July 2022: The Loowit Trail

Photos of a 3-day circumnavigation of Mt St Helens on the Loowit Trail.

Additional details are available in the trip notes

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Loowit Trail: July 2022

June Lake Trailhead The June Lake trailhead - crowded because this was a nice Friday in July

Mt St Helens from the June Lake Trail The first view of Mt St Helens from the June Lake trail

June Lake June Lake and the waterfall

Camp 1 We camped at June Lake the night before our first day of hiking

Leaving June Lake Leaving June Lake on Day 1 - first task is to cross a boulder field

Chocolate Falls Chocolate falls had barely enough water to fill our bottles.

Wash near Chocolate Falls After leaving Chocolate Falls the trail paralleled one of many eroded washes

Nearing the Top of the Climb Nearing the top of a 2+ mile climb that starts out day 1

Swift Creek Flow After completing the climb we crossed the Swift Creek Flow

The South Side of the Mountain The south face of Mt St Helens from 4600 feet

Another Lava Flow Crossing another lava flow on the south side of Mt St Helens

The South Face of Mt St Helens The south face of Mt St Helens near the Loowit Trail junction with the Butte Camp trail

Near the Butte Camp Trail THe Loowit Trail near the junction with the Butte Camp trail

Blue Lake What's left of Blue Lake in the distance

Butte Camp Dome Butte Camp Dome from the Loowit Trail

Blue Lake Wash The Lowwit trail has been washed out at the Blue Lake Wash, forcing us to detour a half mile each way to a safe crossing

Crossing the Blue Lake Wash Crossing the Blue Lake Wash using set ropes at the end of a half mile detour

Blue Lake Wash Mt St Helens above the Blue Lake Wash

The Toutle Trail The Toutle Trail between Sheep Canyon and the Toutle River

Descending to the Toutle River Descending set ropes to the South Fork of the Toutle River

Camp 2 Camp 2 at the South Fork of Toutle River

Day 2 -Morning The sun rising over the shoulder of Mt St Helens on Day 2

Climbing up from the Toutle River Climbing the set ropes up from the South Fork of the Toutle River

Ptarmigan A grouse or ptarmigan poses in a tree near the trail

Long Climb on Scree Day 2 started with a 1.2 mile climb across a steep scree slope above the S. Fork of the Toutle River

Headwater of the South Toutle River Large eroded washes at the start of the South Toutle River

Steep Scree Looking down the steep scree slope as we traverse

The scree Slope Looking back at the trail across the scree slope from near the top

Mountain Meadow At the top of the scree slope the trail flattened out and crossed a green meadow

Blast Damage Old blast damage (flattened trees) in the meadow

Flattened Trees Trees flattened by the blast

Wildflowers Wildflowers were plentiful

Lava Formation An interesting lava formation ("wall") above the trail in the blast zone

Lava Formation - Close up An interesting lava formation ("wall") above the trail in the blast zone

Ant Nest A large ant nest (2+ feet across) near the trail

Ant Highway A track through the moss cut by ants

Recovering Terrain Forests slowing recovering in the blast zone

Johnston Ridge Observatory Johnston Ridge Observatory from the blast zone (on the ridge, above and left of center)

Spirit Lake Our first view of Spirit Lake from the Loowit Trail

Loowit Trail & Spirit Lake The Loowit Trail winds its way toward Spirit Lake

North Toutle River Headwaters Spirit Lake and an eroded wash near the source of the North Toutle River

The Path of the Blast The ground ahead was flattened by the blast

Loowit Creek It was necessary to wade across Loowit Creek, which flows into the North Fork of the Toutle River

Step Falls and the Crater Step Falls and the mouth of the crater

The Mouth of the Crater Loowit and Step falls are visible in the mouth of the crater

The back of the crater is peaking out of the overcast. Due to the clouds its hard to tell if its the lava dome or south wall.

The Lava Dome or South Wall of the Crater The back of the crater is peaking out of the overcast. Due to the clouds its hard to tell if its the lava dome or south wall.