Loowit Trail, Truman Trail - Pumice Plains — Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens

This was a repeat hike for me, this time coming in from the North via Randal, FS road 25 and 99 to Windy Ridge. Wear plenty of sunscreen and carry water, as there is little cover. Wildflowers are blooming in wonderful variety, and there are chipmunks, ground squirrels, a variety of birds, and even a frog near Loowit Falls. I started on the trail at 9 AM, and didn’t see anyone until 11 AM, and then it became a gregarious party of mountain bikers coming in from the Ape Canyon Trail and a van full of hikers from Canada. This is a highly recommended hike, and it’s worth carrying a tripod to get those photos with high apertures and depth-of-field. Go soon; the wildflowers are at their peak.