The big tourist show on Mt Saint Helens is the Johnston Ridge Observatory and Visitor Center. Since it was opening the next day we decided to head up and hike Coldwater Lake and The Hummocks before the crowds descended... somebody didn't get the message. And by "somebody" I mean, like, EVERYBODY!
So, we usually go to Coldwater Lake/Hummocks in winter and we are used to being there alone. Now a brief on the area: On May 18th 1980 the slide, explosion and eruption did some interesting things to this area. First of all the slide went up the far ridge and collapsed back down creating the natural dam that then created Coldwater Lake and all of the the remaining piles of mountain-spew to the west of it are called "hummocks". 'Tis a fascinating place to explore. (brief over) So on this day we ACTUALLY got up early (which almost never happens) and made it up to the trail parking lot at 9:30am, and it was already more full than we had ever seen it. With MANY people driving up to the Johnston Ridge road locked barrier-gate with confused looks on their faces, did you see all of the signs on the way up?! But I digress... The 2.2 mile hike around the hummocks was amazing... Very few people, weirdly, and more lush and green than ever, FLOWERS FLOWERS FLOWERS all over the place like a Laura Ashley nightmare, great views of the Toutle river and the ever growing huge beaver dam and cat-tail pond. It was so nice and then... duhm duhm duhmmmm
As we came out of the trees the parking lot was full, across the street the parking lot was full, the water was full of boats, the trail was full of possibly highly contagious humans, AAUUUUUGH. The Trail is very narrow so it was challenging to properly avoid exhalations from the teaming masses. We went back a mile and a half walking through what seemed like an endless cloud of flowers, climbed down off the trail for a snack stop on the waters edge by ourselves and then got the hell outta Dodge!
Folks, go to Saint Helens IMMEDIATELY for one of the best flower shows you have ever seen... but bring a mask and wear it. Just writing this makes me feel like I need a shower, what a world we live in.
So, we usually go to Coldwater Lake/Hummocks in winter and we are used to being there alone. Now a brief on the area: On May 18th 1980 the slide, explosion and eruption did some interesting things to this area. First of all the slide went up the far ridge and collapsed back down creating the natural dam that then created Coldwater Lake and all of the the remaining piles of mountain-spew to the west of it are called "hummocks". 'Tis a fascinating place to explore. (brief over) So on this day we ACTUALLY got up early (which almost never happens) and made it up to the trail parking lot at 9:30am, and it was already more full than we had ever seen it. With MANY people driving up to the Johnston Ridge road locked barrier-gate with confused looks on their faces, did you see all of the signs on the way up?! But I digress... The 2.2 mile hike around the hummocks was amazing... Very few people, weirdly, and more lush and green than ever, FLOWERS FLOWERS FLOWERS all over the place like a Laura Ashley nightmare, great views of the Toutle river and the ever growing huge beaver dam and cat-tail pond. It was so nice and then... duhm duhm duhmmmm
As we came out of the trees the parking lot was full, across the street the parking lot was full, the water was full of boats, the trail was full of possibly highly contagious humans, AAUUUUUGH. The Trail is very narrow so it was challenging to properly avoid exhalations from the teaming masses. We went back a mile and a half walking through what seemed like an endless cloud of flowers, climbed down off the trail for a snack stop on the waters edge by ourselves and then got the hell outta Dodge!
Folks, go to Saint Helens IMMEDIATELY for one of the best flower shows you have ever seen... but bring a mask and wear it. Just writing this makes me feel like I need a shower, what a world we live in.