We hiked again where we have hiked before, through the lush wildflower meadows on the southern slopes of Mt Adams, on the Yakama Nation Tract D. We started at Bird Lake, and went counterclockwise uphill to the Hell Roaring Viewpoint of Mt Adams, then down along the Round the Mountain Trail and back to the lake (~5.5 miles, 1000 feet). We saw wildflowers, waterfalls, and some views through the burned forest, on a day when we only had fleeting glimpses of the mountain itself. The wildflower meadows were ‘beyond category’ today, and I took a lot of pictures!
Lower trail, from Bird Lake to Bluff Lake:
Bird Lake. Mountain not out, but pretty reflections in the lake.Partridgefoot and lupine on the lower trail.Asters under the burned trees.A frog in one of the stream crossings.Monkeyflower, lupine, lovageFireweed and false hellebore.Heather and magenta paintbrush.Bluff Lake
Next, continuing uphill to the Round the Mountain Trail:
BuckwheatMagenta paintbrush, lovage and lupineSpireaMossy waterfallUp the cliffs, with mariposa liliesMore meadowsBrilliant bouquets all along the trail…Staircase Falls, just below the Round the Mountain Trail.
And continuing above the Round the Mountain Trail, on the Trail of Flowers, we finally had a glimpse of Mt Adams from under the clouds.
Mt Adams, with cloud cover.Closer viewBracted lousewort, with more magenta paintbrush and lupineA watchful treePhloxA brief view of the summit of Mt Adams.Orange paintbrush, yellow ‘daisies’ of some sort, and white sitka valerian.And another view of Mt Adams as we hiked up to the next rock ledge.
The ledge along the upper Trail of Flowers Loop provides a view to the landscape to the south.
Looking south toward Oregon – blue arrow pointing to the smoke plume from the Burdoin Fire.Closer view of the Burdoin Fire smoke plume.And a wider view across the southern flanks of Mt Adams, and its ghostly forest, burned several times in the past twenty years.
We continued upward through more meadows to the Hellroaring Viewpoint…
Mt Adams on view from the upward trailSandwort and mariposa liliesHellroaring Viewpoint – top of the mountain back under the clouds.Mazama Glacier Hellroaring Falls
We retraced the trail back to the Trail of Flowers, then down to the Round the Mountain Trail, and continued westward through numerous meadows divided by small creeks that are all branches of Bird Creek.
Every kind of flower in these meadowsEasy walking,Another brief glimpse of Mt AdamsAnd more meadowsAll the flowers!A pondAnd more meadows! Next we crossed a slight rise, and then descended to our start point, by going down the Crooked Creek drainage…More meadows on the downward trail…This slope along Crooked Creek was so colorful!More color!Approaching Crooked Creek FallsCrooked Creek Falls
The slopes below Crooked Creek Falls are heavily burned, but the creeks are still colorful with flowers…
Monkey flower, lupine, Sitka valerian, paintbrush
And back to Bird Lake…
Back to Bird Lake, partial view of Mt Adams this afternoon.Meanwhile, dark clouds formed a backdrop for these glowing ghost treesAnd a last view of Mt Adams from the gravel road down.
It was a “wildflower bathing” day on the slopes of Mount Adams!
I wrote most of this post in July, as this event unfolded.
The Burdoin Mountain Fire started on Friday, July 18th, near Coyote Wall: a hot day, an east wind, and whoosh, by Sunday, July 20th, it had burned all the way east to the Klickitat River. In Portland, I followed news reports of evacuations of homes and families and communities; of firefighters on the ground and planes scooping water out of the Columbia River. I kept checking the map on the Watch Duty App – as the red line crept east, remembering all of the many hours we have spent in the fall, winter and spring, hiking the open grassy slopes and rocky cliffs above the river. Wildflowers and fall colors, all captured in my mind’s eye, and stored on my computer hard drive photo files…
July 19th fire boundary – Screenshot from the Watch Duty App.July 24th fire boundary. Screenshot from the Watch Duty App
The biggest concern is for the area residents and their homes. I was keeping my fingers crossed for my favorite trees, too. I hoped the speed of the fire as it traveled through the grass would cause the conflagration to bypass some of the trees:
The guide tree above Rowland Lake – a tall ponderosa pine near the spot where we often have lunch when hiking the Labyrinth – it overlooks many of the trails here in its high perch – will it still be there?
