Coldwater Peak 09-16-16

[bobcat]

I took the Friday before the rainy weekend off and motored up to Johnston Ridge. It’s been about ten years since I’ve been up here I think: somehow I got it into my head that it was too long a drive from southwest Portland. Even with the commuter traffic, however, it took just two hours, which is my current limit for day hikes.

There were high clouds, but the mountain and its exposed entrails revealed themselves fully. The huckleberry bushes have all turned red, but there were still a few blooms about, especially paintbrush, cat’s ear, and both broad-leaf and dwarf lupine (It was the latter’s affinity for sandy/gravelly soils and ability to fix nitrogen that hastened the comeback of vegetation in the blast area).

I took the Boundary Trail, turned the corner at the Devils Elbow, crossed the Spillover, and hiked up through willow draws to Harrys Ridge. The view of the mountain from that point is similar to that at the observatory, but in addition, of course, you get to see most of the spread of Spirit Lake with Mt. Adams always on the eastern horizon.

From Harrys Ridge, it was up the Coldwater Ridge to pass through the natural arch and reach Arch Saddle. An elk herd was bedding down for their afternoon siesta in the valley below. From the saddle, it was a lovely walk above the sedge meadows that spill down into St. Helens Lake to the Coldwater Peak Trail.

A few switchbacks up, on a trail that had been frequented very recently by both elk and bear, and I was at the top, along with a summit swarm of several thousand flying ants, which infiltrated themselves everywhere and (inadvertently) added a little protein to my lunch.

On the way back, I encountered a ranger at the arch. She was carrying a new sign to set up at the Arch Saddle junction, where the Coldwater and Boundary Trails meet (There are two signposts there already). This one was to remind hikers that the Coldwater Trail did NOT go to Coldwater Peak (Apparently, there have been many complaints, I assume from hikers who don’t carry maps or research their trip properly beforehand).

[naturallog]

Very cool spread of the trees on St. Helens Lake and great report.

Yeah...I was glad I had my guidebook at that junction a couple of week ago

[romann]

One of my favorite views up there. Great pictures, your post reminded me of yet another place to see before winter.

[Peder]

Left to right: Mt Venus, Mt Rainier, the pinnacles on Mt Venus' SSE ridge and Pleasant Pass (hidden in the gash on the right)

On the way back, I encountered a ranger at the arch. She was carrying a new sign to set up at the Arch Saddle junction, where the Coldwater and Boundary Trails meet (There are two signposts there already). This one was to remind hikers that the Coldwater Trail did NOT go to Coldwater Peak (Apparently, there have been many complaints, I assume from hikers who don’t carry maps or research their trip properly beforehand).

Hilarious, to be ignorant is one thing, but to be upset when you do a stupidity and then blame it on the lack of signage is just glorious! At the MSHNVM HQ:

"What the @#$& do you mean that the sign "South Coldwater Trail" does not point to Coldwater Peak?"

[bobcat]

Left to right: Mt Venus, Mt Rainier, the pinnacles on Mt Venus' SSE ridge and Pleasant Pass (hidden in the gash on the right)

Thanks for the correction, Peder - and sloppy orienteering on my part: that whole area to the north is like Mars (or Venus) to me!

[Arturo]

Instead of posting another trip report I'll just add some pictures to this one.
This was my 2nd time ... first time we came up the ridge from the south trailhead. This time we took the boundary trail.
And I would do them both again ... maybe a shuttle ... it's such a majestic place.