St Helen’s Lake, Sunday, October 27, 2019
We hiked from Johnson Ridge Observatory in Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument to the St Helens Lake overlook for stunning 360 degree views. It was cold, but not too windy.
From the trailhead, Coldwater Peak is the highest point in view. St Helens Lake is tucked behind the ridgeline on the right, behind the arch.
Frost along the trail,
and Mt St Helens, herself.
Nearing our destination, nice view of Mt Adams and Spirit Lake.
One last ridge to traverse.
Lunch view and turnaround point – St Helens Lake. Mt Rainier, about 40 miles away, peeking over the ridgeline of the Mt Margaret backcountry.
Zooming in on Mt Rainier,
the Goat Rocks,
Spirit Lake, the silhouette of Mt Hood, and Mt St Helens, with Harry’s Ridge in the foreground.
One last look at St Helens Lake before heading down.
This entire area is off limits to off trail exploring, so there is no trail to the lakeshore. Before the 1980 eruption, the bare slopes were covered with soil and forest. New plants are growing, but the relic tree stumps and log rafts remain as they were after the blast.
Closer view of the 39.5 year old log rafts.
Zooming in on the dome and glacier in Mt St Helen’s crater.
We hiked partway up Harry’s Ridge on the return.
Another view of Spirit Lake and Mt Adams from Harry’s Ridge.
And a last look at Mt St Helens in afternoon light.
Some details:
We met a birder on the return trip who was very excited to have spotted this Northern Pygmy Owl on a fir tree. Nice display of tree stumps and blast-oriented logs in the background.
Northern pygmy owl.
A few very late wild strawberry blooms along the trail, nestled into the pumice..
(Hike #50, 10 miles, 2300 feet)
Downtown Portland
I met a friend at the Portland Historical Society Museum to see a photo exhibit about the making of flax into linen in the 1930s. It was fascinating, but not photogenic. I popped in to see an exhibit celebrating The Beatles’ 1965 concert in Portland. I was a preteen when the Beatles invaded, but my older sister swept us into fandom with her enthusiasm, and their music is timeless. My own children have had their Beatle years. We visited Abbey Road in London, and then went on the Magical Mystery Tour and to the Beatles Museum in Liverpool during our UK trip in 2011. It was fun to see a little slice of Beatlemania in PDX.
We had plenty of Beatle magazines and trading cards at my house, but not this game. It’s funny now to think how shockingly long their hair was considered- it looks pretty clean cut by today’s standards.
It was a gorgeous fall day in downtown Portland.
Oregon Historical Society Museum
First Congregational Church
Central Library
Neighborhood Witches and more:
There are many elaborate halloween decorations in my neighborhood to enjoy while out walking and admiring the beautiful fall colors on the day before Halloween.
The light was just right to bring out the face on this tree.
Eagle and salmon carved from a cedar that had to be removed.
Margaret Quilts 