Photo of the Month: Sunrise over Mt. Adams

Mt Margaret Backcountry [Mt. St. Helens, Washington]

Trail: Boundary Trail #1

Distance: 11 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain: 2,188 ft

Access: Norway Pass Trailhead on Forest Road 26

Rating: Difficult

Agency: Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot N.F.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/mountsthelens/

Trail Description:

The Boundary Trail #1 is a historic trail connecting Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens across rugged parts of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. One portion of this trail winds through the Mt. Margaret Backcountry within the Blast Zone of the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens. Passing through the blown-down forest, the trail has little vegetation cover and is largely exposed to the elements. Large shrubs and young coniferous trees line the trail at times, but most of the hike is lined with small bushes of huckleberry, salmonberry and wildflower fields of indian paintbrush, lupine, fireweed, pearly everlasting, mariposa lily and more. Fine dust and ash make up the trail floor, making it difficult to keep oneself clean on a hot summer day. This combined with an elevation gain of about 500 ft/mile make this hike more challenging than others within the Monument. From the ridge are excellent views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens, with views of Mt. Hood in the distance. Water can be found on the trail via a pump at the trailhead, and springs north of Bear Camp, the only designated camp site before the summit of Mt. Margaret. Be sure to bring at least a few liters of water for this hot and steep hike.

Route:

From Norway Pass Trailhead, follow the Boundary Trail straight ahead toward Norway Pass.

At 1.2 miles, continue right at the junction of the Independence Ridge Trail #227A.

At 2.2 miles, continue right at the junction of the Independence Pass Trail #227.

At 3.1 miles, continue left at the junction of the Lakes Trail #211.

At 4.9 miles, continue left at the junction of the Whittier Ridge Trail #214.

Continue for 0.6 miles to the summit of Mt. Margaret.

Directions:

From the North: Take I-5 to exit 68. Follow SR 12 to Randle, then follow signs for Mt. St. Helen's and turn right for FR 25. Continue on FR 25 until the junction of FR 99, turn right on FR 99. Just before Meta Lake viewpoint, turn onto FR 26. Norway Pass trailhead is 1 mile up the road on the left.

From the South: Take I-5 to exit 21 (Woodland exit).

Turn right onto SR 503 toward Cougar. SR 503 turns into FR 90 four miles east of Cougar. Continue on FR 90 for 15 miles until it turns into FR 25. Continue on FR 25 for 25 miles, turn left onto FR 99. Just before Meta Lake viewpoint, turn onto FR 26. Norway Pass trailhead is 1 mile up the road on the left.

View from Mt. Margaret to Mt. St. Helens

Photo of the Month: Wildflowers of Mt St Helens

This American Life

Driving a Chevy pickup

in the mountains, listening

to This American Life.

Its raining.

Ape Canyon Trail [Mt St Helens, Washington]

After a wet winter thats extended into mid-July here in the mountains, it had been hard to find open trails around many Cascade peaks throughout the Northwest. Spending another summer as a ranger on Mt. St. Helens gives me the excuse to hike to access trail conditions for visitors. Today's adventure brought my hiking partner Sarah and I to the Ape Canyon trail on the south side of Mt. St. Helens.

My second time on the trail proved as good as the first. Ape Canyon trailhead is located at the end of Forest Road 83 in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The parking lot is unmarked, but is on the left just before the sign for Lava Canyon trailhead. The trail is 5.5 miles up the flank of the mountain. It starts out on an old, forested lava dome and snakes its way through noble firs and hemlocks on the side of the Muddy River, where a lahar swept through the forest during the 1980 eruption, creating a barren moonscape. It ascends the south flank through old growth forest at a steady grade, occasionally switch-backing. The trail emerges through tree-line after about 5 miles, and another .5 mile to the junction of the Loowit trail terminates Ape Canyon trail with a fantastic view of Mt. St. Helens...if its a nice day.

The trail gains 1300ft in elevation and is a moderate hike. Ape Canyon trail is also popular among mountain bikers, so be aware, especially if it is a nice day! This is a nice forested trail to gain access to the mountain, and ample opportunities to see wildlife and a dramatic volcanic landscapes created by Loowit's eruption in 1980. Though we had few options of decent trails to hike with so many of our roads closed, Ape Canyon is worth it, regardless of weather, as you will always feel like you are much smaller than the mountain barreling upwards beside you.

Overview:

Ape Canyon Trail

Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Forest Road 83

5.5 miles, one-way uphill

Moderate Hike

Trail of Ten Falls [Silver Falls State Park, Oregon]

Silver Falls State Park is one of the most versatile and engaging parks in the Willamette Valley. Situated just outside of Silverton, Oregon, about 25 miles east of Salem on OR-214, the Trail of Ten Falls follows the North and South Forks of Silver Creek past 10 dramatic waterfalls along a moderately sloped river trail. This trail's versatility comes from the three loop options for viewing the falls, making these trails accessible to those looking for a variety of experiences. A short loop option is available for visitors who do not want to travel into the depths of the wilderness for some nice waterfall views, but intermediate and lengthy loop options exist to satisfy the cravings of hiking enthusiasts that have travelled out of the way to spend time in nature.
The trail starts out at the South Falls trailhead from south falls parking lot F. The Trail of Ten Falls is actually a loop trail consisting of 2 trails: Canyon trail and a return trail. From the trailhead, follow signs for Canyon trail to view South Falls immediately next to the parking lot. Follow Canyon trail to Lower South Falls for another spectacular waterfall. Here, tired visitors have the option to return to the parking lot in a 2.8 mile loop via the Maple Ridge trail. Otherwise, continue on Canyon trail to visit Lower North Falls, Double Falls, Drake Falls, and Middle North Falls. Past this last falls, visitors have the option to return to the parking lot in a 5.2 mile loop via that Winter trail. From here the Canyon trail continues moderately along the Silver Creek, past Twin Falls, North Falls, and Upper North Falls. From North Falls, the Canyon trail ends, and the Rim trail returns visitors to the parking lot in a 7.1 mile loop. On the return, stop by Winter Falls on the Winter trail to see the last waterfall before returning to the car.
The Trail of Ten Falls loop trail is an easy trail to follow with well marked signs, wide paths, and moderate elevation gain. The views are spectacular, with 3 possibilities to walk behind these giant waterfalls as the basalt rock they flow over withstands erosion, creating giant ledges to walk under. For anyone in the Northern Willamette Valley, Silver Falls State Park is worth the trip.

Overview:

Silver Falls State Park is accessible via OR-214, 25 miles east of Salem.

The Trail of Ten Falls from South Falls trailhead:

2.8 mile loop: Canyon Trail to Maple Ridge Trail

5.2 mile loop: Canyon Trail to Winter Trail

7.1 mile loop: Canyon Trail to Rim Trail

For more information:

Oregon State Parks and Recreation

Willamette Valley Snowstorm [Corvallis, Oregon]

Jackson-Frazier Wetland [Corvallis, Oregon]

Hundreds of years ago, the majority of what is now Northeast Corvallis was wet prairie wetlands fed by coastal mountain streams. As urban development and agriculture grew in the Willamette Valley, local ecosystems like the wet prairies were changed with shifting land use demand. What remains of this sacred ecosystem can be found in 144 acres of restored wetlands on the north edge of Corvallis in the Jackson-Frazier Wetlands, where Jackson and Frazier creeks meet to saturate the soil, creating an ecosystem whose primary benefit is to purify flowing water and control flooding. Snow showers and cold frosts are also rarities in the valley, but greeted me one morning when I decided to go for a walk around the wetlands. The frozen boardwalk and trees dusted with snow was the best way to wake up, better than any cup of coffee, as the crisp air filled my lungs. Evidence of beaver was abundant as the boardwalk passed downed trees and the beginnings of a beaver dam across the creek. The Jackson-Frazier boardwalk trail is a short, 0.8 mile loop interpretive trail that is a popular place for neighborhood runners. Being ADA accessible with interpretive signs sharing information on the wetlands' 300 flowering plants and abundant migratory bird species makes this trail attractive to a more diverse group of community members including educational groups and the disabled. In fact, this trail is perfect for almost anyone to come clear their head and take a walk in the woods. The Jackson-Frazier wetlands are managed by Benton County and open year-round, allowing visitors to experience the vivacity this land shares as each season comes and goes.

For more information:

http://www.co.benton.or.us/parks/facilities/jackson_detail.php

January Trip to San Francisco

Photo of the Month: Mt Hood, Oregon

Swift Ski Trail, Mount St Helen's National Volcanic Monument, WA

Taking advantage of a long 3-day weekend, what else is there to do but embark with some good friends, good food and a bottle of champagne on an epic snowshoe journey to Mount St Helen's!? Ok, I know I call every trip I venture into "epic," and maybe this time I am exaggerating a bit. New, exciting and challenging are better adjectives for our hike this weekend because, as we all came to find out, snowshoeing is a shit hell of a lot harder to do than normal hiking. Perhaps in place of epic, "adventurous," "monumental," "Herculean," or "very long" may suffice. Yes, I do believe this trail was "very long."

Our hike started at Marble Mountain sno-park at the end of Forest Road 83 in Mount St Helen's National Volcanic Monument. Marble Mountain sno-park is a good place for winter camping as it has composting pit toilets and a sno-shelter stocked with wood and a wood stove. Sno-park permits are required and can be purchased at the Cougar Store in Cougar, WA and other retailers in the area for $21 for a single day pass, or $41 for a season pass. Our plan was to hike the Pine Martin ski trail #245E to the June Lake ski trail #216B, arriving at a frozen June Lake.

The Pine Martin ski trail #245E begins from the edge of the Marble Mountain parking lot and is an easy hike with steady up and down terrain accomplished by any beginning snowshoer. It is rated at a "moderate" difficulty. At 1.8 miles long, we only intended to hike the first mile of the trail to the junction of the June Lake ski trail, but about 1/2 mile in, a wide and shallow stream crosses the trail, and having inadequate boots to handle even a small stream crossing, we swung a left onto the #244 Swift ski trail.

The Swift Ski Trail #244, also rated at a "moderate" difficulty, was a challenge for all three of us on the trail, even with our relatively good physical fitness level. The trail is 2.2 miles to the junction of the June Lake ski trail, and is uphill the entire way. It is a relatively constant grade, but taxing non-the-less for anyone even little out of shape. It took a good part of 3 hours to make it to the junction of the June Lake trail, but was a nice workout weaving through doug-fir, western hemlock and pacific silver-fir forests.

We attempted the top half of the June Lake ski trail, but about 1/4 mile down a very steep hill we decided to give up and turn around back down the mountain. Did I mention it rained heavily the whole weekend? I still recommend snowshoeing as an activity everyone should try once. I loved it, both of my friends hated it. To get to Marble Mountain sno-park from the highway, take Interstate 5 east to State Route 503 to Forest Roads 90, 83, 8312 junction.

Summary:

Mount St. Helen's National Volcanic Monument, Marble Mountain Sno-park

Pine Martin ski trail #245E, "moderate" difficulty rating with varied terrain

Swift Ski Trail #244, "moderate" difficulty rating with uphill terrain

June Lake ski Trail #216B, "difficult" difficulty rating with uphill terrain

For more information:

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/winter/