Goat Rocks Wilderness - July 20-21, 2018

There are shockingly only three national parks in Washington state – Olympic, Mount Rainier, and North Cascades. The Goat Rocks Wilderness could easily be the fourth. Straddling the Cascades between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams, the Goat Rocks and its 108,000 protected acres are a geologic wonder.

The Goat Rocks with Old Snowy on the far left.

On July 20, 2018, our team traveled up from Portland in two cars to hike into the wilderness and camp for one night near Old Snowy Mountain’s summit. At 7,900 feet, Old Snowy is the fifth highest peak in the wilderness and the most accessible to backpackers.

Click here and click here to view more photos from the trip.

We drove north on I-5 with light traffic under an overcast sky. After stopping for gas at the excellent Stop & Save Food Mart in Longview and again for provisions in Morton, we reached the trailhead around noon. The clouds were gone by the time we started hiking.

Bridge over Goat Creek.

The first mile and a half goes through a forest and gradually descends before reaching a bridge over Goat Creek. Other than a few mosquitoes, we encountered no problems and steadily made our way into the wilderness. Through the trees we could see Mount Adams to the south.

Mount Adams.

After crossing Goat Creek, the trail begins gaining elevation as it switchbacks up to the treeline. We kept up a consistent pace, taking occasional breaks for water and snacks. By mid-afternoon, we emerged from the trees and joined the Pacific Crest Trail at Snowgrass Flats. The Goat Rocks with Old Snowy, Ives Peak, Gilbert Peak, and others towered over us to the north. In the distance to the south Mount Adams was joined by Mount St. Helens.

Goat Rocks and wildflowers.

The wildflower show was well past its peak, but paintbrush clusters, bear grass, and other colorful patches could still be found. As the trail continued upward, we crossed through snowfields and talus slopes. And then we caught Mount Rainier staring at us from northwest, completing the three-volcano trifecta with Adams and MSH.

Throughout the afternoon we weren’t certain our campsite would be available. But as we neared Old Snowy’s base, we could see our alpine bivy remained vacant awaiting our arrival.

Crossing a snowfield with Mount St. Helens in the background.

The final push to the campsite required crossing a long snowfield before pushing up switchbacks on a talus slope. We all dug deep with our heavy packs and one at a time arrived at camp. Above us, Old Snowy’s summit invited further exploration. Looking towards the horizon, the three volcanoes and countless other Cascade peaks provided our evening entertainment.

Nearing high camp with Mount Rainier in the distance.

After a short rest, five from the group climbed up Old Snowy. The scramble requires caution, but is not overly technical. Upon reaching the top, we could see the other Goat Rocks summits and McCall Glacier. We took photos and enjoyed the moment before carefully descending back to our bivy site.

View from Old Snowy's summit.

Our camp site.

For the next few hours, we watched Mother Nature put on a show culminating with a tear-inducing sunset with Lisa Gerrard and Jeff Buckley providing the soundtrack. The celestial encore included several planets, a Milky Way carpet, and constellations along with a half moon. Since conditions were great, several in the group slept under the stars without using tents.

Sunset behind Johnson Peak with Mount Rainier.

In the morning, we leisurely packed up camp and retraced our steps from the day before. Below camp near the Old Snowy/PCT junction, we saw our first and only mountain goat. After seeing us, it rapidly crossed through a snowfield and up a rocky slope.

Early morning over Cascadia with Mount Adams on the left, Mount St. Helens in the middle, and Mount Rainier on the right.

Crossing a snowfield with Mount Rainier in the distance.

The seven miles back to the trailhead were fueled by light packs and thoughts about a hot meal. At times a slog, we made it back safely around 1:30pm. We then headed to the Tall Timber Restaurant for the finest fried food in Randle, WA.

Paintbrush for the win.

Key takeaways:

• Goat Rocks needs to become a standing annual trip for the Pentaquest. There's nothing quite like it this close to Portland and Seattle.
• Always bring a tent footprint to put beneath a sleeping pad when “cowboy camping.” My pad was covered in dirt from sleeping under the stars.
• Mosquito repellent is essential on all trips. It would have helped during the first few miles in the woods.
• Artisanal junk food is the best! I found some fruit loops-infused rice krispie treats and wild huckleberry bark at Market of Choice that brought joy to the group.
• Great people backpacking in phenomenal conditions will always lead to a memorable trip.

