From July 31st through August 5th, we hiked northwest on Mount Adams from the Riley Camp Trailhead to the Muddy Meadows Trailhead and the Killen Creek Trailhead.

Major spots hit:

• Riley Camp/Riley Meadow
• Crystal Lake
• Divide Meadow/Divide Camp
• High Camp (Adams Glacier Basin)
• Glacier Lake •Killen Creek Meadows
• Muddy Meadow

Minor spots hit:

• Luna Lake (Lake 5104) and other Riley Camp Tr. ponds
• Sheep Lake
• Mutton Creek Lava Bed
• Lewis River crossing
• Adams Creek crossing
• Upper Adams Creek Meadows and Basin (off-trail)
• Reflection Lake in Lower Killen Creek Meadows
• Hidden Lake below the PCT (just north of Killen Creek Meadows)
• Spring Creek
• Killen Creek (along Killen Connector 113A Tr.)

Trails Used:

Riley Camp Trail #64, Pacific Crest Trail #2000, Divide Camp Trail #112, High Camp Trail #10, Killen Creek Meadows use trails, Muddy Meadows Trail #13, Keenes Camp #120 (a mistake), and Killen Connector Trail #113A.

Itinerary:

Day 1: East on Riley Camp Trail, camp at Riley Meadow Camp.

Day 2: East on Riley Camp Trail, south on PCT, and east off-trail above Burnt Rock to Crystal Lake.

Day 3: Back down to the PCT, hike north, cross the Lewis River, and hike down the Divide Camp Trail to Divide Camp.

Day 4: Hike up the Divide Camp Trail, then northbound on the PCT, then off-trail above Adams Creek (east bank) to High Camp.

Day 5: Day hike up to Glacier Lake from High Camp (off-trail).

Day 6: Hike down from High Camp via the High Camp Trail, northbound on PCT, cross through Killen Creek Meadows on use trails, regain the PCT, hike down via the Muddy Meadows Trail, an (unnecessary) detour to Spring Creek via the Keenes Camp Trail, and then west to the Killen Creek Trailhead via the Killen Connector Trail (unmarked on nearly all maps).

Day-by-day Description:

We started on the Riley Camp Trail on the unmarked trailhead on Forest Road 23, then hiked up through western Mount Adams rainforest before reaching the Riley South Trail #64A. We continued on up the mountain on the Riley Camp Trail, climbing up some switchbacks, before entering burned forest from the 2015 Mount Adams Complex Fire. After passing by a lake (Lake 5104) the trail then veered away from the burn and re-entered the green forest. The trees soon started to thin out giving way to subalpine meadows and small ponds. As the trail rounded a bend, it entered the majestic Riley Meadow. Mount Adams dominated the view overhead! A little bit further was Riley Camp–our stop for the night. We got to our campsite right before sundown and watched the sun set over the mountain in a brilliant hue or orange and pink.

On the second day, we hiked up the Riley Camp Trail, crossed Riley Creek twice, and reached the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) junction. From here, we headed south on the PCT, across brilliant meadows and wildflowers, past Sheep Lake, and to a saddle below Burnt Rock. From the saddle, we hiked cross-country up the mountain, through meadows, burned forest, and green trees to Crystal Lake. (Route finding skills necessary.) Along the way, we had to ascend a very steep pass that we dubbed "Little Asgard Pass." Turns out there is a faint trail going up/down the right (south) side of the pass; oh well. As we crested the pass, we gained a faint path that took us the rest of the way to Crystal Lake. Just as we ascended a ridge, Crystal Lake lay before us, its water's edge less than seven inches from spilling over the bank. We set up camp on the left side of the lake, set right between the lake and incredible views of Mount Adams and the Riley Creek basin. We watched the sunset light up the Mountain in a bright orange glow. I then took some starscape photography that night, it being the New Moon.

