Hike: Mt Adams South Climb to Lunch Counter, Trout Lake, WA

8,441 feet

Getting There

Wow. What an adventure! Total travel time was 3 hrs from my places to the trailhead. Google estimated 2h30m and Apple had it at 3h30m.

I took I-84 east to Hood River and crossed the Columbia River. Turn N onto WA-141 N to Trout Lake. From there, take Mt Adams Road to NF-80. To this point, I was on pavement but when you get to NF-8040, that's when the "fun" begins. It's about 3-4 miles of washboard. Ack! Brutal on my Jeep, esp after a rough spring and summer with multiple visits to the mechanic for a variety of issues. I tried to weave through at around 5-10 MPH but it was relentless.

I was actually relieved to get to a sign that said Rough Road Ahead. The next 3-4 miles was rutted and deep holes. More than once I second guessed my choice to come out there. I passed a guy that was camping right on the road. I tried to keep the dust down and said "good morning."

I took my time and hoped I would have another car coming down and we'd have to squeeze past each other. Ultimately, I had the road to myself.

At Morrison Creek Campground there's a gooseneck turn and the road changes to NF-500. This is the final stretch and it got even more interesting. There's a snow gate and sign that warns the road from there is steep and narrow. "Please no cars coming down!" There weren't but a couple dozen deep trenches for erosion control. Fortunately, I negotiated them just fine and never bottomed out.

Near the top, I saw a Suburban in my mirrors. I figured I'd pull over and let them pass. I was being extra cautious. A few turns later the Cold Springs Campground came into view. The trailhead is on the left and there's additional parking near the campground. The Suburban took the last spot so I continued a bit further and found a spot. Whew! I made it.

The Hike

Length: 7.26 mi
Elev. gain: 2,838 ft
Moving time: 4:02:06
Avg pace: 33:20
Calories: 2,440
Total time: 5:12:34

The air was brisk. I put on my long-sleeved shirt over my hiking shirt. I knew I wasn't summiting but considered taking at least 1/2 the water in the 6L bag. Two teens from the Suburban were taking turns using the vault toilet while the rest of their crew got ready.

I locked everything up and set out. I stopped at the trailhead, a bit surprised there wasn't a Sign In book like at Climber's Bivouac. I chitchatted with the family of 5 and we all set out. Within 100 ft, they stopped to let me pass. I wished them a good hike and zoomed past.

At Morrison Creek you reach the timberline. It's 1200 ft of elevation gain over 2.2 miles. Not bad. It's a decent trail but really rocky. Fortunately, there's a dirt path that weaves through the rocks.

I missed the trail and started climbing up instead of crossing the creek. I pulled out the map and rerouted. I could hear the family 100 yards behind me.

The trail climbs through rocks and a stand of trees. It's 1/2 miles and about 500 ft. I passed a woman and her dog and then, another woman and her dad. The trail is well-marked with lodge poles. There are signs that say the route varies in different conditions so I just sighted a lodgepole and chose a route to it.

It wasn't terribly difficult but slow going due to the terrain. Eventually, you're out of the trees and making your way up to Lunch Counter.

 

At several of the lodge poles there were rocky clearings for camping. It reminded me of the rock walls on Wind Mountain but in this case their for bivouacking on the climbing route.

A bit further up a white mountain goat was foraging in the rocks but by the time I was adjacent to it, the fella was resting and looking around. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I finally reached a lodge pole and large patch of snow. It seemed the trail went right through it. Lunch Counter was still another 900 ft of elevation and 0.7 miles above me. About then, the family of 5 from the Suburban arrived there as well.

8,441 feet

I saw a path of footprints in the snow but decided to take a rest and eat my sandwich. I wasn't sure if the snow was stable and if there were soft spots to be concerned about. I would have had to find some tracks to be more confident.

The family said they only had 3 sets of crampons for 5 people and that this was likely as far as they were going to go. They told me the woman and her dad had camped somewhere around here.

After I ate, I wandered to the edge of the snow and realized the foot tracks were not fresh. Hmm. There must be a path that skirted around the snow patch. I picked up some trash and when I got up, I was a bit light-headed. Definitely, not quite acclimated to the altitude. 

While I didn't quite reach Lunch Counter, I was glad to have reached this point. Definitely need a bit more experience to summit this mountain but it's not out of reach. I have most of year to get ready and maybe find a climbing partner.

Successful day. I chitchatted with the parents for awhile and talked a lot about Mt St Helens and my volunteer role.

I knew I had a bit a climb down and then a long drive on that rough road so I set out down the mountain.

Actually, the descent was a bit easier. I'd got a little offtrack near my stopping point and it was easier to stay on the trail seeing it from the downward perspective.

After 100 yards I looked back at where I'd come from and noticed a pair of climbers crossing the snow patch. They were higher up than where I'd stopped. 

Eventually they caught up and passed me as I snaked through a stand of trees. They had camping gear, helmets, crampons, ice picks, and Scarpa Climbing boots. Yep. I've read trail reports of people doing the climb in trail runners and microspikes but that probably comes with years of experience.

Down by Morrison Creek, they were stopped. One of them was changing out of the heavy-duty boots and putting on open-toed sandals. Brave soul. I would have stubbed my toes in 10 feet. It's why I love my Keen sandals with the toe guard!

I passed some day hikers that were exploring off the trail and two sets of climbers that were decked out in the all the necessary gear.