Black Butte (CA) - June 23, 2018

On June 23, 2018 after halting an attempt up Mt. Shasta's Clear Creek route due to high winds, we hiked Black Butte (five miles, 1,900 vertical feet) near Mount Shasta, CA. Although not the same challenge as a 14,000 foot glaciated volcano, Black Butte proved to be a rewarding alternate with incredible views.

Click here to view more photos from the hike.

Mt. Shasta from the trail up Black Butte.

We ate breakfast at the original Black Bear Diner in town before driving to the trailhead. An almost empty parking area ensured we wouldn't see many hikers on the mountain. Black Butte is an imposing feature from I-5, but a gentle giant from the trail. The path maintains a steady grade as it circles around and switches back and forth up the mountain.

Scree!

We started fast and only paused a few times before reaching the top. To speed up the hike, we each left our packs in the car and only brought a water bottle and trekking poles. 

Nearing the top with Mt. Shasta in the distance.

At the summit, a full 360-degree panorama without clouds brought everything into view from Mt. McLoughlin in the north to Lassen Peak in the south with Mt. Shasta and Mt. Eddy to the east and west. 

Black Butte summit view.

We didn't linger long before rapidly descending. By the time we reached the car, less than three hours had passed since we first left the trailhead.

Descending Black Butte.

Key takeaway: watch out for snakes. We stopped at a mini-mart for a drink before leaving Mount Shasta. When the checker found out where we'd been, she asked if we saw any snakes. Thankfully we hadn't (but we weren't looking for them). Next time we'll pay more attention.

Mt. Shasta - June 22-23, 2018

At 14,179 feet, Mt. Shasta is the second tallest volcano in the Cascades and the most prominent peak in Northern California. Shasta's natural beauty, height, remoteness from major population centers, and connection to New Age lore make it an appealing climbing destination. On June 22-23, 2018 our five-member team attempted the Clear Creek route on Shasta's southeast side.

Click here and here to view more photos from the trip.

Mt. Shasta from a viewpoint off I-5 in Northern California.

After rendezvousing at the original Black Bear Diner in Mt. Shasta on June 22, we paid for permits at the Mount Shasta Ranger Station and drove to the trailhead. Clear Creek is technically the "easiest" route on the mountain. But a long, bumpy approach up a Forest Service road to the trailhead and scree-covered slopes higher on the mountain push most to the Avalanche Gulch route on the south side.

The Pentaquest team preparing to leave the trailhead.

Miraculously our three vehicles survived the rough ride through the woods and we started hiking to high camp around noon. At this point everything seemed perfect with thunderstorm-free skies and a light breeze. We deliberately hiked at a slow pace to help acclimatize and gradually made our way up the trail to the treeline.

Stopping for a drink at a natural spring.

In the distance, volcanic Mt. Lassen and the Central Valley's north end appeared to the south. By 3pm we reached an area known as Clear Creek Meadows with running water and several established places to bivouac. Rather than climb higher, we decided to set up our camp for the evening near a water source and within a hardy copse of alpine trees.

Near Clear Creek Meadows.

As we unloaded our packs, we still intended to make a summit bid around 2am after catching a few hours sleep. A Mazama team with a dozen climbers came by a half hour later and informed us the weather forecast now called for high winds (50-60 mph) overnight and into the next day. After confirming this on our cell phones, we held a team discussion and reached consensus to not climb any higher unless the forecast changed. By 7pm the situation remained the same. Rather than risk turning around in a potentially precarious spot high on the mountain during our night ascent, we decided to hike out first thing in the morning. Although not the adventure we intended, we enjoyed our remaining time at camp by gazing at the mountain, drinking the few beers we brought in our packs, and relaxing.

The sun setting behind Mt. Shasta.

Something strange happened at the campsite in the evening that social media and the internet have yet to explain to us. Throughout the day we noticed a military helicopter flying around Shasta performing what seemed to be search-and-rescue maneuvers. Around 9 or 10pm, the helicopter landed or hovered just off the ground about two hundred yards from our campsite at Clear Creek Meadows. It's unclear if someone hopped on the helicopter or not. There's likely a simple explanation for this, but we're still looking for the answer. There doesn't seem to be any news coverage about a rescue at this time.

