Mt. Adams area via the Killen Creek trail 102820
Posted: October 29th, 2020, 3:59 pm
I keep thinking the season is over for higher altitude hiking and exploring and then comes another opportunity. Yesterday was another of those and I took full advantage.
It was a frosty morning in places but there were hints of a strong temperature inversion as I climbed higher. I ended up not needing my gloves, hat or even my coat! Nice surprise for so late in the season but it did conspire to make the trail very muddy in places as I hiked back down. Still, one of the nicest fall days ever.
The Killen Creek trail got my attention this time and the goal was to hike up to the PCT. Once there, I hiked south to where I left off last week and returned north. Continuing on, to a little past the junction with the Highline Trail, I headed off-trail towards Mt. Adams. The plan was to do a high loop and come down at High Camp and return but the terrain foiled it. Too rocky, and my sprained ankle is still bothering me. Still, I got close and will be back when there’s more daylight to be had. This getting up at 3 a.m. and driving for three hours is tough duty!
On the way back home, I noted that the many larch trees along the road are in full fall color as are the other deciduous trees to make this a most delightful drive.
I think I’ll take a break from Mt. Adams and hike the Indian Heaven area this weekend. Maybe back to Mt. Adams next week.
A few pictures from the hike, yesterday, Oct. 28th:
It's been a long time since I hit the trail pre-sunrise. Must try it more often: Mt. Adams and Takhlakh Lake, 7:02 a.m:
The trail has recently seen some major rebuilding and rerouting:
St. Helens' recent snow is gone:
Even the Goat Rocks look to be nearly snow-free:
I passed by a dozen frozen small lakes, only one of them on the map. I ventured out a few feet on one of them and it held my weight but I wasn't so brave as to go out farther:
Someone had some fun tossing rocks onto the ice on this lake a few days ago making interesting designs. I tried it but it was way too frozen now:
This is as high as I got, 6700':
My original mid-point goal was in the top center in this photo. Normally, not a problem, but my ankle was bothering me. My doc said to wrap it and stay off it for a couple of months. Like that's going to happen!!
I think I'll check this out next trip:
Interesting rock outcrop:
I passed by 6 or 7 folks in a group coming up the trail as I went back but that's it for the day. I saw one person from a mile off, climbing the High Camp trail, but a mile off doesn't count!
Closer:
Closer yet:
The map:
13.5 miles, 2902' EG
PS: I went back to Takhlakh Lake on the way back for this photo:
It was a frosty morning in places but there were hints of a strong temperature inversion as I climbed higher. I ended up not needing my gloves, hat or even my coat! Nice surprise for so late in the season but it did conspire to make the trail very muddy in places as I hiked back down. Still, one of the nicest fall days ever.
The Killen Creek trail got my attention this time and the goal was to hike up to the PCT. Once there, I hiked south to where I left off last week and returned north. Continuing on, to a little past the junction with the Highline Trail, I headed off-trail towards Mt. Adams. The plan was to do a high loop and come down at High Camp and return but the terrain foiled it. Too rocky, and my sprained ankle is still bothering me. Still, I got close and will be back when there’s more daylight to be had. This getting up at 3 a.m. and driving for three hours is tough duty!
On the way back home, I noted that the many larch trees along the road are in full fall color as are the other deciduous trees to make this a most delightful drive.
I think I’ll take a break from Mt. Adams and hike the Indian Heaven area this weekend. Maybe back to Mt. Adams next week.
A few pictures from the hike, yesterday, Oct. 28th:
It's been a long time since I hit the trail pre-sunrise. Must try it more often: Mt. Adams and Takhlakh Lake, 7:02 a.m:
The trail has recently seen some major rebuilding and rerouting:
St. Helens' recent snow is gone:
Even the Goat Rocks look to be nearly snow-free:
I passed by a dozen frozen small lakes, only one of them on the map. I ventured out a few feet on one of them and it held my weight but I wasn't so brave as to go out farther:
Someone had some fun tossing rocks onto the ice on this lake a few days ago making interesting designs. I tried it but it was way too frozen now:
This is as high as I got, 6700':
My original mid-point goal was in the top center in this photo. Normally, not a problem, but my ankle was bothering me. My doc said to wrap it and stay off it for a couple of months. Like that's going to happen!!
I think I'll check this out next trip:
Interesting rock outcrop:
I passed by 6 or 7 folks in a group coming up the trail as I went back but that's it for the day. I saw one person from a mile off, climbing the High Camp trail, but a mile off doesn't count!
Closer:
Closer yet:
The map:
13.5 miles, 2902' EG
PS: I went back to Takhlakh Lake on the way back for this photo: