up to the lookout, passing some still blooming bear grass along the way.
Another post suggested there might still be snow above 3500’ in this wilderness but, no, there was no snow (save for a few small patches) anywhere. All the trails I used were free of snow and in great to OK condition. After less than 3 mi, I came to the lookout,
with its views of Jefferson,
Three Finger Jack and the Sisters,
and Hood and Rainier from its porch.
I would have liked to give work as a lookout a try – even if just for one season so I could finally read War and Peace. But, alas, they started going out of service about the time I first discovered the outdoors and hiking. From the lookout, I headed down the Welcome Lakes trail (554) along the ridge. Just before the trail turns down toward the lakes, it enters a recent burn,
which, unfortunately, has burned all around upper Welcome Lake, taking out the trees that once sheltered the campsite at the lake’s outlet. They’re all still standing, but once they start falling they’ll make a mess of trail 554 down to the lakes.
Even with the burn, it’s still a pretty little lake.
As I returned via Tr 556, it looked as though there might be a few trees left at lower Welcome Lake and up at West Lake. Interestingly, the Lowe’s 1969 hiking guide shows a trail to West Lake from Tr 556 but it doesn’t appear on the latest topo and I didn’t see one. I took the Big Slide Lake trail (555) back up to the lookout, catching a distance glimpse of St. Helens along the way.
From there, it was back down the 550 to the TH. Very, very nice day for a hike. Others must have thought so too because I crossed paths with a Boy Scout troop, a large family backpacking group, two backpackers, and two groups of dayhikers - more people than I’ve encountered on one hike (exclusive of any involving Multnomah Falls) all season! 12 mi, 2500’.