Sunrise from Clear Creek Meadows.

The next morning we quickly packed up camp after sunrise and left around 6:30am for the trailhead. We raced down the trail motivated by another hot breakfast at the Black Bear Diner in Mount Shasta. After carefully driving down the Forest Service road, we rejoined civilization and returned to our same table at the restaurant. Later in the day, we drove north and camped at Valley of the Rogue State Park between Grants Pass and Medford.

Key takeaways:

• Always climb with people that care more about adventure and a good time than peakbagging. This groups seemed unfazed by the decision to abandon the summit attempt.
• Think twice before taking a Toyota Camry on a Forest Service road.
• Collapsible camp chairs are heavy, but worth the weight on a backpacking trip.
• Black Bear Diners are awesome!

Mt. St. Helens - June 6, 2018

Climbing to 8,300 feet on Mt. St. Helens is something all Cascadian outdoor enthusiasts should experience at least once in their lifetime. The volcano is truly an accessible natural wonder. One can journey from a Portland couch to the crater rim in less than eight hours. Our team successfully emerged from the Mount St. Helens Institute's permit debacle with 11 passes for Wednesday, June 6th.

Click here to view more photos from the climb.

The Pentaquest team at the Marble Mountain Sno Park trailhead.

After a near-record dry May, we expected to climb the summer route from Climbers Bivouac. But the gate remained closed in early June and we went up the longer Worm Flows route from Marble Mountain Sno Park (11 miles roundtrip and close to 6,000 vertical feet).

Entering the permit-only zone.

The day started with perfect conditions at 8am - blue sky, a haze slightly muting the sun's ability to burn, and almost no wind. A slight chill forced us to keep on an outer layer at the parking lot that we quickly shed after ten minutes on the trail. Without encountering any snow, we rapidly covered the two miles to the treeline and crossed over a bone-dry Swift Creek and Chocolate Falls. As the trail continued upward, we scrambled through rocks up a ridge with snow in the gullies on either side.

Climbing up to join the Monitor Ridge trail next to glissade paths.

After pausing for a long break at the USGS seismic station, we pushed onward into snow for the final hours. Our mantra for the day? "More." To manage expectations, it's helpful to think everything is a false summit and that there is always more to climb until you actually reach the top.

The team taking a break on the crater rim.

By 1pm, our path linked up with the summer route and we made our final push to the crater rim. One at a time, everyone in our group saw Mt. Rainier, Goat Rocks, Spirit Lake, and the steaming lava dome inside the volcanically-carved amphitheater.

The team on the crater rim before glissading.

Conditions remained near perfect. A slight breeze dropped the temperature while we snacked and celebrated, but not enough to hasten our descent. We stayed on top for a solid 45 minutes and enjoyed the spectacular scene.

And then we glissaded. Sadly there isn't any video footage showing the pure joy as we rapidly descended down an active volcano on our asses. We each put on a garbage bag diaper to reduce friction and rocketed down the mountain, using our boots and trekking poles to brake. After rallying at the seismic station, we eked out a final glissade for a few hundred feet and completed the descent down the rocky ridgeline. By 6:30pm, everyone safely returned to the parking lot.

Wildflowers near the treeline looking up the mountain.

After more than a dozen Mt. St. Helens climbs, I easily consider this day in my top three experiences on the mountain. A great group and perfect conditions are tough to beat. As with most things, there are lessons learned from what went well and what didn't. Here are my takeaways from the day:

• Always, always, ALWAYS check to make sure your GPS tracking device is charged. And bring a backup battery and cable just in case it's not (I failed at both).
• Climbing with your friends (and future friends you meet for the first time on the mountain) is always worth a vacation day.
• There's an opportunity for a mountaineering company to design lightweight glissade shorts to put on over your climbing clothes. A garbage bag gets the job done, but humanity can do better.
• Sunscreen works! I used way more than I normally do and didn't get burned.
• Be careful if you decide to fly a drone inside a volcano. A group we talked to at the rim was flying a drone and couldn't find it for a minute (although they could hear it beeping). Fortunately they got it back.

Mt. Defiance - May 27, 2018

Mt. Defiance is many things - the Columbia Gorge's highest point, a great training hike for bigger peaks (with 4,500 feet in elevation gain), scenic, usually uncrowded, etc. Easy is not on the list. Following 2017's Eagle Creek Fire, the U.S. Forest Service closed Mt. Defiance and other trails affected by the fire until crews could clear debris and ensure trail safety.

Click here to view more photos from the hike.

Sign warning about hazards left by the Eagle Creek Fire.

On May 27, our group hiked Defiance soon after the trail's reopening. Thankfully the fire did not do too much damage to the trail. We passed through several patches clearly scorched by the fire on the way up the main route. But the summit area and entire Starvation Ridge Trail were unscathed.  

Evidence the Eagle Creek Fire passed through the Mt. Defiance trail.

Conditions were ideal - the sky was mostly clear and the temperature remained in the 60s and 70s. After leaving the parking lot, we quickly reached the unrelenting switchbacks Defiance is known for. We kept up a steady pace, taking only a few brief breaks, and reached the top in four hours.

Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Adams (left to right).

Following lunch and IPAs in the sun near the radio towers, we descended past Warren Lake and followed Starvation Ridge down to the parking lot.

Mt. Hood from the Mt. Defiance summit.

Key takeaway: Mt. Defiance is back in business. The Eagle Creek Fire left a mark, but Defiance is ready for the summer. As an added bonus, the volcano views are now even better on the main trail where the fire cleared out the brush.

Descending Starvation Ridge.

McHugh Peak (Alaska) - May 19, 2018

McHugh Peak is at the south end of the Chugach Mountains near Anchorage, Alaska. On May 19, 2018 I hiked with a friend up to McHugh's north summit for a quick day trip. Conditions were breezy, but not too cold. Downtown Anchorage and the Cook Inlet were in view the entire hike with the Alaska Range's lower slopes barely visible across the water. 

Click here to view more photos from the hike.

Coyote Wall-Labyrinth Loop - April 29, 2018

Coyote Wall is the perfect hike for a nice day during wildflower season when you don't want to deal with the crowds on Dog Mountain. On April 29th I joined two friends for a quick hike around the Coyote Wall-Labyrinth Loop. We hit the trail early and made it to Hood River in time for lunch at Solstice Pizza.

Click here to view more pictures from the hike.

Hardy Ridge - March 11, 2018

Hardy Ridge is one of the better hikes on the Washington side of the Columbia River and often overlooked by Dog Mountain devotees on a quest for yellow wildflowers. On the warmest day of 2018 (so far), our team of five hiked up Hardy in search of snow, adventure, and the perfect vista to sip an IPA.

Our team going up the switchbacks below the ridge.

The sky above the parking area was blue and clear as we started around 9am. The first mile through the trees brought occasional views of the Columbia to the south and the upper reaches of the ridge above us. We traveled at a brisk pace and quickly reached the start of switchbacks and snow.

Looking east towards Table Mountain to the left in the foreground, the Columbia River, and Dog Mountain in the center background.

The final mile to the summit was a beautiful slog with perfect weather as we post-holed our way in deep snow up the ridge. Mt. Hood watched over us from the Oregon side of the river, and eventually we caught glimpses of Mt. Adams and the top of Mt. Rainier to the north.

The team hiking up through the snow and nearing the summit with Mt. Hood in the distance.

After enjoying a snack in a flat area out of the wind below the high point, we descended back down the trail and retraced our steps back to the car following the same path.

Descending the ridge and heading back to the trailhead.

Overall, the day was 10: near flawless conditions, great company, and few other hikers. We didn’t encounter any other groups until after we reached the top. The snow slowed us down and presented a few navigation challenges, but added an element of adventure to the day. If you’re thinking of hitting the Gorge soon, consider Hardy Ridge.

Click here for more pictures from the hike.

Dog Mountain - February 4, 2018

On Sunday, February 4th, our group of three headed out to the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge for a quick pre-Super Bowl hike up Dog Mountain. To save time, we decided to go up and down the “more difficult” route – the steeper, shorter way to knock out the Dog’s 2,800 vertical feet of elevation gain.

