2014.7.26. McNeil Point - Cairn Basin - Elk Cove

7/26. A beautiful sunny day, warm but not too hot. Starting at the Top Spur Trailhead (Lat/Long: 45.4074/-121.7856). In ~0.4 mile, at the first junction, turn right. Shortly thereafter, at 2nd junction, take PCT. Soon, ~10am, we arrived at our first view of Hood on Bald Mt. Plenty of flowers, but no beargrass. Actually a lot of beargrass in the woods, but not blooming.

When the trail re-enters the woods after the second, smaller meadow, took the 2 parallel logs to the left. If you reach a stock gate, you've gone too far. In ~100m, rejoin Timberline trail. Follow Timberline along the Bald Mountain ridge, and it opens for more views of the Sandy Glacier and McNeil Point. After we emerged from the woods, took the small climber's trail to a scramble, first in a most lushly green slope full of Corn Lilies, then bare steep rocks. In 0.4 mile, we were at McNeil Shelter. Snacked under Hood, with the view of St Helen, Rainier, and Adams.

As we left the shelter, Brooke caught up with us. Poor lady went through the stock gate down to the river, before realizing that she was on a wrong trail. Surprising how strong she is, being oldest and fastest among us. We continued east along Timberline. Crossing the tumbling outlet from the Glisan Glacier caused minor problem. Beyond the crossing, the Timberline Trail rounds a ridge, then curves into the valley holding Cairn Basin and Eden Park. You can see Eden Park down below. To visit Cairn Basin Shelter (5700'), stay straight, and walk through dense mountain hemlock forest to campsites and the old stone shelter, only 0.5 miles after McNeil junction. Quite nice camping area close by, but not at the shelter.

Continued further east along Timberline Trail to Wy'east Basin. It's quite lovely. Small. Looks almost swampy. Great view. But to get here, another big creek crossing.

Return to Timberline Trail, continue the last 0.7 mile to Elk Cove. Larger flowering basin. Minor ups and downs. Running creek. A late lunch break ~2:30pm.

On the way back, we looked harder at the faint trail for Dollar Lake. Eventually, we found it. It's a delightful pond. Only 1/4 miles, over mostly snow patches. A family is camping right next to it, and jumped in it. Perfect reflection of Hood.

Continued back to Wy'east Basin junction. At the sign turn right towards Eden Park for 0.3 miles. At the junction with Vista Ridge trail, turn left for 0.9 miles to Eden Park. (I missed that trail, and caused everyone extra miles down on Vista Ridge). We went through burned trees, and a profusion of avalanche lilies.

Eden Park is small, aptly named. A creek, flat and green, lots of lilies, view of Hood of course. Crossed the same creek downstream, equally non-trivial. Uphill back to Cairn Basin, and Timberline Trail, and then all the way back to the car.

Total 5 women, 1 car. Took longer than I thought: ~8.5 hours. About 15 miles, 4000' total. Early summer flowers. Heathers are coming. Even saw a few glacier lilies. Snow patches, but easy to walk on. Almost no bugs. Some flies on the trail on Bald Mountain ridge.

Reference: Cairn Basin from Top Spur and Elk Cove from Vista Ridge

2014.7.20. Windy Ridge at Mt St Helens

Sunday 7/20. Overcast - perfect weather to hike to the blast zone (no shade). From Windy Ridge's giant parking lot (chilly and windy), 8 of us walked on Windy Ridge Trail (#207) or rather road (gravel, gated), made much nicer by abundant flower blooms. At the first junction, we went straight, #216E, which turns east towards Loowit Falls. About 1 mile of low dwarf lupine covering the otherwise bleak dark plain, with their silver blue color sparkled with morning dews. The blue Spirit Lake floated in and out of clouds to the north. At the next junction, we took #216 (Loowit Trail), which says 1.1/4 miles to Loowit Falls (it's more like 1.5 miles). I mistook a small muddy waterfall for our destination. It's mostly flat until here, some up and downs to cross creek or pumice ditch. At the last junction, we turned left on to #216F (3/4 miles) UP to Loowit Falls. During our entire our lunch, we could listening to the falls, no sight of it. Only as we were ready to leave, the cloud faded a bit, so we saw the waterfall. It's BEAUTIFUL.

Backtrace this 1.5 miles, 216E (the 1.1/4 mark), we now turned right onto #216 (Loowit Trail) up and over a saddle. Grassy on the north side. The down slope (south) was mostly very loose rocks. If you are afraid of heights, this is not for you. It drops down to Plain of Abraham, stark, but with unquestionable beauty, up to a T-junction. The St Helen cradle next to you, even though we could only see its base, Mt Adams' base, and supposedly Mt Hood in front. We turned left (north) along #216D, lots of bikers. Soon we were matching upwards, and there, along the ridge, is one spectacular flower show. It's LOVELY, looking at both sides into as far as the clouds allowed. I didn't like the stairs on the northern slope, so walked in sliding rocks instead.

Returned on the same gravel road to car, happy and content. Total about 11.5 miles, 2200' accumulated elevation gain. See map from at Forest Service.

2014.7.19. Juniper Ridge

Juniper Ridge trail (#261) climbs steadily to the south, through old clear-cut for 2 miles, until some view and patches of flowers and mosquitoes. It continues until the ridge in another mile. 3 of us walked up (no obvious trail, however, short and not difficult) Juniper Peak, while 3 waited on the ridge. View here is superb. Because of the clouds, we only saw Adam, Hood, and St Helen. On a good day, the most dominant feature would be Rainier. Vast expanse of green in between. Quite a lot of flowers in patches. No mosquito at all. ~1.5 hours later, our 3 drivers joined us. They had to shuttle 2 cars to the other trailhead. The best hour of this hike.

