Hiked up the Blue Lake Ridge Trail ORV trailhead from the Cispus River Road--about 18 miles from Randle. This is a popular place during the year with cyclists but during the winter, I've never been in here at other times of the year, no one is ever in here-I try to make at least a couple of trips a winter--extremely peaceful and a good workout, 3 and a half miles and over a 2000 foot elevation gain. Blue Lake was only about 1/2 frozen over-indicative of the kind of winter its been. I only needed to snowshoe the last 3/4 of a mile of so into the lake. Usually a good chance of seeing deer and elk-though I didn't see any this time--but many tracks in the fresh snow. In the past, I've made a loop out of this, by going down the Blue Lake Hiker Trail (#274), hitting the Valley Trail (#270) and back to the Blue Lake ORV trailhead. The Hiker Trail is a place of odd beauty, huge moss and lichen covered rock walls towering over the trail--but it's a hard walk even going downhill.

The trail begins near Mud Lake, just off of rough rd 7807. It is possible to drive a bit past the lake, but you will be stopped by a wash out at any rate. From the lake, walk a bit around the shore and gaze backward at the rocky butte towering above. That is your goal. Walking past the wash out, the road/trail curves then begins climbing and meets another old road (probably from a lower trailhead). Keep left along a level stretch, then climb very steeply the last section to the summit. Mt Adams is the star attraction, but Rainier is visible as is Mud Lake far below. Blue Lake Butte Tr - 8/4 Trail begins near the Mud Lake cutoff on rd 78. It climbs about 500 feet then swings around the butte and comes to a nice viewpoint of Mt Adams and the Hamilton Butte area. To the north is a brief window through the trees towards an unnamed ridge. The trail now loses its elevation gain as it drops to join the main Blue Lake trail. Since I had been to the lake before I turned around. E Canyon Ridge/Squaw Creek Tr - 8/4 The map and trail sign do not agree on a name. At any rate, the trail drops a bit then begins a steady climb through woods first then along an open slope. There is a view northward to Rainier. Where the trail began its final drop I turned around. On the way back I was treated to a great view of Adams. To the right were Table Mt and Council Bluff. Anyone doing this trail from rd 5601 should drive a bit further to Lake Takhlakh esp in the afternoon for a stunning view of Mt Adams rising above the lake shore. Summit Prarie Trail - 8/3 From road 90 this trail climbs 2500 feet (over 3000 with all the ups and downs) to a former LO site. In the first hour the trail clinbs gently heading westward, then crossed a road and heads north. The next hour the grade steepens until it moderates when passing through small meadows of corn lily and lupine. In one upper meadow is a nice view of Mt Adams if you turn around. Blowdowns are everywhere, some of the larger ones have permanent detours around them. The trail makes a brief eastside traverse of a ridge, giving the first unobstructed view of Adams. Unfortunately, the trail then drops and climbs steeply before reaching the last ridge crest and making a final push to the summit. The best view is of Adams; Rainier and JUmbo/Sunrise Peaks are partially blocked. St Helens far to the west is partially blocked by a ridge.

I had a chance to compare this trail (must be new -- it wasn't on my 1990 NF map) to the Blue Lake Ridge trail #271 by doing them both as a loop. I started at the Blue Lake Ridge trailhead, which is much easier to reach by car. The trail was fairly steep the first two miles before leveling off, affording a brief (at least partially man-made) view of the Cispus valley. This trail is open to anything and got almost road-like in width at some points. A logging road crossed the trail several times and eventually paralled it; the trail passed near several logged stretches, particularly in the latter half(if you want to count your blessings, at least they weren't 100% clearcut -- but one was, shockingly, only about a quarter mile from the lake!) The lake was the largest that I can recall seeing on any hike-in in recent years, with plenty of logs for sitting on, and entirely deserted until just as I was leaving. The worst news was that one previous camping party left quite a littered spot. The hike down on trail #274 (hiker-only), which followed Blue Lake Creek was a vast improvement, with no sign of logging visible most of the way. The highlight was in the middle of the hike, when a nearly vertical canyon wall rises above the other side of the creek displaying very interesting rock patterns. Two small waterfalls added to the enjoyment. This trail is definitely steeper in spots than the ridge trail -- there was something to be said for going downhill only on it. (There are some much-needed rock steps in particularly steep spots.) I completed the loop by following the access road about 1 mile and branching off on Valley trail #270, which parallels Forest Service road 23. (This trail, like the ridge trail, is open to motorcycles.) Total hiking time: about 3 1/2 hours. Total distance: about 7 miles. Obstacles: Snow/mud/puddles -- No snow in sight. No mud or puddle spots to remember. Hunters/motorers -- One hunter on the trail and one other party on the access road near the 274 trailhead. No gunfire, though. One motorcyling group arrived at the lake just as I was leaving; no others encountered that day. This was a Monday, though. Downfall -- Some easily traversed downfall on trail #274. There was some wood debris on the access road in one spot which I mostly cleared off. Directions to trailhead: From U.S. 12 in Randle, take the junction to Mt. St. Helens, cross the Cowlitz River, and take the left fork to Forest Road #23. The turnoff to the Hiker trailhead is at mile 16 on this road. The gravel road forks (unsigned) almost immediately; bear left and follow it (slowly -- there are large dips!!) to the end. The Ridge trailhead is at mile 17, on the main road. Recommendation: Forget the loop and the easier parking. Take #274 both ways (if you're walking, that is!)