Tag: Cairn Basin

The weather forecast was for a wet weekend so I wanted to beat the storm front and I headed out for a hike in warm sunny conditions on Friday. I had done this hike about ten years ago so I thought I would see if I could still do it. Found out not so much these days. I got an early start heading out from the Top Spur trail-head and gave myself six-hour to make the summit of Barrett Spur. I knew I needed to keep up a good pace if I was going to get there before my turn around time. So I was off on Timberline Trail around Bald Mt., take the cut off trail and just keep moving down the trail to Wy’east Basin. From there it is straight up to the top of Barrett Spur on a user trail. The last bit was rock scramble. I almost made it but got a leg cramp just before the scramble on the last pitch. Just getting old. But it was a beautiful day, I did not fall off the mountain, met some nice people to chat with along the way and was driving back before dark. So it was 10.75 hours on the trail and about 14 mile, 4600 gain.

Heading out a 8 am

Looking down at Milk Maid Flats from Bald Mt.

The bump on the horizon is my destination.

Looking up Bald Mt. to where the fire looks was.

Morning light this time of year is not good for photographing Hood from the west side.

Fall is arriving and the vegetation is dieing back.

Starting from a snow field up above the trail crosses the creek.

Pond below McNeil Point.

Timberline Trail heading to Barrett Spur.

Up on that ridge is one of my favorite camp sites.

You come around this corner on the trail and you get a view of Adams, Rainier and St. Helens.

Today you also get a view of the front coming in.

Barrett Spur just up ahead.

At the junction with the McNeil Point trail

Start of the Dollar Lake burn area.

The trees from the fire have now been bleached white.

Not many straight section of Timberline trail on this side of the Mt.

Mt. Hood from Cairn Basin.

Creek crossing were not bad this time out.

You can see where the burn stopped.

Fire weed has spread in the burn area.

Trail going through a burned area.

Looking down to Vista Ridge.

End of Timberline Trail and start of user trail.

First section to climb up.

Looking back what I had just come up and down to Wy’east Basin.

The high Mt. Veg has turn color.

The higher I get the more expansive the view. It becomes clear where the Dollar Lake fire went.

Next section of up.

Moving into a unique forest.

Bleached out low growing tree.

Barrett Spur and Mt. Hood.

Looking back down at Elk Cove.

Looking back on the ridge that heads to Dollar Lake.

Still more up but getting closer.

Mt. Hood from the saddle at the base of Barrett Spur.

The nice user trail ends and scrambling begins. There is kind of a trail fro the first part but it might have been better just going straight up.

Picking a way up gets tricky.

Looking over to the tie in rock at McNeil Point.

I did not remember this had a false summit. This is all rock scramble now.

This side you don’t want to go on. Loose rock and steep then a 1000 ft cliff.

This is where Ladd Glacier use to be. Just bits of it left.

Made it to here then got a leg cramp. This was a lot easier when I was in my early 50’s.

View down to compass creek.

Heading back to the first summit. Once I start getting leg cramps then it is time to head for home.

Looking down to Elk Cove.

Trying to make it down to the faint line that is the user trail.

Back down the user trail.

Heading down the ridge to Dollar Lake. Part way down I will switch over to the trail to Wy’east.

With leg cramps I glad to be down with the rock scramble.

Looking down at Elk Cove and glacier route to Hood River Valley.

I switched ridges in the dwarf tree section.

In the harsh environment the trees on grow six feet high.

Timberline Trail is in sight.

Back on Timberline Trail looking back up my route.

A hazy view of Mt. Rainier.

Mt. Hood and Barrett Spur.

Mt. Hood through burnt trees.

View over to Lost Lake.

Stream crossing at Ladd Creek.

On the way back the lighting really improved for photographing Mt. Hood. This is a Cairn Basin.

You can see where the fire stopped.

Another creek crossing.

Back at the junction with McNeil Point.

Last Look back at Barrett Spur.

Dried up lake below McNeil Point.

Look at the mouth of one of the ice cave on the Sandy Glacier.

Last Look at Mt. Hood before going into the trees. Only a few more miles to go.