High Rock — Friday, Sep. 3, 1999

South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley

Took the family and my parents up to High Rock, as it seemed the area's best bet for big views with the easiest approach. Following the intructions of an earlier report, we took the alternative route along FR 84. There were signs for the trail all the way from the cutoff to FR 59 just past Ashland on the Mountain Highway (706), so getting there was pretty easy. My three year old ran all the way to the top, but my parents got dizzy and were asking for an ""airlift"" by the end. The old guy on top is real friendly, you should offer him something once settled in the lookout. Try not to stand right on the edge of the sheer cliffs, though (as some were doing before we left); I think it wears on his nerves (it was upsetting me, at least). We had the top to ourselves with him at 10:00am, but saw over fifty people on the way out. Stats: 3.2 miles R/T, 1400' el. gain.