We climbed up the first short switchback from the Red Rock Pass trailhead early enough that shadows still fell across the lava field below Mt St Helens. What a view of the mountain! We followed the track across the lava field for Toutle Trail #238. On the west side, we entered a woodland to follow a nearly level trail bearing right into shady woods. At the Kalama Ski Trail junction we kept straight.
We headed up Butte Camp Trail #238A through a fir forest. Climbed over nine smaller downed logs and bent under one fallen stem along the way. At an easy, talking pace, it took us about 1:22 to hike the 2 miles to Butte Camp. Love that clear, cold stream running on the trail with masses of false hellebore alongside. Good bug dope helped, as insects investigated us whenever we paused.
Ate a few handfuls of trail mix, then headed up the trail past the inaccurate Loowit Trail 216 1 sign. My GPS track showed closer to 1.8 mi. up to the Loowit. We could hear the stream along the first stage. On the carefully graded, easy tread across the steep slopes among older noble fir and hemlock, this part of the trip up was a pleasure.
I was a little concerned about a section of trail other trip reports had described as sketchy. But, when we reached it, the open sandy slope wasn't much steeper than what we'd been crossing, and the tread was at least a foot wide all across.
At the far side, a knob gave a view of Mt Hood appearing to hover above the haze, the Red Rock Pass area below, with the Lewis River Valley beyond. The pine, noble fir, and hemlock grow more sparsely on the flatter area above the steep slopes. At a leisurely pace, with stops to eat nuts, take pictures, and hydrate, it took us 1:25 to hike up to the 216. 3.8 miles with less than 1700' elevation gain.
We explored a little ways both north and south along the Loowit. Ate lunch in the shade of a small lodgepole pine. The mountain heath blossomed purple and red. Glorious views! Discussed possible routes up the darker lava flow visible to our east and above, to the summit. Looked like we were only about 2.5 miles or less from the top from our lunch spot. But most of that would be unbroken boulder field. Not much snow left – a few patches here and there visible from the Loowit. We detoured around a small patch heading east.
Including time for lunch, exploring along the Loowit, and taking pictures of the downed logs, time back to Red Rock Pass was 2:38. Saw only two other hikers, on the Loowit. Total mileage, including our Loowit side jaunts, 8 mi.
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