Coldwater Lake loop with the family 10/19/2013

NW Hiker Field guide for this hiker

EG:1600' Distance: 12.2 miles

Before starting out at the Coldwater Ridge TH, we drive up to the Loowit viewpoint, so the family could get a good view of the crater and lava dome.

pano from Loowit viewpoint

Mt St Helens from Loowit viewpoint

After a short visit to the viewpoint, we drove down and parked at the Coldwater Lake TH.  Leaving the TH at 1040am, we walked along the shoulder of the HWY to the Coldwater Ridge TH.  It is about 1.5 miles between the two. 

the most unremarkable part of the hike

lots of caterpillars on the road

 The trail climbs steadily for a little over 3 miles going from about 2500' elevation to 4100' elevation on the ridge.  

The first part of the trail is in a forested area filled with Alder trees.  There was a variety of mushrooms popping out of the shrubbery.  

Just a few, of the many, mushrooms along the trail

lots of frogs out

gnarly wood

After about a mile and a half, the trees stop and the ridge is pretty exposed.  At around 3 miles, you will see a few spots where there is logging machinery leftover from before the eruption.  The area had been owned and logged on by Weyerhaeuser, but after the eruption, the land is now part of the Mt St Helens National Monument.

twisted metal

fire extinguisher still in place

some kind of air filter?

Cher peeking through

checking out the equipment

It was surreal to see this equipment.  Some of the metal was marred, but then there would be rubber hoses and parts of an air filter that held up pretty well during the blast and the weather of the last 30+ years.  

We decided to take a break near one of the tractors for lunch.  

Time for lunch

After a short break, we continued on the trail, heading up for a little further.  

lots of landslides on the west-side of the lake

Mt Minnie is getting closer

Mt St Helens peaking from behind Coldwater Ridge

The highpoint was at 4090' and at about trail mile 3.  We then started heading down.  We started entering an area with more trees and shrubbery.  There are a few streams that you pass by on the way down, eventually coming to the bridge over Coldwater Creek.

footprint of the elusive 3-toed Sasquatch

enjoying the creek view

We spent a few minutes enjoying the creek and then continued on.  The trail on the west side of the lake is rolling.  There are a few stream crossings, most of them had logs to crossover.  There are a few spots with huge downed trees.  The is plenty of room to walk under them.  

mom about to walk under the trees

finally on the other side of the lake

There is a large landslide area that is pretty rocky, but if you look closely, you can spot a trail.  There are also cairns to help.   We came across a few parties that were going to opposite direction on the trail.  I didnt ask if they were intending on doing the loop, or just going to the bridge.

the island is a hummock(or a piece of the mountain that was blasted off during the eruption)

the setting sun made for some beautiful colors

We made it back to the TH at 6pm.  This was the longest dayhike we have been on and boy were we feeling it!!  It is a beautiful area to explore.  There were a few spur trails leading to Coldwater Peak and to the Mt Margaret backcountry.  We were so fortunate to have a perfect day and be able to spend it with our family!

the perfect find on the hike...

Ramona Falls 9/14/13

PH field guide entry for Ramona Falls

EG: 1100' Distance: 7miles

We decided to do a day-hike up to Ramona Falls with mom.  We chose Saturday, since there were T-storms in the forecast for Sunday.

Cher and I at the trailhead

 It was a beautiful day.  We arrived at the trailhead and got on the trail around 10am. The forest is amazing in this area.  There was moss and mushrooms everywhere.  It was beautiful.  I love all of the large boulders that are randomly placed throughout (probably from an ancient eruption).

Cher's stache is getting a little outta control

mossy trees

Do you see that rock?

The trail goes along the Sandy river for about 1.5 miles, where it goes down to the river and crosses it.  We took a few minutes at the river to wet our hair and cool off a little.  

The river level was pretty low, but it was still rushing along.

the "trickle" of a river

The girls

cooling off

the rushing river

"Sassquats"

Cher and Mom

the bridge crossing

Cher on the bridge

There she is...

what a beauty!!

 We spent about 10 minutes at the river and then continued on the trail.  The path start to gain a little more elevation after crossing the river.

After about mile 3, you come to the junction with the PCT.  

PCT

new FS sign

slightly older sign

Going to the left, at the junction, you have just about 1/3 mile more, until you get to Ramona Falls.  Not too far from the falls, there is a fence/corral area to keep horses away from the falls.

When we got the the falls, there was a humongous raven in the area.  He was amazing! I have never seen one up close before.  He was about 4 times the size of the little crows that I always see.  He was just hanging out, waiting for forgotten food, I'm sure.

We ate some lunch, took some pictures and refilled our water bottles.  There were a lot of people at the falls.  We spotted a few mushroom collectors passing by...one of them had a layer of mushrooms in his bucket.

We spent maybe 45' just enjoying the beauty, as well as the cool breeze coming off the water.

Ramona Falls

interesting moss covered rocks

On our way back, in the horse corral area, we took time to enjoy taking photos of all of the different mushroom species that were popping up.  It was pretty cool to see how many different ones there were.  I just wish I was familiar with edible VS toxic mushrooms.

a sampling of shrooms

It was a nice trek back.  The sun was really beating down on us.  By the time we got back to the river crossing, we were ready to take a soak!!

Cher and mom on the trail

We saw one group of horses on the way back

Cher admiring the river

"mini Mt Hood"

 We got back to the car just after 4 and our stomachs were starting to growl.  We decided to stop off at Calamity Janes on the way home for some burgers.

This burger and fries was a couple meals for me...crazy huge!!

It was a great hike.  We saw some nice little camp spots, near the falls, that we might take advantage of in the future.