2011 Edition
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For directions on how to get to this trailhead, click
HERE.
For more pictures of this hike, click
HERE.
We were just out this way recently on Suzy.
Saw this trail, thought it looked interesting, and resolved to return to do this hike.
The trailhead is easy to find but not well marked. Go to the far end of the Johnstone
Observatory parking lot. There is a kiosk (shown below). Follow that trail East.
The trail has been well traveled and there are sufficient signs so that you can't get
lost, at least until you get to the Coldwater Trail. We went right here, planning
to go to Coldwater Peak. Got very close to where the trail turns left and upwards
to the peak but the snow was just too much so we grudgingly turned back. Still, it
was a nice hike on the first really warm sunny day we've had in a long time.
Turn right at this kiosk and just follow the well worn trail.
Some great views of Mount Saint Helens as soon as you start out.
In 2 1/2 miles, you'll come to the turn off for the Truman trail that takes you to
Windy Ridge and Lowitt Falls. It also connects with trail #216 which is a loop
trail that goes along the perimeter of the base of the mountain.
For this hike, continue straight on the boundary trail #1 towards the Coldwater trail.
You'll come up on a very sturdy steel bridge after another mile or so.
And in just a little over 5 miles from the Johnstone Observatory you'll come up to
a trail to the right that goes to the tourist magnet Harrys Ridge. We skipped this
additional 2 mile round trip diversion on the advice of an experienced hiker we ran
into. You'll get an abundance of the same great views if you just coninue East.
We started running into snow not much past the Harrys Ridge turn off. Great views
of Mount Adams for the next several miles (as well as continued great views of Mount
Saint Helens).
We're getting into some deep snow now. It's very well packed down but slippery.
Most of the areas we had to traverse were steep and one slip meant a long slide down.
Mount Adams and Spirt Lake. Windy Ridge is over there somewhere in the lower right.
Turned out to be a nice, sunny day. Somewhat hot but there were a lot of nice
breezes.
That's our destination: Coldwater Peak. You can't really make it out from this
picture, but there are radio towers at the top. We're about two miles away and
looking at another 100'+ elevation gain. And LOTS of snow, as you can see.
The trail skirts around Helens Lake which is right below.
The snow got progressively more difficult. Much longer stretches to traverse. You
can't really tell from this picture, but the snow is so solid that if you lose your
footing and start to slide down these STEEP slopes.. there's nothing to grab on to
so you're going to the bottom which is a LONG ways down.
You'll come around the corner to this rock arch known by various names. There were
a gazillion hummingbirds here!
In about 7 miles from the Johnstone Observatory, you come to the Coldwater trail
which forks off to the left. For us, this is pretty much all she wrote. We had to
go over a lot of snow, on steep, dangerous slopes just to get back on the trail.
We did go another half mile or so and got very close to the trail leading up to
Coldwater Peak. But the trail was getting impossibly dangerous and we were burning
up a lot of time because we were advancing so slowly. Figured the smart play would
be to return on another day.
Had a little lunch and then back to the barn.
For more pictures of this hike, click
HERE.
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