Harry's Ridge

Drove up to Johnston Ridge at Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument this morning to hike the Boundary Trail to Harry's Ridge, 8 miles round trip with 1,200 ft of overall gain. So lovely to see the wildflowers blooming and some mountain goats along the way. I had the trail to myself until I was coming back down from the Harry's Ridge and then only a few hikers out this morning. Near the beginning of the trail, I saw penstemon, paintbrush and lupine in bloom.

Lots of paintbrush and penstemon a bit further down the trail.

View of Coldwater Peak to the north

In the shadow on the west side of Devil's Elbow, I saw some mountain goats. I spent quite a while watching them and trying to get zoom photos.

zoom photos of the mountain goats

I also saw a couple of ground squirrels near the trail.

Mt St Helens from the east side of Devil's Elbow

There was a large puddle in the trail among the alder trees and this large toad jumped out in front of me

View of Harry's Ridge to the east.

The side trail up Harry's Ridge starts from the far north end, Mt St Helens can barely be seen peeking out to the right side.

Arnica in bloom along the trail, Mt Margaret in the background.

As the trail continues up Harry's Ridge, Mt St Helens begins peeking out on the left side.

pano from the top of Harry's Ridge looking east to south with Spirit Lake, Mt Adams, Mt Hood 

and Mt S Helens

zoom of Mt Adams

zoom of Mt Hood 

I continued hiking down the south end of Harry's Ridge for a ways. View form where I stopped and turned around.

I was so busy looking at the mountain goats on my to Harry's Ridge, that I didn't notice this big patch of lupine until I was hiking back to the parking area.

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today:

 

 

    

 

  

Packwood Lake

Drove to Packwood and up FSR 1260 in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to hike to Packwood Lake. I hiked almost to the south end of the lake for a hike of 12 miles round trip with about 800 ft of overall elevation gain. This hike is in the forest, a nice way to keep cool on a sunny day. Early on in the trail, I had this peek of Mt Rainier through the trees.

2 miles from the trailhead,  the trail enters the Goat Rocks Wilderness.

Shortly afterwards, I crossed this small stream.

Beargrass was in bloom along the trail.

About 4 miles from the trailhead, the trail leaves the Goat Rocks Wilderness before reaching the lake in another 0.25 miles. View of Packwood Lake near the ranger house.

About 0.2 miles further is a 1910 Ranger Station that is being restored.

Right after the old Ranger Station is a large bridge over Lake Creek

view downstream of Lake Creek from the bridge

View of Johnson Peak and Packwood Lake from the bridge

partial zoom of Johnson Peak and Agnes Island in Packwood Lake

zoom of Johnson Peak

view a little further down the trail

There were several streams over the trail on the east side of the lake.

About 3/4 mile from the ranger house, the trail re-enters the Goat Rock Wilderness. Another view along the lake.

From the east shore looking west

zoom of Canadian Geese on the lake

Streams and crossings as the trail continues south along the lakeshore.

Before the trail reached near the south end of the lake, I found a boot path from a camping spot to the edge of the lake, where large downed trees in the lake provided a spot to look north towards Mt Rainier. It was windy and the water in the lake was choppy as I took my photos. I took my lunch break back on shore.

zoom

Another view from the bridge as I hiked back.

some of the wildflowers and fungi seen along the trail today: