and sometimes knees, fighting against entangled branches and stingy devil's club), to Nesmith Point. Difficult, not too strenuous. ~9 miles, 3800'. The scenery at the top is disappointing: flat, all trees, not even big trees, but big enough to block views from all sides. A small opening for Mt St. Helens. You have to walk 50m or so to see another small view of Mt. Adams. 
Our lunch spot (~3 hours from trail head) is on a small ridge with a good view of Mt Adams and a long skinny waterfall close by. 
Close to the top, a geographic marker in the middle of nowhere. Then ~30 minutes walk up to the top. Off trail climb is demanding, sometimes no good foothold, have to grab on whatever is there. But watch out, I once grabbed on to a devil's club. I also slid down once. With so much growth, you don't slide far. I hit a rock, got some bloody scrapes among scratches and bruises as souvenirs. Definitely don't do this later in the season: more growth and more devil's club. Overall, this is more interesting, forcing you to think every step. You also get a full body exercise. However, we contented to hike down on the regular trail, ~4.9 miles. The entire hike is mostly shaded. So not too hot on this day.This organizer, Rick, is quite famous among Portland hiking community to be adventurous, or crazy. He's 59, short with a big belly. But he climbs and walks faster than I can. Quite extraordinary. He's fairly easy-going, and knowledgeable of the local hikes. He took a nap after lunch! Before the hike, he sent out a helpful and updated description, encouraged long pants and gloves (for bush climbing), but not hiking poles (get entangled in tree branches, and plenty wood stick to pick near the top). However, he came with Christina who's having a cold (otherwise, fit). After about an hour, he asked Mark, who's been bushwhacking here before, to escort her out. Bad judgment at the beginning. Poor girl later went on a hike all by herself, and then waited for us (only 3 left) at the parking lot for 2 hours.
Lots of trillium along the lower half of the trail. Saw fairy slippers 4 times, about a dozen. Also a cluster of Thompson waterleaf, delicate lavender color, quite pretty. Direction: John B Yeon State Park parking lot, I-84 east exit 35 (Dodson). Turn left at the stop sign, then immediately turn right onto Frontage Road. 2.1 miles.