Arrow pointing to the guide tree – from near the Labyrinth trailhead above Rowland Lake, October 24, 2024.Guide ponderosa as seen from Rowland Wall, April 20, 2018.Guide ponderosa from the west as we hike toward our lunch stop and turnaround point, December 16, 2017.Lunch stop near the ponderosa, with all the eastern gorge on view, October 17, 2023.
Also along the Labyrinth Trail, my favorite oak grove:
Labyrinth oak grove in the spring, May 17, 2025.Labyrinth oak grove in the fall, October 27, 2021.
The solitary oak tree that perches on the cliff edge is always photogenic, as seen going uphill, to the east:
April 18, 2018October 24, 2024December 3, 2016December 28, 2015
And downhill, to the west:
October 17, 2023, with Mt Hood beyond.
On the way down, I always say goodbye to the one-eyed oak sentinel on the lower trail:
October 17, 2023October 27, 2021
I have been browsing my photo library, and there are so many other beautiful trees there. As the red fire boundary moved farther east on the map, to the Catherine Creek slopes, I thought of the many ponderosa pines, and the small oak groves, including those guarding the fairy ponds:
March 3, 2025
Even farther east, there is my ‘ent’, a snag guarding the eastern slope where there is always so much birdsong in spring, and so many flowers!
November 7, 2024‘Ent’ snag
Next I see fire has made its way all the way east to the Balfour-Klickitat Reserve where we go to see the juvenile bald eagles practicing flight in the small lagoon off of the mouth of the Klickitat River every winter…
January 17, 2023December 28, 2015
We are in the Schroedinger phase…that is, all I know is the fire outline on the map, that keeps spreading eastward. I don’t know what has burned and what has survived.
Part 2 – Preliminary outcome report
As of this writing (late July), the fire is contained, evacuations lifted. Tragically, 19 homes were destroyed and 47 were damaged. No lives were lost. Local people have reported that the burned area was patchy in nature. Many trees were spared. The local residents have a difficult path ahead. Land managers will be monitoring the trail situation. We don’t usually hike here in summer. When the weather turns to cooler temperatures, I hope to find myself on these trails again, to visit my trees and report back.
View north toward the Burdoin Fire area from the Mosier Plateau, April 21, 2025, taken before the fire. All of this area north of the Columbia River is in the burn zone, from Coyote Wall, on the west, past the Catherine Creek slopes on the eastern edge, and farther east, all the way to the Klickitat River. The arrow points to my guide ponderosa, on the slope above the Labyrinth.
A hot day inland- a good day to go west to the Oregon Coast and walk on one of our favorite beaches, deliciously foggy at first, then sunny.
7/17 – Hug Point
We first walked over the old road at Hug Point – our timing was such that tide would be coming back in soon…
The waterfallApproach to the road around Hug Point.Circling the point.View north from the high point.Beach to the north.Sea anemones on the old road bedRock wall plant gradient.And back to the south side beach.
Then we walked all the way south to Arch Cape, passing our favorite landmarks…
The cave – with an addition – a giant stump stranded on the rock ledge – probably from a winter storm.Big barnacle rock,with a few sea stars among the barnacles and mussels.Walking south toward Arch Cape, fog starting to disperse. Photo credit to my husband.Arch Cape Creek and Castle Rock.Lunch view near Arch Cape, with a flock of sea gulls.
And the walk north – about five miles round trip today.
Fog rising, tide coming in.The seagull flock accompanied us most of the way.Blue skies ahead.
Of our five hikes in July, three were on or near Mt Hood.
