From the start, here's Tilly Jane Canyon as you head up toward the mountain from Cloud Cap:
One of the weathered old 4x4 posts that top the wayfinding cairns along this part of the Timberline Trail:
Mount Hood and a cairn post that has been carved to a toothpick by blowing ice and sand:
Mount Hood briefly disappears from view behind Cooper Spur as you hike south toward Gnarl Ridge, and when it reappears you're looking at the east face:
Buckwheat blooming way, way above the tree line:
Asters growing along one of the snowmelt streams near the high point on the Timberline Trail:
Lewis' Monkeyflower, also growing along a snowmelt seep:
Alpine aster near the high point on the Timberline Trail:
Ancient Mountain Hemlock creeping along the top of Gnarl Ridge:
The big view from the crest of Gnarl Ridge into Newton Canyon:
One of the many cascades along the north branch of Newton Creek where it drops into the canyon:
Close-up view of the crevasses and icefalls on the Newton Clark Glacier:
Wider view of the abyss from Gnarl Ridge:
...and the very widest view with my 9mm ultra-wide lens! Lots to see here, no lens can really capture it all...
There are a couple of very small water sources just south of the high point at this time of year, plus a spring in Tilly Jane Canyon. Otherwise, this is a dry trip that is almost entirely above the tree line, so it's best done on a cool day.
-Tom
