Roger and Jennifer Colby ...Hiking and Backpacking in the Pacific Northwest

Spring 2012 Hiking

Hardy Ridge, Washington

This spring we hiked up Hardy Ridge in the Beacon Rock State Park in Washington State. This ridge is directly west of Hamilton Mountain. This 8 mile loop begins at the equestrian trailhead off Kupfer road. This was an exercise hike in that it was cloudy and it being March there would be no wildflowers.
When we reached the ridge we decided to follow the ridge up. Clumps of trees sheltered snow which hid the trail but it follows the ridge so it's not hard to find. The Hardy Ridge Summit was beautiful and I cannot wait to come back up in June for the wildflowers.

Bunker Hill, Washington

In March we also hiked up Bunker Hill in the Wind River Experimental Forest. We parked on the shoulder of the Wind River Road just north of Stabler Washington and took the Pacific Crest Trail west. The trail crosses the Wind River on a nice big bridge. This was another viewless cloudy day and we packed snowshoes in case we hit snowline. We hiked to the Old Bunker Hill Road and retraced our steps to the Bunker Hill Trail cutoff. There we hiked to the top where we found about 3 inches of new snow. There could be no view from the top as it is heavily forested. There are blocks from a former lookout there.

A hiking bridge carries the Pacific Crest Trail over the Wind River

Catherine Creek, Washington

In early April we hiked up Catherine Creek. This is just East of Coyote Wall on the Washington State side of the Columbia River Gorge. Not far into the hike we came upon these Turkey Vultures in a tree overlooking their territory. We followed the ridge West towards Coyote Wall. At the top we took a right turn and made a nice loop hike back down Catherine Creek, passing the Arch on the way.

The Catherine Creek area provides great views of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. This is another June destination as the wildflowers flourish in these meadows.

Larch Mountain, Washington

Larch Mountain in Clark County Washington provides late spring snowshoeing. From the top you can see the more well known Larch Mountain in Oregon. I would have presumed there were rules against naming two mountains the same name in such close geographical proximity! In any case this hike was more about having done it and doing some deep fresh snow snowshoeing workout than anything. Located just West of the popular Silver Star Mountain this hike is a summer mountain biking destination. We found 5 feet of snow at the top!

Larch Mountain Washington

We had a good time and were treated to great vista views on this beautiful April day.

Mt St Helens from Larch Mountain

Lewis River, Washington

This hike is a great trail following the upper Lewis River. Hiking it in late April, we were treated with the first signs of spring and the forest slowly reinventing itself in new growth. We left the Curley Creek trailhead west of Swift Reservoir in Washington State. At about 3.5 miles we came to the Bolt Camp shelter. It is falling down but is an old vestige of the logging days in the area.

Lewis River above Curly Creek is full of old growth so it is hard to see where they logged this area. Being around trees this big is humbling. One can only imagine the noise one of these monsters makes when it falls in the woods.

If you like fungus and mushrooms you have come to the right place. This place averages over 112 inches of rain per year.

The Salmonberry graced us with an early spring display.

Lower Falls Lewis River

Dog Mountain, Washington

Dog Mountain

This popular hike is best done very early if you have to be weekend warriors. The hike is a workout straight out of the gate and you will finish exhausted! The views are wonderful once you reach the meadows near the top.