7/17, Sunday. Overcast with thunderstorm warning. It turned out to be great hiking weather. Even there're threatening clouds at times, not a single drop of rain. Total 4 of us. Very slow, as our hike leader is in her 70s. She's a botanist, so I learned a lot.
When we arrived at Timberline Lodge around 10am, it was sunny. Clouds were below us. Before descending to Zigzag, at the edge of the canyon, the view is superb. Many people choose to return at this point. 
To get to Paradise Park, you have to zigzag down to the Zigzag river, cross it, and go back up. The river crossing is easy with two installed small planks. At the trail junction of PCT and Paradise Loop trail, pick the right trail and go up. It starts to get very lush. We saw fields of Jacob's Ladder. There's another creek, with a good campsite before (closer to water) and after the easy crossing. A mile or less further, the view is more open, but plants are more sparse. More campsites. I did find a tiny creek with flowers next to it, probably will dry off in a month. I turned around after climbing on top of the Split Egg rock. The clouds were menacing by then. 
No thunder, nor lightening. By the time we regrouped and got back close to the lodge, the clouds dissipated.Met two ladies camping at Paradise Park near Mississippi Head (further than I went). They were very friendly and chatty. We had a drink on the balcony overlooking the west (the wrong side to see Mt Hood): clouds lay below us like a thick blanket.
My phone registered about 25K steps. So maybe 12 miles.
Flowers should peak in 2 weeks.
