I have never gone into Indian Heaven from the North. Today we followed the PCT in and did a loop up and over Sawtooth Mt. We did an out and back turning around just short of Wood Lake Junction. About 7 miles and 1200 ft. gain. It was a foggy and wet day with no views. We did however met and chatted with a number of PCT trough hikers which was fun.
We took a different route to get here this time. Parked on FR24 and in the clouds.
Sign in sign and berry field all around.
At a little over 4000 ft elevation we were in the clouds. The fog we heavy with moisture that let to the trees dripping on us all day.
Lori making some gear adjustments.
One little meadow was all we past. The central part of Indian Heaven is loaded with ponds and meadows but not this north part.
I found the forest different on this north side of Indian Heaven. Not much under-story vegetation.
PCT heading through huckleberries.
Some of the huckleberry was already showing it’s Fall colors
We left the PCT and headed up the Sawtooth Mt. trail.
We reach a view spot looking East
No View of Mt Adams today.
The bit of the trail to the high point.
Just as you reach the top the trail seem to lead to no where.
Not much to see today from the top. There should have been a good view of St. Helens from here
We could just make out a saw tooth summit peak just above us.
The trail switched to the East side on the way down. We were surprise to find on red cinder in this side of the mt.
The red cinder went as far down the slope as we could see.
After reach a turn around time we returned by the PCT.