Harry's Ridge, Boundary
Jul 14, 2009
by
Sunrise Creek
—
last modified
Jul 15, 2009 01:35 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Harry's Ridge
- Region: South Cascades -- Mt. St. Helens
- Agency: USFS Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
- Trails: Harry's Ridge (#1.7)
- Avg Rating: 2.00
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Boundary West
- Region: South Cascades -- Mt. St. Helens
- Agency: USFS Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
- Trails: Boundary (#1)
- Avg Rating: 2.50
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
Paintbrush and Mount St. Helens. Photo by Sunrise Creek
It was a perfect day in the Cascades, the high peaks an archipelago above the marine air layer on the west side. The clouds below melted away as we started our hike and the breeze was light.
From the Johnston Ridge Observatory, we hiked 8 miles round trip via Boundary Trail #1 and Harry's Ridge Trail #1.7 for lunch at the end of the ridge. This hike has about 1,400 ft elev gain including an uphill return to the trailhead.
The cold afternoon wind, powered by the thermals, picked up as we settled in for lunch -- soon everyone was wearing a jacket and the pant legs were zipped back on. In addition to Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams was visible across Spirit Lake and Mount Hood could be seen through Windy Gap to the left of the volcano. The high ridges of the Mount Margaret backcountry block views of Mount Rainier.
Wildflowers are exploding in the blast zone in this 30th growing season since the big eruption, particularly hillsides of paintbrush and shrubby penstemon. Cascades penstemon also is abundant.
From the end of Harry's Ridge, we had a direct view into the throat of the crater. I was surprised to see that Loowit Falls has moved, probably as a result of the two lobes of the crater glacier merging. The right canyon where it once fell is nearly dry, while the waterfall in the left canyon now is dominant and appears to be the headwaters of the Toutle River.
From the Johnston Ridge Observatory, we hiked 8 miles round trip via Boundary Trail #1 and Harry's Ridge Trail #1.7 for lunch at the end of the ridge. This hike has about 1,400 ft elev gain including an uphill return to the trailhead.
The cold afternoon wind, powered by the thermals, picked up as we settled in for lunch -- soon everyone was wearing a jacket and the pant legs were zipped back on. In addition to Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams was visible across Spirit Lake and Mount Hood could be seen through Windy Gap to the left of the volcano. The high ridges of the Mount Margaret backcountry block views of Mount Rainier.
Wildflowers are exploding in the blast zone in this 30th growing season since the big eruption, particularly hillsides of paintbrush and shrubby penstemon. Cascades penstemon also is abundant.
From the end of Harry's Ridge, we had a direct view into the throat of the crater. I was surprised to see that Loowit Falls has moved, probably as a result of the two lobes of the crater glacier merging. The right canyon where it once fell is nearly dry, while the waterfall in the left canyon now is dominant and appears to be the headwaters of the Toutle River.
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Paintbrush borders the Boundary Trail near the start of the Devil's Elbow section. Photo by Sunrise Creek
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Boundary Trail through the Mount St. Helens blast zone. Photo by Sunrise Creek
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