BeaverDawg went hiking May 2, 2015 11.5 miles 3,500 feet gained
Perfect sunny day with a light breeze.
We've done this hike twice before under very different conditions. First time was March 2008, there was lots of snow and we followed the only set of boot tracks we saw which took us up a very steep direct route to the summit. The next time we did this hike was August 2009. This time it was snow free and we could follow the actual trail up Heartbreak Ridge and to the summit. Unfortunately the stubborn clouds blocked pretty much all views so it was a bit disappointing.
This time it was great, we knew to avoid the difficult tread of the Westerly route down, and descended via the PCT to the North instead, which was a whole lot better than our two prior experiences.
There was a great variety of wildflowers in bloom and we could see St. Helens, Adams, Rainier, Hood, and the very top of Jefferson making it a 5-volcano day!
The perfect weather allowed us to relax at the summit and enjoy the wonderful view!
