Loowit Trail GPX track

[awildman]

Does anyone have a good GPX track of the Loowit Trail (Mt. St. Helens) that they are willing to share? Send me a PM. Thanks!

[vibramhead]

I hiked it last year, and you can download the track here: http://gpsfly.org/g/1681

[mjirving]

Thanks Vibram I was going to look for a track shortly so this is great. Where did you start? That's not Marble Mtn Snow park I don't think is it? Also, what was your logic for starting where you did and did you consider any other start points? Did you go CW or CCW? Where did you camp and was it a good spot? Any other tips and tricks as I plan to do this in the fall.

Thanks

-GoalTech

[kepPNW]

One of the cooler things about gpsfly is when you hit that Analyze button, it pulls up some useful graphs. Move your mouse along either, and a marker pin moves along the track to match. Makes it real easy to answer many of your questions... June Lake TH is the closest you can park to Loowit (previous knowledge), about 1.4 miles based on the elevation/distance graph. The speed/time graph reveals the campsite.

[mjirving]

Cool, thanks for the tip.

[kepPNW]

I love gpsfly!

And this thread, because this is one I hope/plan to knock off this summer, too. That track reminds me of a question that's lingered for some time... I gotta wonder if there isn't someway to cross the South Fork Toutle higher than the tracks I've seen indicate? The maps I have indicate the trail, at one point, did do just that, but now it seems to be a much greater (and lower!) detour.

South Fork Toutle crossing - possible higher?

Anyone know?

[kepPNW]

Actually, there are two possibilities for "shortcuts" on that SW side, that together would probably cut 1.5 miles (or more)...

Dumb?

[Eric Peterson]

Did the Loowit 2x last summer, once from each direction and it seemed like the only safe way
was to cross the Toutle at the current crossing. A nice big wash out a few years ago
wrecked the old trail. Not sure about the other canyon you have marked...

[retired jerry]

on same day?

[kepPNW]

Yeah, I was wondering if those canyon walls might be too unconsolidated. Certainly seems to be worth a quick survey, though. In particular that one to the east.