Saturday 6/15. Sunny with clouds. Johnston Ridge Observatory (~4300') -> Boundary Trail (#1) 2 miles -> left at junction with Truman Trail (4020') -> continue on Boundary Trail for 2.8 miles -> right at junction with Coldwater Trail (5040') -> continue towards Coldwater Peak trail (0.5 miles, abandonned in the middle due to snow). Good view of St. Helens' Lake, and the top of Mt Rainier. Lunch. On the way back, half way between the two junctions -> Harry's Ridge (1 mile) -> back to the observatory. Total ~11 miles. Ups and downs. Mostly exposed, no water source (except for snow). No significant elevation gain. See map. 
The view along Boundary Trail (except for the first 2 miles) is fantastic: logs floating on large Spirit Lake, Mt Adams prominently to the east, Mt St Helens' crater and smaller volcanic mounds to the south, smaller mountains (Mt Margaret is still snowy) close by. Mt Hood at some higher grounds. There's a 3 legged metal installation (weather?) on top of Harry's Ridge.Saw one bird nest, one snake (small, orange back), one elk far away. Avalanche lilies are blooming. Still have a few trillium left. Paintbrush and penstimon are quite good. Dwarf lupine is still coming. At ~1pm, when we were standing above St. Helens Lake, a thick cloud shaded the sun, causing double concentric rainbows. Fabulous.
Direction: I-5 exit #49 for Hwy 504. All the way to the end.
A side note: I was late for an outing with Friends of the Gorge, due to Trimet dropping the train service I was waiting for. In a failed attempt to reach the coordinator, I still went to the meeting place. Thanks to Linda who offered to take me along for this hike. What a pleasant change! Except for, as usual, some members (Ania and Meghan on this hike) talking too loud and incessantly. Very nice and fun people though. Both Dave and Robert know this area very well, so the rest of us came away with better appreciation of the force of nature (Spirit Lake is 200' higher). Dave, being the leader and also a forest guy, watched us not to step out of the trail (the whole area is a fragile rejuvenation zone). This is commendable. We could have made to Coldwater Peak trail, but it would mean off trail.