On the third day, the weather wasn't looking all that great. We hoped it would clear up by mid-day, but we were wrong. We hiked down off from Crystal Lake, north on the PCT, crossed Riley Creek, passed the Riley Camp Trail junction, and continued on northwards across the Mutton Creek Lava Bed. Soon the weather started to get gloomy, which then turned to rain. It rained hard all the way from the Mutton Creek Lava Flow all the way to the Divide Camp Trail junction. Once at the junction, we hiked down the Divide Camp Trail to Divide Meadow, took the spur trail to Divide Camp, and set up camp for the night. It drizzled a bit more before finally letting up for the night.

On the fourth day, we hiked up the Divide Camp Trail to the PCT junction. But before we hiked up the Divide Camp Trail to the PCT, I took a small detour down the Divide Camp Trail to get to the bottom of Divide Meadow for an epic view of the mountain set amid a brilliant display of wildflowers. Once at the PCT, we hiked east (northbound) and crossed Adams Creek. The trail first crosses the Adams Creek floodplain for 0.5 miles before finally reaching Adams Creek. The crossing wasn't tricky this season. After crossing Adams Creek, we hiked a very short ways on the PCT on the other side before heading off-trail, up the mountain, at a small ridgeline/meadow area. This route is easier than the High Camp Trail because it ascends in a more gentle grade. It is also arguably more scenic than the High Camp Trail, but requires really good route finding skills and GPS and/or map and compass.

We ascended through sparse trees, subalpine meadows, incredible wildflower carpets, rocky ravines, snowfields, and alpine tundra before finally reaching High Camp from the west. We hiked across the High Camp basin and chose our spot just above the High Camp Trail and creek on an elevated ridgeline with a spectacular view. Mount Adams dominated the view overhead. Adams Glacier and its many icefalls cascaded off of the mountain in brilliant fashion. To the north, Mount Rainier, the Goat Rocks, Mount St. Helens, Green Mountain, Potato Hill, and the Cispus River basin dotted the horizon. The sunset was absolutely breathtaking, as was the star-show that night.

On the fifth day, we day-hiked up from our camp to Glacier Lake (also called as Equestria Lake, Adams Glacier Lake...), set right below the very foot of Mount Adams and the Adams Glacier. It was mostly easy walking on up to the lake. We first gained a north-south ridgeline, followed it, crossed a flat, wide basin, and crossed a big snowfield, and crossed a boulder field before reaching the lake. Route finding skills highly recommended.

On the last day, day six for us, we hiked down from High Camp via the High Camp Trail, reached the PCT, took the PCT to the Muddy Meadows Trail, hiked down Muddy Meadows to Keenes Horse Camp, (mistakenly took Keenes Camp Trail), and then used the Killen Connector Trail to reach our car parked at the Killen Creek Trailhead. We planned to get to our car via the Muddy Meadows Trail and the Killen Connector Trail for a couple of reasons: 1) so that I could get a GPS track for the Killen Connector #113A, 2) so that we could pass through Killen Creek Meadows, and 3) so that we could explore the PCT section between the Highline Tr. junction and the Muddy Meadows Trail. Passing through Muddy Meadows was also a bonus.

The High Camp Trail was a lot more sketchy than what I remember the last time (in 2013). It descended across a sketchy scree field, down over boulders and a deeply eroded trail, and across rocky subalpine forest before finally reaching the PCT-Killen Creek junction.

Once on the PCT, we hiked east (northbound) to Killen Creek Meadows, where we had lunch at a campsite below an impressive waterfall (Killen Creek Falls). From here, we took an unofficial use trail, across a few creeks, following Killen Creek, before rounding a bend with a large lake below us. This lake, Reflection Lake, is often photographed with Mount Adams in the backdrop. From the south end, Mount Rainier looms over the lake; from the north end, Mount Adams casts a picture perfect reflection. Because we hit it mid-day, the photographing conditions weren't all that great. From the lake, we hiked partially cross-country, sometimes following abandoned trails to the PCT-Highline Trail junction. Once back on the PCT, we hiked northeast. We passed two beautiful lakes down below, then hiked through dry forest (viewless) to the Muddy Meadows junction.

