11.51 miles of hiking • 3500' elevation gain •
We were looking for some snow and we found it on this hike. We started at the Cast Creek TH. There were two other cars there, but we didn't see anyone the whole day. Snow was melting and falling from the treetops by about 3500 feet elevation. Snow on the ground shortly after that, and by Cast Ridge, a foot or more. There were footprints the whole way until the junction with the ZigZag Mountain Trail. The footprints went in the direction of Cast Lake. We went in the other direction and broke trail up the open ridge to East ZigZag. Views were fantastic with a mixture of colorful clouds and bluish skies, and the snow was still draping the trees all around. So wonderful! Most of Mt. Hood was hiding behind some clouds, but it did peek out for a minute after we returned back to Cast Ridge.
