9.25 miles of hiking • 3000' elevation gain • 1 night
Joined Kelly from PH and 2 SAR veterans to hike Bismark Mtn and 2 other unnamed, untrailed summits on both sides of Rd. 26. Great day, all-around views, several deer and elk sightings, and loads of wild strawberries. Green, lush area with lots of wildflowers, but already very dry.
Kelly knows lots of stories and history on that area, apparently there were 500+ mines (!) in surrounding area and down at Spirit Lake. Also, before the 1980 eruption, you could drive onto Plains of Abraham (old road grade is still there in places). We still couldn't explain phone wire and old trail grade we saw on Bismark, there's any information about lookout tower, or pretty much anything on that mountain before the eruption.
