Saturday, clouds, later sunny. One way: South Coldwater trail (230A) - Coldwater Peak (230) - Boundary Trail (1) - Johnston Ridge visitor center. 11 people, 3 cars to shuttle the 6.5 mile between the two ends. Total distance about 12-13 miles, mostly of gentle grade or flat. Hiking time: 9:40 - 4:40.
Coldwater trail is green, in the woods for only the first 10-15 minutes. The rest of the hike is exposed. Lots of strawberry plants, already in fruit (I picked some) in lower elevation, and still flowering in higher elevation. View of the lake first, and then St Helens, and then abandoned logging trucks (3 in different places).
At the first major junction, turn right towards Spirit Lake and Coldwater Peak. On the way, you can see St Helens Lake. At the junction with Boundary Trail, all but one turned left for a spur towards the peak. Two started scrambling up (too bad, the wrong peak). The rest hit snow patches. Only 3: the fastest, me and the slowest actually got to the very top. What's waiting for us? Cell towers, an old lady, and excellent 360° view. After lunch we headed down to regroup.
Continued to the right (south) on Boundary trail. Go under an arch, which I suspect was created by dynamites. Soon, view of Spirit Lake and Mt Adams behind it is excellent, until passing Harry's Ridge. Then it gets a bit boring. The last hour close to Johnston Ridge visitor center was lined with paintbrush, penstemon.
Saturday, clouds, later sunny. One way: South Coldwater trail (230A) - Coldwater Peak (230) - Boundary Trail (1) - Johnston Ridge visitor center. 11 people, 3 cars to shuttle the 6.5 mile between the two ends. Total distance about 12-13 miles, mostly of gentle grade or flat. Hiking time: 9:40 - 4:40.
Coldwater trail is green, in the woods for only the first 10-15 minutes. The rest of the hike is exposed. Lots of strawberry plants, already in fruit (I picked some) in lower elevation, and still flowering in higher elevation. View of the lake first, and then St Helens, and then abandoned logging trucks (3 in different places).
At the first major junction, turn right towards Spirit Lake and Coldwater Peak. On the way, you can see St Helens Lake. At the junction with Boundary Trail, all but one turned left for a spur towards the peak. Two started scrambling up (too bad, the wrong peak). The rest hit snow patches. Only 3: the fastest, me and the slowest actually got to the very top. What's waiting for us? Cell towers, an old lady, and excellent 360° view. After lunch we headed down to regroup.
Continued to the right (south) on Boundary trail. Go under an arch, which I suspect was created by dynamites. Soon, view of Spirit Lake and Mt Adams behind it is excellent, until passing Harry's Ridge. Then it gets a bit boring. The last hour close to Johnston Ridge visitor center was lined with paintbrush, penstemon.
