16.5 miles of hiking • 3750' elevation gain •
Magical day in the blast zone! We followed South Coldwater Ridge up to the saddle over Saint Helens Lake, where we enjoyed lunch with an absolutely priceless view. Then found our way down a forbidden valley towards Harry's Ridge, made possible by nearly complete snow cover. We finally made our way over to Johnston Ridge Observatory, then down that ridge and back to the Hummocks.
The conditions were remarkable. Very little snow below 4000', and essentially none below 3500'. Temps hit 72°F at one point, and only a degree shy of that as we basked on the saddle enjoying lunch. The snow was mostly crispy, and easily walked upon, except for the occasional soft spot that seemed to exist solely to mock one for having the audacity to wear shorts and short sleeves in the middle of January!
This was a day to be remembered, perhaps forever. :-D
Comments
Karl
January 28, 2014
Hey, thanks, Pablo! :-)
It's hard to go wrong up there. I think I might even have mentioned a few times that day how it was one of my favorites spots anywhere.
Elsie
January 28, 2014
OMG photos are fantastic. Looks beautiful!
Karl
January 28, 2014
Thanks, Elsie! That's a loop I think I'll be doing almost every winter. Just gotta pick the right day. Here's what it looked like last March.
daniela makowski
January 29, 2014
ogh my gosh those photos are just ridiculously beautiful you should enter a contest also if you have isntagram or fb tag #rei1440 project to get featured!
daniela makowski
January 29, 2014
ogh my gosh those photos are just ridiculously beautiful you should enter a contest also if you have isntagram or fb tag #rei1440 project to get featured!
daniela makowski
January 29, 2014
ogh my gosh those photos are just ridiculously beautiful you should enter a contest also if you have isntagram or fb tag #rei1440 project to get featured!
Karl
January 29, 2014
So nice of you to say, Daniela! I'm just a P&S'er, though. The landscape is the true winner. Thanks! :-)
Pablo
January 28, 2014
Wow, some of those photos are calendar ready.