Leaving Trout Lake For Mt Adams

7/29/13

P CT mile 2238-2249

Elev 3722-5871

Having contacted trail angels in Trout Lake for a ride this morning, Jorge & Helen came to pick us up at our Inn at 9:00.  They may hike after they drop us off at the PCT 13.5 miles from town, a really nice couple that are available if PCT hikers need help. 

Our packs are full of new food and weigh more than we'd like but we'll be empty again in 5 days when we get to White Pass.  We started on the trail at 9:30 knowing we have a big climb that will take us onto the flanks of Mt Adams.  After 3 miles we found water coming out of rocks in a fast stream, a bucket on a rope was mounted so you could lower it into the water safely and pull out cold, clear water! 

From there we climbed into a recent burn area that covered a huge section of the mountain, small signs of recovery were evident but it really was barren.

The burned soil swirled around our feet making our legs black up to our knees by the days' end. The alpine meadows were bursting with flowers as we moved beyond the burn; lupine, paintbrush, asters,cinquefoil, white & pink phlox, dandelion. Higher and higher we climbed slowly but steadily and came out to a stream of glacial water meandering through a field of flowers, the mountain towering over it.

Peggy slipped on a rock and was in the water before she could get her balance.  Her knee was bleeding and a chunk was taken off her thumb, the other hand bruised and swollen.  We had a small medical kit so were able to tape up her thumb and get her fixed up, but her camera took a dunking and may be ruined. Shaken up but on her feet we started off up the trail meeting 2 ladies out on a multi day hike. As we rounded a corner we could see Mt St Helen's ruined dome off in the distance and Mt Rainier on the horizon in the other direction! This photo is of Mt Rainier.

There is a fire in eastern Washington and the smoke makes the sky hazy. We can see a hanging glacier on Mt Adams and a huge moraine of dirt pushed up along the base as the glacier moved it out of the way. We found a good stream for filtering water and stopped in a lava flow where we are nestled into pockets of sand that make a good campsite for us. 

Out my tent door I have a birds eye view of Mt Adams! 

Peggy took stock of her wet pack and lost just a few items to water, the worst being her camera which is a real frustration for her. 

I burned my dinner but managed to salvage most of it with a decidedly smokey flavor and Peggy's was just tolerable so we decided it was time to go to bed.  Once tucked in we heard a deep roaring sound and big things falling. I think it is the sound of the glacier calving and we're hearing ice and rocks fall.  A bit unnerving but it is far enough away that it won't come close to us.