Kyle Meyer went backpacking July 31 to August 1, 2011 11.5 miles 3,500 feet gained 1 night
My wife Christy's sister was in town from Florida and was getting the whirlwind tour of everything Portland had to offer for a week. My portion of that tour was picking a perfectly representative location to backpack. I decided we'd head up to McNeil Point and stay in the shelter up there. At the trailhead when asking about conditions, a lady told me the shelter is only for emergencies, that people pee in it, and that I shouldn't sleep in it. Psht, the shelter was phenomenal and devoid of urine. We kept a fire going in the fireplace most of the night, heating the stonework and keeping us warm all night.
Go to McNeil Point as fast as possible. The flowers are going off and it is epically beautiful right now. There's lots of snow still hanging on everywhere, but the McNeil ridge is snow free and really, really awesome.
While the ladies slept in the morning, I took a jaunt up to McNeil Peak. Beautfiul view of the Glisan and Sandy glaciers from up there.
Go here, now.
