17 miles of hiking • 4250' elevation gain •
We planned this hike with the intent of doing a Whittier loop. Have not done this before and it's high on my wish list. Started the day at Norway Pass, also a first, and began the climb up. I was having hamstring issues from the get go but hoped to walk them out. Got a couple of miles in and rounded the bend to the most scenic spot of Mount St. Helens I think I've seen to date. So amazingly beautiful! Stopped for a few pictures and headed on up to Bear Pass and then started down the Lakes trail. Another first for me. So this trail isn't my favorites of my adventures to date but the lakes back here are amazing. We knew from the Norway Pass TH there was a washout near the junction of Whittier and the Lakes trail, but decided to forge forward and see if it was passable. Here is where my research fell a tad short. we got there and the trail had stuff on the ground blocking it, but we went around to "check things out". Did not do us any good however because the trail was incredibly steep and hard to say if there was a washout, where it was. Decided to error on the side of caution and turn around and come back another day. I had tracks of this loop in my gps to help assist with navigation once we got to Whittier but for whatever reason I didn't think to stop and look at them, if i had I would've noticed both of them took off in another direction off the normal trail bypassing said washout :) That will teach me not to pay closer attention. There will be a next time however. This is a must hike goal of mine that will be accomplished. we retraced our route back out the lakes trail and ended the day with a bit of a let down on the Whittier angle but had a great day out in the backcountry!