7/3 – Picnic Rock and Umbrella Falls
This hike begins at the Elk Meadows trailhead. We walked uphill along flower-filled ski runs of Mt Hood Meadows, and across to the knob called Picnic Rock. We visited Umbrella Falls, then circled downhill through flower-filled forest to complete the loop.
Trail map, about 6 miles, 1000 feet elevation.
Flowers along the uphill trail…
Uphill meadows – penstemon and lupineWashington liliesBead lilies and Solomon sealLupine and tiger liliesMarsh marigoldTrillium and violetsPaintbrush and Elephant’s head
This was a blooming bear grass year in the ski run slopes, with a view of Mt Hood
Bear grass, Mt HoodMt Hood close up.
At Picnic Rock we had great views…
Ascending Picnic Rock – Mt Jefferson off to the right.Closer look at Mt Jefferson and more Cascade Peaks to the south.Looking east toward Bluegrass Ridge (burned in 2006), above Elk Meadows.West toward Mt Hood and Clark Creek.Clark Creek.Stonecrop on Picnic Rock.Penstemon clinging to the face of Picnic Rock.
We passed back through the bear grass meadows on our way to Umbrella Falls.
Bear grass meadows and Mt Hood.Umbrella Falls
On the downhill trail, we passed through meadows full of sitka valerian, and swampy areas full of shooting stars and buttercups. Once in the forest, the Oregon anemones were sparkling up in abundance.
This was only my second time doing this hike, but it has become a favorite! Especially at this particular time in the bloom season. I hope to be back to explore some of the other trails in the Mt Hood Meadows area.
7/10 – Lookout Mountain
The next week, we hiked the short, sweet (3 miles, 550 feet) loop to Lookout Mountain from High Prairie trailhead. We have done this one many times, and it never gets old! The lower part of the trail crosses a couple of large meadows.
Shooting stars, buttercups and bistort at the High Prairie Trailhead.Subalpine fleabaneElephant’s head, buttercups and astersAnd a view to Mt Adams.
Eventually, we ascended to the ridge where views opened up…
Mt Hood ahead, with paintbrush, scarlet gillia, and lupine.Full view of the mountainClose up of the southern flank, where we were hiking last week near Mt Hood Meadows.The summitCooper Spur, and the Eliot Glacier, near where we will hike at the end of the month.A last snow bank on the approach trail.Mt Hood from the top of Lookout Mountain.Mt Jefferson and the other Cascade Mountains to the south, with ground squirrel.Mt Jefferson and Mt Washington
Lots of wildflowers to look at here, as well…
The summit slope has tufts of wildflowers.Sulphurous buckwheat, transitioning from red-orange to yellow.Penstemon and buckwheatDusty maidenAnd a rock wren
More views on the return trail…
The iconic volcanic spire, with Mt Hood beyond,And back through the lower meadows.
The main challenge for this hike is the slow bumpy road up to the 6000 foot trailhead.
7/10 – Cloud Cap Shelter and Timberline Trail High Point via the East Eliot Moraine.
This long favorite hike also begins with a long bumpy drive up gravel switchbacks, and through a burned ghost forest. From the Cloud Cap Saddle Campground we hiked about up along the crest of the East Eliot Moraine to the Cloud Cap Shelter for lunch. Then we continued south along the Timberline Trail, the high point, about 7300′, for a total of about 5 miles, 1500 feet.
From the crest of East Eliot Moraine, our trail goes up hill toward the Eliot Glacier.Eliot Glacier Glacier close upCrevasses
We crossed south toward the Cloud Cap Shelter for our lunch break.
Approaching the Cloud Cap Shelter.Lunch view of Mt St Helens through the haze.Also, Mt Adams to the north, beyond the Hood River Valley; and Cloud Cap Inn, near our trailhead, on lower near right.Cloud Cap Shelter; Cooper Spur and Mt Hood beyond.
After enjoying a good rest rest in the shade at the shelter, as it was a hot day, and I was having trouble with the uphillness of it all, we decided to continue on to the trail high point.
