Dollar Lake (Attempt) Backpack

6 miles of hiking • 1500' elevation gain • 1 night

Our original plan was to hike to Dollar Lake to set up camp for two nights, with day hikes to Barrett Spur and Elk Cove. We started at the Vista Ridge Trailhead. About 200 yards up the trail, the snow started and averaged around 2ft deep in most places. We did encounter a few people (including a hunter in camo no one noticed until they walked by him!) and they were all telling us the same thing. "You can get to Wyeast Basin, but after that the snow gets really deep really quick" We decided to continue and evaluate the situation as soon as we reached the Timberline Trail junction. As we came out of the burn area and walked along the ridge to the trail junction, Mt. Hood was there in all his glory, as well as crystal clear views of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Adams to the north. We continued to the trail junction and took a left to continue to Dollar Lake. We walked through Wyeast Basin and made it another 1/8 mile before encountering thigh high snow. We decide to set up camp at Wyeast Basin instead.

We set up two hammocks and one tent. My hiking partners wanted to see if they could go to Dollar Lake without heavy packs so they took off to see how far they could get. I sat out in the meadow, covered in snow, and basked in the sun, enjoying the view of the mountains to the north. We had a great dinner that evening when my friends returned to camp. I tried steam baking for the first time and was moderately successful with some cheddar bacon biscuits to go with my rice/beans/chicken/cheese FBC meal. Washed everything down with hot cider spiked with honey whiskey. :) It got dark quickly, so we all retired to our respective sleeping quarters.

The night was quiet with the exception of some wind whipping through the trees occasionally. It was a clear night, but we stayed fairly warm in the trees. I used my 20F quilts in my hammock setup and at one point had to shed some layers I was so warm.

Because we got to bed early, we also got up early, around 7a. We had decided the night before to only spend one night out since the weather forecast when we left was showing possible rain showers the second night. Breakfast was a leisurely affair, I made a new specialty of eggs, hashbrowns, chicken, and cheese...it was worth carrying the small one-egg wonder frying pan. Recipe is forthcoming as soon as I perfect it. I washed it all down with a fresh cup of coffee ala Trader Joe's coffee packs and some Medaglia d'Oro espresso powder.

My hiking partners wanted to go back to Dollar Lake for a Barrett Spur attempt. I wanted to read and relax so I stayed behind. They made it to the bottom of Barrett Spur before turning back. They arrived back at camp just before 2p and we packed up and headed out. The snow was much more slick and we took it slowly down the trail into the burn area. At one point I slipped and fell on my a**. I couldn't stop laughing! It was quite comical. I got back up, no harm, no foul. We continued on down the trail eventually coming to a point where the snow had started to melt, then onto some muddy parts and then finally just dirt trail again.

We encountered quite a few people on the trail both days, in various states of dress and readiness. We were prepared for snow and winter weather, so there were not too many surprises for us. In retrospect, micro-spikes or even snowshoes would have been nice. The weather was phenomenal with blue skies and lots of sunshine.

After doing the Timberline Trail earlier this year, I think I may have fallen in love with this side of Hood. The views are stunning and the trails offer so much to see and do. I look forward to getting back there in the coming year.

View the resource page used for this triphttp://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Vista_Ridge_Trailhead