Trail option between "difficult" and "more difficult."

For the first two miles in the woods, conditions were reasonable for early February. The trees captured the light rain, preventing most of the drops from reaching us. A stiff breeze could be heard in the distance and only occasionally reached down to the trail.

The lonely tree below the summit.

At the edge of the treeline, we entered a world of wind and rain. The final push to the summit was an exercise in discomfort management as a sustained 20-30 mph wind and sideways rain pummeled us. Upon reaching the top, we lingered only long enough to eat a snack and then powered back down to the parking lot.

Descending back to the parking lot.

Key lesson: always bring a full change of clothes. I brought fresh socks and shoes, but not pants. I think the money in my wallet is still damp as I write this.

Click here for more photos from the hike.

Table Mountain - January 14, 2018

We started the 2018 hiking season on January 14th with Table Mountain on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge near Bonneville Dam. With the closure last year of the usual trailhead at Bonneville Hot Springs, our team of four hikers took a longer approach starting at the Bonneville Trailhead near the dam. At the end of the day, we hiked close to 16 miles with 4,320 in vertical feet (compared to eight miles and 3,350 feet on the old route).

The conditions for January were spectacular as we started down the trail – partly cloudy skies, a light breeze, and a few rays of sun. After a half mile, we joined the Pacific Crest Trail and walked in the footsteps of thru-hikers from the Mexican border traveling north. The path passed through areas logged in recent years and by several small bodies of water – including Gillette Lake.

Gillette Lake from the Pacific Crest Trail.

After several hours we passed by the junction to the old trail and eventually reached the base of the Heartbreak Ridge Trail to the summit. From here the fun/pain kicked into high gear and we gained a significant amount of elevation over a short distance. The wind also started to pick up and the temperature dropped.

Sign marking the Heartbreak Ridge Trail.

At the saddle below the talus field scramble, a sustained wind howled just out of reach above our heads. We also entered into a thick cloudbank, eliminating our chance of seeing any volcanoes from the summit.

Our team on the summit.

Above the rocks, we continued onward to the summit sign, took the requisite selfie, and then found a calm harbor out of the wind to enjoy an IPA. For the descent, we looped to the west side of the mountain and followed the trail along a steep cliff face before going back into the woods and rejoining the PCT.

View from the descent down the west side of the loop.

Several hours later we were back at the parking lot and on our way as the sun began to set behind the mountains on the Oregon side of the river. We ended up spending about eight hours on the trail. Key takeaways: the first few miles of the longer approach to Table are significantly more scenic than the old route from the hot springs; 16 miles is a long way to go for the first hike of the year; and January hiking in the Gorge is always worth doing over watching NFL playoff games (unless it’s the Seahawks). We decided to go hiking, despite missing an afternoon of excellent playoff football. In the car ride home, we listened to the final minutes of the Minnesota Vikings-New Orleans Saints game on the radio. Something about hearing the play-by-play of the final minutes – rather than watching it at home – was even more exciting than seeing it on TV.

Click here for more photos from the hike.

Coyote Wall - April 1, 2017

After the wettest February and near-wettest March on record, we seized the opportunity to hit the trail when the forecast called for decent conditions. Coyote Wall - located east of Hood River on the Washington side of the Columbia River (and, more importantly, east of the crest of the Cascades to reduce the chance of encountering rain) - was our destination.

Hiking up the Labyrinth Loop overlooking the Columbia River.

After parking at the recently upgraded trailhead area, we hiked along the base of the wall on an old road until we reached the start of the Labyrinth Loop. We took the loop, heading upward on the bucolic trail for several miles past waterfalls, a cave, and purple wildflowers. Eventually we took a fork that ended at a perfect lunch spot at the edge of the wall. During our descent, we encountered mountain bikers slogging upward before blitzing down the hill.

View from the edge of Coyote Wall.

Overall it was a great day and a reminder that spring is coming soon.

Click here for more photos from the hike.

Hamilton Mountain - January 28, 2017

The first official Pentaquest hike of 2017 didn't go exactly as planned, but it still ended up being a fun day in the snow. After Portland was caught in the icy maw of Winter Storm Jupiter and several weeks of snow and ice brought travel in the Columbia Gorge to a halt, it was important to get out of town and hit the trail during a brief weather window. We originally planned to go up Hardy Ridge, but a road closure forced us to call an audible and shift to nearby Hamilton Mountain. The road to the trailhead was also closed, but the walk in from the parking area at Beacon Rock State Park only added an additional ten minutes.

Snow covered the route from the start, making it necessary to use microspikes to gain traction on the trail. Less than a quarter mile in we climbed over a downed tree that had likely fallen during one of the storms. While passing Hardy Falls, Rodney Falls, and the Pool of Winds, we noticed a considerable amount of damage to a fence along the trail. We kept going another mile and made a decision to turn around near the base of the switchbacks below Hamilton Mountain due to the depth of the snow and an issue with one of the traction devices.

Overall it was great to get in a snow hike see the Gorge in its winter brilliance. The Washington Trails Association and other trail crews have their work cut out for them in the coming months. Maybe we'll pitch in and join one of the volunteers teams to help out.

Click here for photos from the hike.

Trail damage near the Pool of Winds.

Angel's Rest - December 31, 2016

On New Year's Eve we trekked out to the Gorge and hiked up Angel's Rest. This is the fifth year in a row for the Pentaquest either starting or ending with this hike. We've encountered everything from dangerously slick ice, brutal cold, extreme winds, and other inclement trail conditions since the tradition started. But not on this day. Although the temperature hovered around freezing and visibility was limited, the wind was almost nonexistent and most of the group had poles and traction devices to navigate through the ice patches.

Rather than write up a detailed trip report, here's a haiku:

No view? No problem.

We closed down 2016.

A great group of eight.

Here's us on top of Angel's Rest. You can almost see Mt. Adams if you stare at the backdrop long enough.

The trail is one of the best places to reflect on the past year and think about what lies ahead. 2016 was a consequential year for many reasons. Speaking for myself, I can't think of a year with more contrast between the biggest win (birth of a child), and the worst loss (disastrous outcome of the November election). Regardless of what else is going on in the world, I gain strength spending time with great people on the trail.

Hardy Ridge - May 21, 2016

By Ryan Yambra (@Ryambra)

Beacon Rock State Park is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge. With landmarks ranging from Hamilton Mountain to Beacon Rock, the 5,100-acre natural area has something for everyone.

But fewer people make the trek up Hardy Ridge. Tucked away at the Equestrian Trailhead, the route up Hardy Ridge gives hikers big views, spring wildflowers, and more than 2,000 feet of elevation gain without the crowds to show for it.

This particular Saturday in May was a soaker with heavy rain and low clouds. And while the views were less than spectacular, that didn't stop us from hitting the trail. 

This hike begins by heading north on the Equestrian Trail. After a slow, winding climb of about a mile, the wide path meets a junction with the West Hardy Ridge Trail. To make a loop, we ignored the western path and continued along the Equestrian Trail another half mile until reaching the East Hardy Ridge Trail.

Once hitting the East Hardy Ridge Trail, which resembles a dirt road, we continued our gradual ascent. Eventually, the trail meets a junction with a connector marked ‘foot traffic only.’ As the light drizzle turned into a shower, we took the connector trail towards the top of the ridge. 

After about a half mile, this well-established path meets a four-way junction. Here, you can head up towards the Hardy Ridge summit or descend back into the trees.

Normally during late spring, a trip up to the summit gives hikers amazing views with sights of nearby Hamilton and Table mountains. On a clear day, Mount Adams is also visible. Sadly, the weather was too poor to enjoy the views up top. We chose to have lunch at the junction and head back down.

To make it back, we descended under the trees on the west trail along the western side of the ridge.

After a gentle downhill trek, the path spit us back out onto the Equestrian Trail. From there, we hiked slowly back down to our cars.

Hardy Ridge has plenty to offer hikers without the crowds of other nearby destinations. On the day, our total mileage was a bit under eight miles with the trail just to ourselves. Rain or shine, Hardy Ridge should be a destination for any hiker looking to try something new.

Click here for more photos from the hike.

Table Mountain - March 12, 2016

By Dan Douthit (@dtonedouthit)

Looming over the western end of the Columbia Gorge is the aptly named Table Mountain, offering a challenging 3,200 vertical feet of elevation gain, varied terrain, and a guaranteed boost towards getting conditioned for even higher peaks. I've hiked Table many times before, usually on bluebird spring or summer days. On a clear day the view at the top is second to none in the Gorge, with the potential for seeing five volcanoes. On March 12, 2016, the conditions were far from ideal, but the experience was no less epic.

Our group rendezvoused at the Bonneville Hot Springs Resort around 8:30am. After paying for a $5 parking pass (redeemable for credit in the lodge after the hike), we hit the trail. The sky was overcast and dry, but the ground remained damp from earlier rain. Less than five minutes in - still within sight of the parking lot - I dunked my boot into a well-camouflaged mud hole. Fortunately my Vasque-brand boot performed like a boss and the mud slurry didn't creep into my socks.

The first few miles were pleasant as the trail snaked through the forest and gradually gained altitude. We passed by several spurs - one leading down a powerline road; the other toward Aldrich Butte. Past the two-mile mark we reached the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail. On this day we didn't encounter any thru-hikers, but we did see the skeleton of a teepee/lean-to-like structure likely used by PCTers.

We took the PCT for about another mile before reaching the true base of Table and the crux of the day's work. From this point, a spur - formerly known as the "Heartbreak Ridge" Loop (not after the Clint Eastwood movie about the Grenada invasion) - rockets up through the forest. Whether out of laziness or a moral aversion to switchbacks, the designers of this stretch decided to retain the natural steepness of the slope in their trail design. The end result is one of the steeper sustained segments I'm aware of in the Gorge.

We kept a steady pace and began our ascent up Heartbreak, pausing several times for a quick breather. The sky remained overcast in all directions, but we began to catch views of the river and the surrounding mountains below the cloud cover. We eventually reached Sacagawea Rock and a flat section of the trail offering stunning views to the east and west.

Then, back in the woods, we pushed onward until we reached a talus field of large stones covering the hillside. The established trail evaporates through this field, forcing hikers to choose their own path between a series of cairns with wooden markers. Stepping slowly to avoid a rolled ankle or smashed knee, we proceeded to the top of the rocks and returned to the forest for the final push to the summit.

With less than a quarter miles to go, we reached another junction and turned toward the top. Upon exiting the woods, we came to the flat "table" part of the mountain. No longer protected by trees, we started to experience strong winds buffeting the summit plateau and surrounding ridges. We quickly traversed across the top of the plateau to reach a sharp drop-off overlooking the Columbia. Upon reaching this point - and just as I was about to eat a fake meat roast beef sandwich washed down by a Fort George IPA - an angry wind howled in from the west. And then a shotgun blast of hail came down followed by blowing snow and diminished visibility.

We made a group decision to eat fast (and refrain from drinking the IPAs), and make tracks down the mountain without delay. Rather than walk across the top of Table and complete the Heartbreak loop, we retraced our steps and went straight down the talus field. The full loop down the west side of Table affords incredible views of the Gorge, but on this day there was nothing to see. We also wanted to avoid additional exposure. The prospect of climbing down a mile of wet rocks above a precipitous drop didn't sound appealing to any of us.

As we descended, the snow began to stick and oscillate in size - from near sleet to large, Charlie Brown-style flakes. Once back in the forest below the rocks, the air temperature warmed to above freezing and we enjoyed a steady rain for most of the rest of the hike. Our journey back to the parking lot was muddier than earlier in the day, but uneventful. In a few places the trail seemed more like a streambed than a hiking path as gravity pulled the afternoon's precipitation toward the Columbia. Upon reaching Bonneville Hot Springs, we used our parking passes for credit in the hotel coffee shop and then headed back to Portland.

Overall - despite the wind, rain, and snow - we won the day. If you wait for a sunny day in March, you may never go hiking anywhere in Cascadia. Equipped with Gore-Tex and gloves, we weathered the inclement conditions with only minimal discomfort. My key lesson learned for future trips is to use more caution when stepping near running water on the trail. My muddy boot dunk 100 yards from the car could have been a major game-changer.

Click here for more photos from the hike.

