Adams Creek Meadows, Mount Adams Highline
Aug 06, 2009
by
E&B Dobner
—
last modified
Aug 09, 2009 04:07 PM
- Type of Outing
- Multi-night backpack
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Adams Creek Meadows
- Region: South Cascades -- Mount Adams
- Agency: Mount Adams Ranger District (509)-395-2501
- Trails: Adams Creek Meadows (#113)
- Avg Rating: 3.62
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Mount Adams Highline
- Region: South Cascades -- Mount Adams
- Agency: USFS Mount Adams Ranger District
- Trails: Highline (#114)
- Avg Rating: 3.00
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
We had planned to go to Lyman Lake in the North Cascades, but the weather report didn't look favorable, so we decided to head south to backpack Adams Creek Meadows. The forecast was for a chance of thunderstorms all four days we were going to be there. Boy were they wrong!
The weather was partly cloudy as we left the trailhead around 12:00pm. The bugs were a little annoying, but we got moving quickly. The trail is basically a moderately sloped straight shot up the the Pacific Crest Trail. It starts in the trees, but gradually opens up into beautiful flower-filled meadows and views of Mt. Adams. We set up camp at Killen Creek right below a beautiful waterfall and surrounded by flowers. A trail maintenance crew was camped across from us. That afternoon we took a short hike up to High Camp. Here you encounter less flowers, but a wide open expanse of glacial remnants and Mt. Adams in all it's glory. That night the bugs were held at bay with a slight breeze.
On the second day we woke up to low clouds that burned off to sunny skies. Today, we hiked the Highline Trail up to a morraine near the base of the Lyman Glacier. The trail from Killen Creek takes you through meadow upon meadow of Lupine, paintbrush, flox, aster, beargrass, and bistort. All of a sudden you leave it all behind and enter a moonscape like terraine. There are plenty of cairns to guide you through all of the boulders, creeks and lava flows. A great trail that gets you close up to Mt. Adams.
On day three we headed the other direction on the PCT, once again under sunny skies, to see if we couuld find Crystal Lake. Again, the trail took us through endless meadows. The Adams Creek crossing took a little searching to find a dry route. About a quarter mile past Sheep Lake you'll see an unmarked footpath on your left. Follow that as best you can to reach Crystal Lake. A great little alpine lake with a nice reflection of Mt. Adams. The bugs here were annoying. We ate quickly and headed back to camp where we packed up a day early and headed out very satisfied. I have never been anywhere in the Cascades where I've seen so many wildflowers. The PCT from Foggy Flat to Crystal lake (about 8-10 miles) was one long wildflower hike.
The weather was partly cloudy as we left the trailhead around 12:00pm. The bugs were a little annoying, but we got moving quickly. The trail is basically a moderately sloped straight shot up the the Pacific Crest Trail. It starts in the trees, but gradually opens up into beautiful flower-filled meadows and views of Mt. Adams. We set up camp at Killen Creek right below a beautiful waterfall and surrounded by flowers. A trail maintenance crew was camped across from us. That afternoon we took a short hike up to High Camp. Here you encounter less flowers, but a wide open expanse of glacial remnants and Mt. Adams in all it's glory. That night the bugs were held at bay with a slight breeze.
On the second day we woke up to low clouds that burned off to sunny skies. Today, we hiked the Highline Trail up to a morraine near the base of the Lyman Glacier. The trail from Killen Creek takes you through meadow upon meadow of Lupine, paintbrush, flox, aster, beargrass, and bistort. All of a sudden you leave it all behind and enter a moonscape like terraine. There are plenty of cairns to guide you through all of the boulders, creeks and lava flows. A great trail that gets you close up to Mt. Adams.
On day three we headed the other direction on the PCT, once again under sunny skies, to see if we couuld find Crystal Lake. Again, the trail took us through endless meadows. The Adams Creek crossing took a little searching to find a dry route. About a quarter mile past Sheep Lake you'll see an unmarked footpath on your left. Follow that as best you can to reach Crystal Lake. A great little alpine lake with a nice reflection of Mt. Adams. The bugs here were annoying. We ate quickly and headed back to camp where we packed up a day early and headed out very satisfied. I have never been anywhere in the Cascades where I've seen so many wildflowers. The PCT from Foggy Flat to Crystal lake (about 8-10 miles) was one long wildflower hike.
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Adams Creek Crossing
On our way back from Crystal Lake, we had to take off our boots and socks, strap them to our packs and ford the turbulent Adams Creek. Since the weather was so nice, the creek rose covering our previous crossing point.