We continued south along the ridge, but soon descended into the woods, regained elevation next to Sunrise Peak. 8 of 9 of us walked up to Sunrise Peak, only ~200' higher than Juniper Peak, but doubled work. On the top, remnant of prior fire lookout and broken glasses can be reached by a solid metal railing. Lunched here, soaking in the 360° view, until Goat Rocks escaped clouds.

More descent. As we approached Jumbo Rock, we could see a family of goats lying out on the cliff. I was the only one who went up to Jumbo Rock (a short walk uphill), so I could take a closeup photo of the goats from above. Continued south, very sandy, many waist high bushes (huckleberry? Knicknack?), grass. Found one small patch of snow close to trail. More motorbikes.

The last 5 miles is downhill in the woods. Really bad trail, deep V or U shaped, sand and rock. At some point, we turned left to Dark Meadow trailhead, which is on the other side of a creek. This is paved, unlike the first trailhead. More time for car shuttle.

Total ~15 miles (one way), 4400' accumulated ascent (5300' descent). Have to come back for the acclaimed beargrass show, or maybe in fall.

Camping: we stayed at Ion Creek campground (on FR76). Ideal location to the two trailheads this weekend. Reserved a double site ($38/night): a bit small for 8 tents. Otherwise, quite nice. Pit toilet is relatively clean. Water spigots. Crash cans. Every campsite has a picnic table (we have two), a fire pit (they sell firewood), enough tree separating the sites. It's a big campground. Not many mosquitoes.

Direction: Forest Road 25 south of Randle. Turn east onto FR 23. Continue south 9 miles and turn right onto FR 28. Continue 1 mile and turn left onto FR 29. Four miles down FR 29, turn left onto FR 2904, and in another 4 miles (gravel) was parking at about 3600 feet elevation.

2014.7.12-13 Marion Lake at Jefferson

A weekend of food and laughter with a group of women (13 total + 1 dog) at Marion Lake. Some first-time backpackers and our beloved hike leader Julie brought so much food: baguette, liver paté, smoked salmon, blueberry, apple, chocolate, cheeses, lentil salad, fresh leaf salad + homemade cookies, ratatouille, chicken curry, naan with spicy mango chutney, freshly picked sweet peas. More like a picnic than backcountry cooking.

7/12 Saturday. Hot, up to 34°C, and muggy. A late start, one couple was late, and some ladies wanted coffee. In and out of Einstein Bagel alone took at least half an hour. Then we picked up Monica at Salem airport, a bathroom stop at BLM Fisherman's Bend Recreation Site just west of Mill City. The drive along Detroit Lake is quite beautiful. Redistributed some weight (Becky decided share my tent, so she carried some of Sanjana's gear). Group photos at the trailhead. Finally we started the 3 mile walk to Marion Lake.

I took off earlier, to secure some camp sites south of the lake, as was instructed by Julie. But I followed the trail too far, until I realized that I was leaving the lake, then bushwacked down to the shore. Poor Carrie followed me. That slope was full of dead trees, not an easy descent. The lake shore is not flat at all. Nothing looks like a good camping site to me. So I went back. By that time, Julie and Dion had arrived, and they were able to identify some small pockets for tent sites. So rather scattered. Saw a deer. After setting up the tents, we had lunch, and as what women do, chatted forever. Julie even put up a hammock.

Finally at 4:30, we got up to walk to the other side of the lake, so we could see Three Finger Jack. After the first viewpoint, 2 turned back, after ~2 miles, all the rest turned back. I decided to check out what Julie mentioned: Misty Creek camping area. So I continued alone, with Julie's map. Only 15 minutes later, I saw this flat place, next to a creek (with skunk cabbages), with a clear view of the lake. Only 2 boys, and 2 tents, a blowed-up boat, view of Three Finger Jack. A much nice camping area than ours. I continued a bit over raised boardwalk, but lost interest soon. Saw another deer on my way back. Mosquitoes were out.

Dinner was a sumptuous affair. Carrie pumped everyone's water (I used my Steripen), including for washing. The water of Lake Marion is full of floating algae. No one bothered to swim, or even to take dip, given how hot it was. As the sun went down, Jefferson took on a pink hue. I retired to my tent not long after 9pm, while half of the group chatted into midnight.

7/13 Sunday. Cloudy. My phone battery was dead, so no photos. I was out of my tent ~6:30am. Repacked, and took off towards the Eight Lake basin. 1 mile to junction of Marion Mt. Beargrass starts. Then there's a small lake to the west, lots of mosquitos. Continued up maybe 2 miles to a saddle, where you can see the basin. Quite a good view, if not a bit eerie: no single living tree, all silver stems standing, with stretches of white beargrass at their feet, ~3 small shimmering water surfaces, Three Finger Jack right in front, and Mt Jefferson in the back. Thunder and lightening. First good size lake is Blue Lake. Quite big, decent water. But shores are too steep to camp. After that, there's a grassy area to the west of the trail big enough to put up 5 tents. John Lake looks quite nice, big, with a little island in the middle. Rain stopped. I had my breakfast on a small butte overlooking John Lake. Couldn't see other lakes, but many birds on these dead trees, including a hummingbird, a woodpecker entirely black and grey. Turned back there. By the time I reached the saddle, I saw 2 plumes of smoke. When I reached our campsite, everything was gone. I thought they went to Lake Ann for lunch, so I walked towards the parking lot, which passes by Lake Ann. At the wood bridge, I picked up a note left for me in a ziplock bag. When I got to the trail junction, Julie was there. It turns out that they worried about the fire (helicopter even came), so de-camped quickly, and now waiting for me at Marion Fork Restaurant at the turn of Hwy 22 and Marion Creek Rd. More food a drink, before we said goodbyes in the restaurant parking lot.