5/6 Sunday. A bit of rain in the morning. Muggy and warm, maybe ~mid 70s (°F). 10 women and 2 dogs hiked the lollipop loop of Cook Hill. Parking is on Cook-Underwood Rd. Walk up Jason Rd, and the trail goes off right there.
The trail starts gently over grassy hills with oak trees. Then it goes into woods. Typical flowers like Trillium, yellow Violet, lots of Minor's Lettuce, Dutchman's Breeches. I saw 2 Fairy Slippers. At the junction, turn right. ~30 minutes later, you break out into the first meadow, which probably has the best view. Balsamroot is quite happy here. Prairie Star, Chocolate Lily, Larkspur. Lupine was still in bud. 
Hike straight up here on increasingly faint trail. Half an hour later, reached the 2nd meadow. It's smaller, but you are now high enough to see Mt Hood. Had lunch here. 
Up from here, soon, traversing the 3rd open meadow. No more balsamroot. Then over a flat but wooded ridge (with obstructed view of Mt Adams) to an open area with power lines and cell towers. We saw 2 guys and 2 trucks. One guy climbed up the tower while we were there. Skirt by it and on to the gravel road. Take sharp left and down into the woods.
Coming back is a bit boring. Did see some Indian Paintbrush, and this cluster of mushroom. Don't see any of these anywhere else on the loop. Saw some Angelica_Arguta, and poison oak.Total about 8 miles, 3000' gain. All day, we met other hikers. Not crowded. I got picked up and dropped off at home.
