Opening Photo:
Map of the hike.
We departed the Timberline Trail and took the Elliot East Moraine Trail first, returning via the Cooper Spur Shelter and the Timberline Trail at the end of the hike.
Bouldery in places, as it ascends up to the moraine.
Giant boulder next to the trail.
Once gaining the moraine ridgeline, the views opened up. Elliot Glacier down below and in front, Mt Hood above.
Notice where the creek comes out: the rock and rubble covered part of the Elliot Glacier is melting faster than winter snowfall can replenish it. The white portion of the glacier is not melting faster than it is being replenished. (According to an infographic by SplinterCat/Tom.
The narrow trail traverses the top of the moraine.
The Elliot coming out from under the snout of the Elliot Glacier.
Four-volcano view! Left to right: Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier, and Mt Adams.
Parkdale down below, and you can also make out the Parkdale Lava Flow at the base of the river canyon, just in front of Parkdale.
Flowing over the lip.
Mt Adams, Parkdale, and the Parkdale Lava Bed. The White Salmon Glacier is the large white spot on Mt Adams. The Avalanche Glacier is located just down below (barely registers as a small patch of white).
The end of the official trail along the ridge. From here, the trail leaves the moraine and travels south to meet up with the Cooper Spur Shelter.
View of Mt Hood and the Elliot Glacier from just a little bit further.
Camera died, so iPhone pics for now:
The trail follows below the moraine ridge, parallel to the trail on the moraine, before it cuts to the right to take you to the shelter.
Cooper Spur Shelter.
It was too dark the rest of the way down to the trailhead, but the trail down is the same approach up and down for the popular Cooper Spur Hike. Alpine tundra, a few switchbacks and sandy trail in places, and the rest of the way down in forest.
GPS Track:
Elliot Moraine Loop Hike 2019-08-23 08-23pm.gpx- (28.18 KiB) Downloaded 118 times