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18 miles of hiking • 4750' elevation gain • 2 nights

Just off a nice little loop in Badger Creek Wilderness. Day 1: got 7pm start and went up School Canyon trail (despite the name, it's all near ridge top and a lot of views - great trail) and camped near the only spring between the trailhead and Flag Point).The marker on the map shows my camp site. Day 2: up and down Flag Point. This section of trail has some heavy blowdown! Lookout is now staffed, but I climbed up to the cabin; the view slightly disappointed - Mt. Hood is partly obscured by a higher summit, Jefferson and Sisters - by the trees. In the evening visited the cliffs just below and to the east of Helispot viewpoint, just below my campsite - cool place and one group camped there the prior night. Day 3: Down Little Badger trail, very nice but a little hot, since it's just over 2,000' elevation. Lots of ripe strawberries in places. Checked out an abandoned mine. Got a free ride on the bus 1.5 miles uphill (with Mazamas) from the lower trailhead to Rd. 27, the last 2 miles went on the road. Next time, I'll bushwhack from the lower to the upper TH, was going to do it this time but was kind of beat up.

I definitely recommend the ridge trail (#468) and the lower (#469 below my campsite) trail, but NOT the trail from my campsite up to Flag Point.

18.2 miles, 4,880 feet

Staticmap?size=254x125&zoom=4&maptype=terrain&markers=icon:http%3a%2f%2fwenthiking.com%2fimages%2fmarkersmall.png&key=aizasydt2ewyqnn42qqnrpazuysi2dtyerccchw&center=45.3124,-121 Day 1 (decided to count exact miles & elevation). In the end spent almost 40 minutes looking for spring; found it already in the dark Day 2 - up and down Flag Pt. Day 3 - checked out Helispot and cliffs just to the east, then down at Little Badger Creek found an old mine; it's just off-trail - continue straight at the lower switchback The trail started pretty open - mix of oak trees and grassland There were lots of balsamroot flowers, maybe a month ago View east from saddle viewpoint Geology On the north side of Ball Point the flowers are still good The last of Balsamroot Cascade lily Hike back over blowdown Flag Point lookout was staffed and the cabin is closed, but I got up the ladder for better view Rainier and Adams Somewhat disappointing view of Mt. Hood Clear view east Larkspur My camp Pepper at Helispot (btw there is another good campsite with a view, but no shade) "Rock garden" just east/below the Helispot. There is a side trail among these rocks - very interesting place Miners' cabin Old Kinzel Mine It's about 80 feet long and J-shaped in the end Some wildlife in the end of the tunnel Was surprise to reconnect with my trail, never saw when I left it Strawberries! The last bit of road walk

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Comments

Water (Matt) and Chris heart this trip.
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Chris
July 13, 2011

Thanks for the map details! A regular Don Nelsen!

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Water (Matt)
July 14, 2011

this is for real awesome! love the detail. love the exploration and history. love the willingness to shwack to meet objectives!

thank you so much for thoroughly sharing!

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Roman
July 14, 2011

>Thanks for the map details! A regular Don Nelsen!

Haha:) To be Don Nelsen I'd need to log in 4000' every day of the trip, half of it off-trail, and to find an abandoned trail or two along the way.

It's really nice area, and with 4,100' max elevation of the loop (skipping the trip to lookout) it seems like one of the early snow-free backpacks for spring time