The Drive Down 

Again, I was concerned about having to negotiate around cars that were coming up the road but fortunately I didn't happen on the narrow, steep section. 

At a wide section, I pulled over when I saw two cars coming down the road behind me. It was a sedan and those two climbers I'd seen on my descent in a lifted pickup. There was one car coming up, a Subaru. The driver and I waved at each other.

At Morrison Creek Campground, I took a spin around.

I made it through the erosion control trenches and ruts & holes. I hated reaching the washboards. It sucked. I thought about my poor Jeep taking the abuse. I keep the speed down to 5-10 mph but still it vibrated the vehicle. At wider spots I tried an S pattern so that the 4 wheels were hitting the lateral ruts at different times. I noticed my phone in its mount on the dashboard was shaking less violently. A few trucks came up the road and one guy on a motorcycle with no helmet.

I was so relieved to see my navigation app (Google) show NF-80 in 1.4 miles. That meant pavement. I watched the distanced to it decrease until I saw the junction. So happy to be on pavement.

Maybe when I do the climb, I'll advocate to take my future climbing partner's car!!

 

Hike: Stagman Ridge Trail, Mt Adams, WA

Getting There

From Hwy 14 across from Hood River, take WA-141 N.  Follow it for 19.0 mi, then it's a slight right onto Mt Adams Rd (signs for Sno-Parks/Recreation Area). Follow it for 1.3 mi, then continue straight onto Buck Creek Rd/NF-23/Randle Rd. Continue to follow NF-23 for 7.7 mi. Then, it's a slight right onto NF-8031. Follow it for 0.4 mi. Continue straight onto NF-070 for 3.1 mi, then turn right onto NF-120. The trailhead parking lot is 0.8 mi.

The gravel road is in pretty good shape, just a few potholes to keep an eye out for.

I didn't keep track of the time but I took I-84 from Portland. Google Maps estimated the trip to be about 2 hrs.

The Hike

Unfortunately, AllTrails app messed up again and I didn't get a recording of the hike. I was able to reconstruct it with the Footpath app.

Length: 10.6 mi
Elevation gain: 2,182 ft
Steps: 24,571
Calories: 3,462
Floors: 261
Time: ~4 hrs

This was my first hike around the Mt Adams area. I remember exploring somewhere around Trout Lake in my pickup when I first moved to the PacNW in 2003, but I always considered it off-limits to non-Yakamas except by permit, like to climb to the summit.

All these years later, I learned it's only partly true. The west side of the mountain is not on Yakama land and there are a few trails and the PCT passes by. However, the southeast side of the mountain is only open to non-Yakamas for about a month in Sept (Aug 29-Sept 25) for hiking, camping, fishing/hunting by permit. I'm fairly certain that you can get a permit year round for climbing, probably like Mt St Helens.

This was my final hike for the Hike-A-Thon. I considered going to an old favorite (Hamilton Mtn) or finally checking Table Mountain off the list, but I decided a new hike. I looked up Mt Adams and looked up the directions to the trailhead.

I remember my camping trip at Takhlakh Lake a few years back and giving a ride to a resident of Trout Lake.

The 2-hour drive from Portland was comparable to anything around Mt St Helens, from south or north, or even Mt Hood.

I got a later start than I'd have liked in hindsight. I still got to the trail by around 1pm.

The hike starts in the forest but when you get to the ridge, you weave through an old burn. The trees are mostly dead, their limbs wrapped around the trunk like a dead insect. There's not much perceivable elevation gain but in the end, I did ~2000 ft of gain.

There were several pairs of hikers on my ascent; I mentally tried to estimate the groups to the number of cars at the trailhead.

I really didn't know what to expect. It felt a lot like the Vista Ridge or McNeil hikes at Mt Hood. I never made it above the treeline. Looks like it might if you follow the PCT North route.

Around 3pm, I started thinking about turning back. I could see PCT junction so I figured I'd at least make it there. When I got there I looked at the map again and estimated I could actually complete the Lookingglass Lake loop. Seemed like it'd be downhill a bit so could make good time.

Not far from the junction, I passed a group of three. That gave me confidence to keep going. Near the PCT North junction, I passed another pair. I asked them about the loop and continued.

When the trail reached the edge of the ravine and started to down, I had second thoughts. I really didn't know what to expect and it was then around 3:30p. I stopped and went back the way I'd come. Even though it wasn't much longer to retrace my steps, at least I knew the trail.

I passed a guy before I reached the junction. I thought dammit, I could have done the loop. Oh well. Next time.

On the way back I caught up with the pair I'd talked to and eventually passed them on the ridge.

Not much further ahead I reached the trio. I tried to make noise by stepping on twigs and such. I stopped for a min or two to let them get ahead.

They had a dog that had stopped on the trail. I was able to pass them there. 

Back at the car, I sent my "I'm done hiking" message on my InReach. I put it on the bumper while I stowed my gear and changed out of my hiking boots.

I hoped in the car and put on some tunes. A good hike.

About a 1/2 mile I stopped. Fuck, I'd left the InReach on the bumper. I turned around and headed back to the trailhead. I passed two cars. I was pretty sure it had fallen off the bumper just a little ways from my parking spot so I didn't bother looking until I was close. I just hoped that neither of those cars had run it over.

To my relief, I spotted it face down in the gravel just a few feet ahead of my parking spot. Hooray! it has a couple of scratch on the plastic but the screen is fine.

I look forward to going back and exploring some other areas.