We then hiked down the Muddy Meadows Trail to the Muddy Meadows Trailhead, where one vehicle was parked. We continued along a lower, unmarked section of the Muddy Meadows Trail (located on the left/west end of the parking area) to Forest Road 2329. Crossing 2329, we regained another trail which took us to Keenes Horse Camp. We then made the mistake of taking the Keenes Camp Trail following Spring Creek to the now unmaintained Spring Creek Campground. (Horse camp maps did, however, show the Killen Connector Trail meeting up with the Keenes Camp Trail. It was a map error.)

Once back at Keenes Horse Camp, we found the Killen Connector Trail #113A on the other side of camp. (If only we had walked a bit further!!.) We then took the Killen Connector Trail west, following FR 2329, occasionally meeting up with the road a few times, before it veered away and crossed Killen Creek below Killen Creek Campground. It was an incredibly beautiful setting here, with the creek crossing fanning out over oddly smooth, polished rocks. Once on the other side, a sign points "trail," telling you where to go. The other trail leads to the campground, which remains out of sight of the main trail. From the campground, the trail climbs a bit, crosses a few blowdowns, before finally reaching Forest Road 2329 and the Killen Creek Trailhead.

Started on Divide trail #112 (now closed for wildfire) on Mt Adam's NW flank to reach the PCT. Then headed north with original plans to come off the PCT via Walupt Lake trail #101. However, the heat and the bugs changed that. After one day of dealing with both, which were horrible, we decided to cut the trip short a day and get out via Coleman Weedpatch trail #121, catching a ride back to Walupt Lake to the end car (thank you sir for the ride!). Let alone the wildfire.... Started Friday am. Divide trail a steady climb, and within the last mile to the PCT intersection, full of wildflowers and the scent of lupine filled the air. Lovely. The mountain's north face staring straight at you. What a view! The mosquitos were starting through here. DEET on. Once at the intersection with the PCT, head north (left) and soon come to Mt Adams Creek. Which we didn't realize had to be forded! A first for me. Found an easier place to ford by heading upstream about a 100 yards. Next was the Killen Creek trail intersection, where we ran into some day hikers. And this stretch was prolific with flowers. So nice. Heat bad now, so at Killen Creek, we put on the bug suits (a definite investment!) and threw up the hammock in the shade to wait out some of the afternoon heat. Later, eventually reaching a nice camp between fresh water Muddy Creek and a glacier runoff that join together. So water sources that first day (non-glacial): Killen Creek and Muddy Creek. And a few stagnant, almost dried up ponds. Second day: started 5:45 to try to get out before too hot. But with 13 miles to go, we still were hiking in the heat. Reaching the PCT trail crossing at road 5603, we came to a neon pink streamer across our trail. Exiting under it, we read the sign on the board that listed "trails closed for active wildfire". Including where we had started and just come from. What?! When? We hadn't seen, nor smelled any smoke. Nor where there any trail closure markings at Divide trail when we started yesterday. The PCT northbound from here wasn't marked off, so we continued on. So ran into several people whom came in the night before and said the fire had first been reported late Friday afternoon (well after we were already into our hike). And that people they were running into that were coming out had seen the flames from near Divide trail. Now we REALLY wanted to get out! We couldn't stop for breaks for the flies were ferocious (and I have well over 100 bites to prove it; DEET be damned as it didn't deter them). We finally exited via Coleman Weedpatch trail, got a ride to Walupt Lake for the end car and got back to the first car at Divide trailhead. And got the heck out of there! As for water through this stretch: there was good water flow at Lava Springs, then a smaller flow at Midway Creek, then 8 or so stagnant ponds if you were desperate enough before reaching the intersection with Coleman Weedpatch Trail #121. Very dry up here. Many "creeklets" have dried up. I had planned another stretch down here in late July but with the lack of water that I'm finding and now that other stretch sounds to be on fire....I may call it done for the season.