There were eight or nine cars at the Mazama Trailhead, but I only saw a single other hiker (two hikers if you include the four-legged variety) up to the junction with the TT. Pretty early on the trail traverses gently up a talus slope, and not long after that opens up to the first grand view of Mt. Hood.
The trail continues up through the edge of the Dollar Lake burn area, offering intermittent view of the mountain through bleached snags. The trail was a very hot and dusty in the burn zone, but there were only a handful of down trees across the trail and they were all easy to negotiate. The sections in the unburned forest were shaded and cool.
After re-entering the woods and climbing a bit more the trail opens up into a couple of meadows. I was too late for the beargrass, but there is a procession of different flowers blooming throughout. Then the trail re-enters the woods to a traverse the western side of the ridge before emerging again in a gully with a talus on one side and a lovely little stream down the middle. Unfortunately some clouds had moved in, shrouding the mountain.
Nonetheless I proceeded to the TT, and rock hopped across the west fork of Ladd Creek. None of the crossing were any trouble, I was able to keep my feet dry all day. I did the loop CW, visiting Eden Park first before stopping for lunch in the Wy'East basin and returning through Cairn Basin. Lots of great wildflowers, and lots of mosquitos too.
Also of note, you could see the smoke from the Fir Mountain fire out toward Hood River for much of the day.