We crossed a few snow banks in the shaded wrinkles of the mountain.Timberline Trail High Point.
Then we retraced our steps, back along the seemingly barren slopes, with lots of subalpine flowers blooming amid the rocks.
Our trail carved out of the edge of the sky.Tufts of yarrow and buckwheat on the slopes.Yarrow and lupineA last look back at the snow banksPussypawsPenstemon and astersPartridgefoot and Mt Hood.
As we walked the Timberline Trail beneath the Eliot Moraine, I spotted the giant teetering boulder that I have noticed in previous years. It’s still there…
Teetering boulder on the edge of the Eliot MoraineTeetering boulderLewis monkey flowers, asters, and lupine in Tilly Jane Creek, almost back to the trailhead.
Another enjoyable day on Mt Hood. I was really out of shape this year – life circumstances have interrupted my spring hike season. This hike, which I have done easily before, was hard! I hope I will be in better shape for the next time!
Next..
Our other July hikes were on Mt Adams, and at the Oregon Coast – to be reported in the next posts.
July was a busy month, when I look back. Our daughter visited for two weeks at the end of the month, and of course, that was my highlight! Before that, I visited a Textile Exhibit at the Columbia River Gorge Museum, and we went to the Peninsula Park Rose Garden on the fourth of July. There were five hikes (next post), lots of neighborhood walks, and the World Naked Bike Ride rode right past our house.
July 1st – Museum Day
I went with my friend Peggy to the Columbia River Gorge Museum in Skamania, WA, to see an exhibit of tapestry weavings by indigenous artist Kristie Strasen, that were inspired by the Columbia River, and its dams.
Tapestries of the Columbia RiverIndividual panel and river segment descriptionsClose up of panel II, our local strand of the river.Chinook salmon tapestryAntique airplane in the museum, and the outside viewMuseum patio and view to the Columbia River
July 4th at the Peninsula Park Rose Garden
Not much going on for us today. We went over to the local rose garden to see the roses.
Peninsula Park Rose GardenBlue eryngo near the entryYellow rosesOrange rosesRed rosesAmerican flag beyond the fountain
Knitting and other crafts
I have made progress on my three projects – socks, a scarf, a cardigan.
Cardigan, sock and scarf, in progress
Our daughter is an expert sock monkey creator and teacher. We started making our own sock monkeys on her previous visit. We are further along now; one more visit from her and we should finish. Meanwhile, she made one for a gift to a friend.
Sock monkeys, in progressHer completed sock catEnjoying Ken’s Artisan Pizza.
Home Improvement/Upkeep – It took half the summer to finish the house painting, and that included having all the storm windows freshened up.
Storm windows ready for re-hanging.Fresh paint
Monthly Book Report
I finished 11 books in July. Several (Cranford by Elizebeth Gaskell, The Dante Game by Jane Langton, Wintering by Katherine May, and Civil to Strangers by Barbara Pym were comfortable re-reads. The type of book that is worth a second listen a few years later. My book group had a lively discussion about Commonwealth by Ann Patchett.
My Hollywood Branch of the Multnomah County Library is closed for six months of remodeling. I went to the newly opened Albina Library, just a little farther away, to pick up my books. It is a beautiful space, open and light-filled. The old part of the building is now a colorful children’s library. The new section is a beautiful, airy space, including classrooms, an outdoor patio planted with native plants, and lots of study spaces.
Russell Street EntryNew foyerOutdoor reading patioSome of the stacksKnott Street entrance. This older part of the building is a refurbished 1911 Carnegie Library, remodeled as the children’s library.Children’s libraryChildren’s library
Signs in the neighborhood of resistance and solidarity…
Appreciating our shared acknowledgement that we are not looking away.
And last but not least, The World Naked Bike Ride rode past our house on July 26th. It took 45 minutes for the full peloton of thousands of people to roll by. Neighbors came out and cheered them on. The atmosphere was festive, as the riders expressed their freedom of speech and body acceptance. No photos.
Margaret Quilts 