St Helens: Spirit Lake to Alpine Butte via Forsyth Glacier
Posted: July 16th, 2020, 8:53 pm
Started with the walk on the gated road from Windy Ridge TH down to the blast zone. Just before dawn, I was shocked to find a U$F$ truck coming down the road behind me. He parked next to an unmarked SUV, and I passed by and started down the Truman Trail. I was finally going to head down to the south shore of Spirit Lake for my first visit, but noticed somebody ahead of me, likely the driver of the vehicle joined by the U$F$ truck. I was guessing the U$F$ employee(s) would be along shortly, so I scrapped my forbidden side-trip. Besides (sour grapes) I think I procrastinated too long. It's getting really overgrown down there, and I bet the dramatic views/scenery from that shore are a good decade behind us.
Next I visited the confluence of Loowit Creek and Step Creek (down Loowit Creek from Loowit Trail, then up Step Creek). That was slightly interesting.
Then up Loowit Creek from Loowit Trail to Loowit Falls. Wow, Loowit Creek is just falls after falls, through steep canyons, beautiful and fun. I had to eventually get across the creek to the east side, and would have been nervous about that except that I've done it several times (although never on a hot afternoon).
Down the Loowit Falls trail, then east on Loowit Trail, then up the general neighborhood of Forsyth Gully to the Forsyth Glacier, which is now just a rubble heap (possibly some stagnant ice beneath). It was as ugly as I figured it would be, but I was curious.
Then spiraled clockwise up the mountain to the slopes above Plains of Abraham. All day, a helicopter had been ferrying loads to several monitoring stations, and I was looking forward to looking down on the one above the north end of PoA, but when I arrived there it looked normal. Hmm. Saw evidence of recent landings on Alpine Butte, so headed over there (was on my itinerary anyway).
Down to Windy Pass (fast!) and up Alpine Butte (fast!) for my first visit. Neat spot. Gravel exhibited slight concentric circles, about the size of washboarding on a gravel road. I attribute this to multiple helicopter landings. I can't even guess what they were up to. Oh, and there were a couple trips to the vicinity of the Spirit Lake bathtub-overflow too, in addition to the monitor visits.
From Alpine Butte, I dropped north on a fun scenic shortcut to Abraham Trail. First time for that.
As much as I love clouds for the way they enhance scenery and create a mystique, I wanted a clear day to see how things fit together, and I finally got it. Not a cloud all day. Unfortunately, the cooling breeze that was forecast finally arrived a little too late to really help much, and by 7 or 8pm it was getting a bit uncomfortable (especially dust in the eyes). Overall, not a bad weather day.
Afterthought: I just remembered how funny it was watching goats react when the helicopter came over a ridge. It was as if they had never seen one before. Panic!
Next I visited the confluence of Loowit Creek and Step Creek (down Loowit Creek from Loowit Trail, then up Step Creek). That was slightly interesting.
Then up Loowit Creek from Loowit Trail to Loowit Falls. Wow, Loowit Creek is just falls after falls, through steep canyons, beautiful and fun. I had to eventually get across the creek to the east side, and would have been nervous about that except that I've done it several times (although never on a hot afternoon).
Down the Loowit Falls trail, then east on Loowit Trail, then up the general neighborhood of Forsyth Gully to the Forsyth Glacier, which is now just a rubble heap (possibly some stagnant ice beneath). It was as ugly as I figured it would be, but I was curious.
Then spiraled clockwise up the mountain to the slopes above Plains of Abraham. All day, a helicopter had been ferrying loads to several monitoring stations, and I was looking forward to looking down on the one above the north end of PoA, but when I arrived there it looked normal. Hmm. Saw evidence of recent landings on Alpine Butte, so headed over there (was on my itinerary anyway).
Down to Windy Pass (fast!) and up Alpine Butte (fast!) for my first visit. Neat spot. Gravel exhibited slight concentric circles, about the size of washboarding on a gravel road. I attribute this to multiple helicopter landings. I can't even guess what they were up to. Oh, and there were a couple trips to the vicinity of the Spirit Lake bathtub-overflow too, in addition to the monitor visits.
From Alpine Butte, I dropped north on a fun scenic shortcut to Abraham Trail. First time for that.
As much as I love clouds for the way they enhance scenery and create a mystique, I wanted a clear day to see how things fit together, and I finally got it. Not a cloud all day. Unfortunately, the cooling breeze that was forecast finally arrived a little too late to really help much, and by 7 or 8pm it was getting a bit uncomfortable (especially dust in the eyes). Overall, not a bad weather day.
Afterthought: I just remembered how funny it was watching goats react when the helicopter came over a ridge. It was as if they had never seen one before. Panic!