*Forest Road 99 will close beyond milepost 11, Sept. 4-Oct. 5, 2012 (limits access to Windy Ridge, Spirit Lake and Independence Pass Loop trails.)
 
From: Gifford Pinchot National Forest News
VANCOUVER, WA – Due to material delivery delays, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest has postponed a culvert replacement project slated to close Forest Road 25 at its extreme north end announced in an earlier release. Other developments will allow the replacement of a culvert crossing under FR 99 earlier than expected.

FOREST ROAD 99
The FR 99 project will require its closure beyond milepost 11, Sept. 4-Oct. 5, 2012. This means road access to the east side of Mount St. Helens will be limited to Cascade Peaks and other popular destinations such as Meta Lake, Norway Pass and Bear Meadow.

Windy Ridge, Spirit Lake and Independence Pass Trailhead will be inaccessible by FR 99. Forest. Road 26 will remain open.

FOREST ROAD 25

Forest Road 25 will now close to through-traffic for 10 days sometime in late September or early October. The specialized fish-passage culvert is under fabrication, and once it is ready this project can get under way. Forest engineers report the best available information at this time is this project will occur Sept 17-28, pending culvert fabrication.

Forest Road 25 will remain open from the south until snows close it for the winter season.

Please check the current conditions table at http://www.fs.usda.gov/[…]/recreation#cond for the most up-to-date information on these projects and conditions throughout the national forest and monument.

We thought we'd attempt a Memorial Day hike, braving crowds, but there was barely a soul on route 12, heading east from I-5. The signs at Cowlitz ranger station (in Randle) let us know that route 25 was closed at Benham Bridge, so we wouldn't be able to get to Norway Pass that way. (Access to Windy Ridge was thus also blocked.) We decided to try to get to Norway Pass via route 26.

It was tricky to actually find the turn to route 26 (not well marked), but we found it and it was a nice drive. Unfortunately, very close to the point at which the Norway Pass trail would've started (not far past the Green River trailhead), the road was washed out. Impassable for cars.

So we backtracked and did the Green River trail towards the Horse campground. Some snow and soft/wet spots, but on the whole very easy to traverse. Lush and green and beautiful. Got down to the campground (didn't see a soul there either) and then turned around.

Finally made it to Windy Ridge. Came up here in Mid-May only to find the same thing I encountered in Late June - Road Closed due to Snow to Windy Ridge. It's late August, temps around 90 and there is no SNOW except for in the shadows in the higher elevations. Arrived Thursday the 25th at stayed at Iron Creek campground which borders the Cispus River. Went up to Windy Ridge to watch the sunset that evening. It lived up to it's name, WINDY! Yes, it was certainly breezy to say the least. Hiked up the first portion of the trail that leads toward Loowit Falls for a look see of what Friday would bring me on the full hike. Ran into a small pile of Bear Scat, hmmm? Left after the sunseterrific colors were dissipating before it was totally dark. It's a mighty twisty road back to the route 25, especially till you get out of the blast zone.

Friday I arrived at roughly 10AM, No Wind? Loaded up my gear and set off down the ridge trail. About 1/2 way down I spotted a small herd (6 or so) of Elk grazing off toward the east on a lower hilltop. The sun was still partially hidden behind early morning cloud cover. Crossed paths with a solo hiker who had just about finished the Loowit Trail loop around the mountain perimeter; said it took him 2 1/2 days. Said it was hot! A couple on Mtn. Bikes road by soon after. By the time I reached the end of the trail at Pumice Flats it was getting pretty warm out. I decided to take of my lightweight long sleeve roll up sleeve hiking shirt and completed the rest of the hike in my synthetic activewear T-shirt. Had a hat, and ripstop cargo pants. Lots of beautiful wildflowers adorned the path on and off up to this point. I pass another solo hiker who looks really hot, not wearing a shirt and wiping sweat off his forehead with his T-shirt. As I reached the other side of the flats the heat begins to kick in a little more and I decide it's time for a small break, some water and photo ops of flowers and the terrain.

I continue on toward Loowit Falls as the blackbirds sit atop the marking posts in the distance. Usually not moving till I am about 15 feet away from them. As I enter large patches of wildflowers I can hear the buzz of the bees as they pollinate; paying absolutely no attention to me at all. The day is certainly heating up as I begin to feel the heat build up from the backpack I am carrying. Out of the nowhere I hear the sound of water as I come upon a muddy little runoff. I am hoping the falls are getting near. Some places the path is very soft and it is also very narrow. This is no place for carelessness and getting a twisted ankle. I hear the sound of water again as I come upon what appears to be an Oasis in the middle of the devastated blast path. And an Oasis it is! Willow Springs Oasis to be exact. You must walk through the runoff to follow the path that is shrouded in vegetation taller than most people. It's shady and cool in here! I will stop on the way back for a rest.

Loowit Falls shouldn't be too much further. The disappointing part of the journey; I didn't see a sign that ever said I was at Loowit Falls. It looks like the trail continued, on the opposite side of a very bouldery ravine.I began to go beyond what were likely the falls. The Lava rocks were getting very large and the ravine dropped down pretty sharply with no clear path to the other side, where I could clearly see a trail. I sat here a while debating what I should do. I then noticed this quite loud clicking type sound? What I wondered was that? It is so eerily quiet out here that all the noises seem amplified. It was the sound of flying grasshoppers! I sat here, took some close up shots of the west inside crater wall and ate a snack. After my break I decide to head back to the falls about 50 feet back or so; they must be the Loowit Falls,they just didn't seem very spectacular. I walked a little ways up towards the water and climbed alongside the rocky area next to the water. The soft footing was giving way some and I decided this might not be the right path or not to be climbed upon. There was a slightly larger fall drop, but still nothing worthy as I had thought. So I dropped back down to the run off level below the first falls I saw. While I rested here taking a break and snapping a few photos, another hiker appeared. He too climbed up the same area I did and soon after I began hiking back toward the Oasis, I heard him yell out "there are some bigger falls coming over a cliff higher up". He was apparently more determined than I to find something better and bigger and had.

I at that point was not thrilled by what I had seen and decided that I would just head back to the Oasis. Besides, I wasn't too sure if we were supposed to be climbing alongside the falls upwards to view them? Might not be considered the path and subject to the $100 minimum fine? Back at the Oasis I splashed some of the icy cool water over my arms and hands. Felt absolutely refreshing! It was absolutely beautiful here; as the pictures show. To me, this was worth the hike more than the falls I didn't see might have been. A true Oasis in the middle of a section of desert terrain. I could have spent hours here. Alas, that was not possible and after 30 minutes I decided it was time to head back to Windy Ridge. PS -Some have said the water here (Oasis) is fine to drink, I'd still not drink it without filtering unless you were absolutely dehydrated.

Various sites calculate the total journey I travelled at roughly 9.7 miles or so. I did it in 4 hours and 15 minutes, including all the photo ops and Oasis fun. I would definitely do this hike again and branch off to some of the other trails. There is Abraham Trail and of course Truman Trail just to name a couple. Mt St Helens is truly an interesting experience. I never thought I would be so drawn here, but I have been up here 3 times since Mid May and find it more interesting every time. Sadly, the campgrounds nearby all close at the end of September; I was hoping to return around Halloween for a Spooktacular weekend!

Went from Windy ridge trail to the Loowit trail to the Loowits falls trail and returned the same way. Making this a 9.8 miles rt. This is so amazing! Make this a must do. Somtimes I forget how small I really am in the world, which is a good thing to remember. Great hike, views, flowers, waterfall.