11 miles of hiking • 5750' elevation gain •
Probably the best use of a vacation day ever. Incredible day on the volcano, with visibility extending beyond 180 miles. To the north, we could see the Olympics, Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, and of course Mount Rainier loomed large. To our east, Mount Adams and Goat Rocks dominated. To the south, there was Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Three Sisters, Mount Washington, and Three Finger Jack. Saddle Mountain was prominent to the west.
Snow was incredibly absent, not being a constant presence until probably 6000'. Traveling the worm flows was awful. We discovered that, minus snow, there was a "Good Worm!" and a very "Bad Worm!". Definitely choose the more eastward worm, if you have the option. We took that down, and were very happy there.
The temperature when first hitting the summit was a balmy 69°! Most comfortable day I've ever experienced up there. We lingered for well over an hour; me in shorts and shirt sleeves! Yowsa... :-)
