Mt. McLoughlin (23 Sep 2023)

[ACuteSushi]

***DON'T CLIMB UP IF YOU CAN'T CLIMB DOWN***

Start: McLoughlin Summit Trailhead

Parking: Good dirt road to large, dirt parking lot. Northwest Forest Pass (cash pay station available)

Distance: 10 miles

Gain: 4,000'

Summit: 9,400'

Directions: Crossed (dry) creek almost right away. 1 mile in came to junction with PCT and went right. Next junction was a left. Followed the trail up to just shy of timberline. After that it mostly became a choose your own adventure through large boulders, though there was a healthy mix of paint, flagging, and cairns to guide us to the top (and down).

Conditions: Solid, easy trail until 1/2 mile after second junction, where it got a bit rockier/rootier. Timberline and above was choose your own adventure on boulders. Lots of class II stuff no matter what; class III if desired but could be avoided. Mild exposure depending on which trail, but could be avoided. Sometimes there was a sandy trail, but it was very slick so we mostly avoided. Below us there was smoke in all directions. RECOMMENDED: Stay higher up on the ridgeline when descending to avoid separating from the trail.

Worth It?: Yes, I would do it again if I were in the area.