Myself and two friends aged 64-65 attempted a Backpack in the Mount Margaret Backcountry. This is a summary of our experience:
June 25, 2025 we hiked from Coldwater Lake Boat Launch to Ridge Camp via the South Coldwater Trail (4.85 miles). The trail is in very good Condition and we had no snow along the hike. Knowing that Ridge Camp was most likely dry we each carried 4 liters of water. We did check Trail 230 and found a dry stream bed. Looks like this is an intermittent stream that fills with rainfall and/or melting snow. The Ridge Camp Latrine is hard to find. There is a faint trail to the south? which leads to the latrine.
June 26, 2025 we hiked from Ridge Camp to Margaret Camp (5.89 miles). There are portions of snow covering the trail. Some snowfields we Crossed without crampons, but some we stopped and put on our crampons (particularly along ridges with slopes). We all used Trekking poles as well which helped on the snowfields. Upon reaching the first snow we stopped and boiled snow, ran it through Sawyer Squeeze filters for our breakfast and the rest of the hike to Margaret Camp. We thought Margaret Camp was pretty Spectacular with views of Mount Saint Helens on one side and views of Whittier Ridge on the other side. Margaret Camp was Also dry, but we had quite a bit of snow and melted snow with our stove for water.
June 27, 2025, (5.89 miles) we left Margaret Camp with the intention of hiking to Obscurity Camp, but we never made it. To my knowledge we were close to the side trail to Mt. Margaret. There were quite a few small snowfields to cross. We stopped at an approx. 75 foot Long snowfield on steep terrain. After putting on crampons and giving it a try we were unable to kick in our boots and decided to Not risk injury. I imagine someone more experienced with an ice ax could have safely crossed this area. So we instead headed back To Ridge Camp where we spent the night. Before we reached Ridge Camp we found a stream and loaded up with water. Note: we had A Mountain Goat close to Margaret camp which was pretty cool.
June 28, 2025 we hiked from Ridge Camp back to our car at the Coldwater Lake Boat Launch (6.5 miles). We took Trail 230 down to Coldwater Falls where Trail 230 intersects with the Lakes Trail 211. We continued down the Lakes Trail (211) until we reached our car at Coldwater Lake Boat Launch. Trail 230 down to Coldwater Falls is very overgrown and buggy. Highly recommend rain pants or rain chaps especially If hiking this area in the morning. I got soaked to the bone on this portion of the hike. The hike along the Lakes Trail back to our car was full of flowers at what I believe to be their peak.
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