High Hut Snowshoe

We headed up to Ashford and the South District MTTA trail to High Hut. Only the lower Sno-Park lot was open today. Our hike was about 8 miles round trip with 2,400 ft elevation gain. This was my 3rd trip here, and the first time I had views of Mt Rainier, Mt Adams and Mt St Helens, a great day!

 The trail is on old forest roads. so is easy to follow even when covered in snow.  There had fresh snow since the last time the trail had been groomed.  We didn't need to use our snowshoes until we passed the gate at the upper Sno-Park. Then we found some tracks to follow until the turn off to Snow Bowl Hut at 1.5 miles from High Hut, where we broke trail to the top.

 As the trail rose in elevation, we had a brief glimpse of Mt Rainier through the trees, before the clouds started to move in.

 Further up the trail, we could see across the valley towards Ashford, and in the far distance, the Olympic mountains.

 The snow covered trees and the fresh snow created a winter wonderland.

 Looking back down the trail as we neared the top.

 We were happy to see Mt Rainier in view behind High hut.

Panoram from the other side of High Hut

To the south we could see part of Mt Adams peeking behind a smaller peak.

Icicles hanging from the eave of High hut.

 View of Mt Rainier from the upper balcony of High hut.

 After a nice lunch break in the hut, we headed back down the trail, it looked like our hike would be in the clouds.

 The snow covered trees were beautiful.

 As we continued down the trail, we could see the clouds moving around.

 This trail has lots of twists and turns giving us different views Here we could see Mt Adams to the south of Snow Bowl hut.

 And further down, Mt St Helens peeking behind a hill.

We watched the sun go down, changing the colors of the sky.

 There was a fun hill with a funny "face" on the side.

 As the trail continued to turn, we had another view of Mt Rainier.