Dog Mountain - March 5, 2016

By Ryan Yambra (@Ryambra)

Dog Mountain is among the most popular hiking destinations in the Gorge. During springtime, the mountain boasts abundant wildflowers as well as multiple vistas offering expansive views of the Gorge. But make no mistake--with about 2,800 feet of elevation gain in less than three miles, Dog Mountain is a steep hike requiring some fitness.

Due to Dog Mountain’s (relatively) lower elevation, this hike is a great early season challenge. For this day, we expected the worst as the weather forecast hinted at wind and rain. But we encountered the opposite: unusually warm temperatures, moderate cloud cover, and zero rain. We didn’t even make it a mile before we chose to take off some of our layers.

Beginning at the Dog Mountain Trailhead, the path starts off steep. After .7 miles of climbing, freeway traffic sounds begin to fade as the trail reaches a junction in the forest. At this point, the trail splits in two directions: an older route marked ‘more difficult’ and a newer, ‘less difficult’ one. We were up for a challenge, so we took a left up the ‘more difficult’ trail. 

The more challenging path leads deeper into the forest than the easier one, and there aren’t any viewpoints along the way. Instead it’s up, up, up with very few even grades. Our trekking poles kept us going at a brisk pace with few stops.

After about a mile of climbing, the two trails converge. This is where it gets tough. The trail ascends steeply another half mile, eventually breaking away from the cover of the forest. During springtime, the hillside flanking the trail explodes with golden meadows of balsamroot. In early March, they still haven’t quite bloomed. 

Once emerging from the trees, the trail begins to level out. From here, there’s no shortage of views. Facing south, hikers get a glimpse of the entire Oregon side of the gorge. And as the trail continues east, the Hood River Valley starts to emerge.

A major viewpoint sits about a half mile from here. The viewpoint, known as “Puppy Dog Lookout,” is the site of an old fire lookout that’s since been decommissioned. This point offers panoramic views to the south, east and west. 

From the lookout, the trail continues another half a mile to the summit. Before the summit, the trail meets another junction that can be used to make a loop hike. We took a left, heading west towards the top. This is where the trail gets rocky and requires some extra attention. As the trail curls around the mountainside, the summit comes into view. Finally, less than two hours after beginning the trailhead, we made it to the highest point.

On this particular day, members of another hiking party were eating their lunches and getting a little rest before descending. We watched them leave and enjoyed some solitude--a rare treat for such a popular destination. As we ate and got some rest, ourselves, we had a view of Mt. Defiance to the south.

After a while, it was time to head back down. The descent can be challenging in its own way, as the steep decline can be tough on the knees. Early on, the trail also becomes just barely exposed--on a busy day, passing hikers could make it a bit precarious. 

From the summit, there are a couple ways to descend. We chose to return from where we came. To make the descent more interesting, we headed down the ‘less difficult’ route at the first junction, which offers hikers another vista from a lower viewpoint. After soaking in the view, we continued down the forest path, back to the trailhead.

With or without wildflowers, Dog Mountain should be on every Gorge hiker’s short list. On this Saturday in March, the stars aligned, treating us to springtime conditions without the crowds to show for it.

Click here for more photos from the hike.

Loowit Trail pictures - October 3-4, 2015

Last weekend (10/3 and 10/4) two friends joined me on a clockwise circumnavigation of the Loowit Trail around Mt. St. Helens. We pushed ourselves hard, covering 32 miles over the two days. Starting at Climbers Bivouac on the south side of the mountain, we traveled about 20 miles on the first day, camped on the Plains of Abraham near Windy Pass, and finished the final 12 miles of the circuit by mid-afternoon on Sunday. I plan to do a full write-up later on the journey. In the meantime, here are the photos.

• Loowit Trail, Day 1
• Loowit Trail, Day 2

Mt. St. Helens and the Loowit Trail above the South Fork Toutle River on the western edge of the blast zone.

Welcome to the new blog!

This is the new site for the Pentaquest, a group dedicated to enjoying the outdoors by climbing, hiking, and backpacking the peaks and wilderness areas of greater Cascadia and beyond. This blog will be used for trip reports, photos, links to interesting articles, and general thoughts about life. 

You can also follow along on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pentaquest) and on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/pentaquest).

And the old blog can be found here: http://pentaquest.blogspot.com.