Roman went hiking June 6, 2012 12.5 miles 3,000 feet gained

Coldwater Peak - did it!

5

The report is at: http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=11966 Edit: edited elevation and miles to the numbers measured by a hiker who did it with a GPS http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=13269

This shows my approximate route - I kept closer to SW side since there was much less snow than on east side where the trail goes

The slope below third rock wall was steep, it almost stopped me. Had to get into "snow well" and was able to get around

It wasn't as clear day as promised, but got the view of Mt. St Helens

Antennas on the top (not very top, actually)

Mt. Whittier (the ridge at left) and Margaret (extreme right)

View to NW

Coldwater Lake valley (only the small portion of the lake is visible)

Spirit Lake

On the way back: rime frost on the trees

Rock Arch

In no particular order yet... View of Coldwater from the beginning of the hike, from Johnston Ridge

There were some tracks for the first 3 miles of the trip

Wildlife

St. Helens from Devils Elbow

There's something eerie in the eruption blast zone... even 30 years later

Once past Harry's Saddle, all tracks ended and I was on my own. Getting to Coldwater requires going over the summit of a smaller mountain (steep terrain doesn't allow to go around). I call this unnamed butte a Stump Hill for the obvious reason

Looking up Stump Hill - still a while to go (Coldwater Peak just shows from behind it on the left)

Had great views of Spirit Lake almost the entire time

In a couple of weeks there'll be lots of glacier lilies in bloom

Past the Arch Ridge, I changed to crampons and went past Arch Ridge to a lower saddle - where the final steep ascent began. On the way, had a great view of Snag Peak (my toponyms). Stump Hill just shows to the left of it

After traversing a tricky Arch Ridge and gaining a saddle between Coldwater Peak and "Snag Peak", you get on SW side which has very little snow. Here is Wall 2 from just past Wall 1. Other than a few snowdrifts, this part was pretty straightforward

Summit block comes into view (the 3rd rock wall) - that's where the things get interesting again. The only way to go around it was on snow-laden and steep east side

Same, from the other spot

Frozen St Helens Lake and Spirit Lake (upper right corner from my snow balcony

Mt Whittier zoom-in from the summit

Mt. Margaret zoomed in (rounded summit on the right). The Dome rock can be seen just left of Margaret

Arch Ridge and my tracks

Back side of "Stump Hill", as seen from Arch RIdge. Note a huge snowdrift at the saddle

The lake finally turns blue

Down at Harry's Ridge junction. Pre-sunset light really warmed everything