Elk Cove and Barrett Spur

[drm]

I headed up onto Mt Hood for a night at Elk Cove and a hike up Barrett Sput. Last time I went up Barrett Spur, we stopped at the notch at 7200 feet, so I wanted to continue on. This time I went to the lower summit at 7700 feet. The small steeper section to the upper summit didn't look too hard, but it also looked like a slip could result in a bad fall. But I admit it looked harder when in front of me than it does in the photo here.

Heat and smoke from regional forest fires were pretty oppressive down low but though conditions were better at the trailhead at Laurance Lake, it was still smoky. It was 90's in Hood River but lower 80s at the trailhead.


Most of the hike up goes through the Dollar Lake Fire burn and there was a feast of fireweed on the way


Talk about feasts, the huckleberries were intense for a while midway up, though none at Elk Cove that I saw


western pasque flower and astor were intense in Elk Cove


Had a bit of rain overnight, so next morning it was a good bit clearer


more astor heading up towards Barrett Spur


more hippie heads (western pasque flower) heading up


500 feet above Elk Cove, Dollar Puddle is starting to get grungy


Looking up along the curving Barrett Spur from near it's start; only the lower summit is visible


At the notch on Barrett Spur at about 7200 feet, looking up at steeper terrain to the lower summit


The view from the lower summit, as far as I went, at about 7700 feet

[retired jerry]

Always a nice hike up there, thanks

Dollar Puddle getting grungy - after I saw dog swimming in it I never drink out of it. Get water from Wy'East or continue up trail towards Barret, when you get up to ridge cross over and there's a stream

[dibgerge]

Nice photos! Did you start from Elk Cove trailhead? If so, did you have any troublesome creek crossings? Thanks!

[drm]

Yes, Elk Cove trailhead near Laurance Lake. After crossing Pinnacle creek on a bridge, it just goes up the burned ridge, so no creeks except one tributary to the Coe, which has a decent sized log across and is almost down to rock-hopping depth anyway. The creek in Elk Cove can be crossed on the TT on rocks and sand too.

[dibgerge]

Yes, Elk Cove trailhead near Laurance Lake. After crossing Pinnacle creek on a bridge, it just goes up the burned ridge, so no creeks except one tributary to the Coe, which has a decent sized log across and is almost down to rock-hopping depth anyway. The creek in Elk Cove can be crossed on the TT on rocks and sand too.

Thank you ! I was reading the elk cove trailhead info on this website and it said "Former footbridge over Pinnacle Creek", so i wasn't sure that the bridge was still there