Abraham

I just read Riri's trip report of the exact same hike we took today. I won't waste your time with a long report, as Riri has captured what our experience was nearly to a "T" (including the encounter with 5 mountain bikers).

I'll say this hike is mostly a moderate hike. However, I believe it's fair to move it to "strenuous" based on the scramble up about 1/3 mile of very steep loose pumice on the way from the Plains of Abraham up to the Loowit Trail. The steep sand stairs early in the hike were par for the course for a good alpine hike, giving you a decent heart-thumping workout before letting you cruise on through the spectacularly desolate Plains of Abraham. But that 1/3 mile scramble surprised us a bit, as did the precarious first 1/4 mile of the trail through Windy Pass. I don't believe I'm being too dramatic in saying a fall at many places during this stretch would most likely be fatal - BE CAREFUL HERE. The footing is NOT great, with loose rock and a moderately uneven and narrow trail.

Upon clearly Windy Pass, the view along the expanse of the Pumice Plain and of Spirit Lake, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Adams are a nice reward - as is the view into the east edge of the crater as you begin to descend towards Truman Trail.

Well, I guess I DID go on. But most definitely read Riri's post if you want a great synopsis of this particular hike.

We're glad we hiked this trail, and rated it high. But we also likely will not hike it again - opting to try many other hikes before feeling compelled to come back to this one.