This was our first time on the Divide Camp Trail #112 and we certainly were not disappointed. This is a good trail for quick access to the PCT. The roads from Trout Lake to Takhlakh Lake were very good except for a few potholes. Just past the lake the road worsens but 4x4 is not needed. We hit the trail at 8:15 under heavy fog / drizzle and cool conditions. As we climbed the temps warmed, the layers peeled and the sun brightened until we finally achieved bluebird status. We hit the first real snow patch at about 5,500 feet and at the PCT junction the snow coverage was about 85-90%. From the junction we headed south for 1/4 mile and then headed up a ridge between Adams Creek and the Lewis River to 6,500 feet, directly in front of the Adams Glacier. There were some mosquitoes present but not a lot and they were not biting (although in several puddles we could see lots of active larvae getting ready to party). We saw a coyote crossing a snow field ahead of us and came across some mysterious animal tracks we didn't recognize. There were a few varieties of wildflowers in bloom where there wasn't snow, but a lot of the plant life is just starting to awaken. St. Helens, Rainier, and the Goat Rocks were all visible from their bases up while a cloud layer hung below. The day was perfection for late May. On the way out we diverted 1/4 mile over to Divide Camp to check it out and see the large spring just south of the camp. We only saw one other couple all day, we were heading back to the TH as they were backpacking in for a night near the headwaters of the Lewis River.

I hiked in the Divide Trail #112, followed the Crest Trail north 1.5 miles and then headed up to High Camp for my first night. A considerable amount of fine trail maintenance has been done recently on trail #112 and it is in very good shape, particularly in the area near the junction with the spur to Divide Camp. Thank you to those responsible. The crossing of the West Fork of the Lewis River (flowing from Adams Glacier) was not quite as difficult as it looked at first, which was a relief. Each of the several channels still carries plenty of water (and accompanying glacial silt) and the log crossings are no more robust than necessary. At High Camp, there were no flowers to speak of but there was still water flowing as of September 11, and I appeared to be the only one camped there. The next day I followed the Crest Trail past Killen Creek and then the Highline Trail/Round-the-Mountain Trail #114 (which does not go all the way around the mountain). I had intended to camp in Avalanche Valley, but the crossings of the outflow from Lyman Glacier looked problematic for a solo hiker. I did the lower crossing at about 6400’ but the 6900’ crossing looked even less inviting. There is not much tread through this area, which is basically moraine carved up by glacial outwash streams which obviously have flooded many times over the years. The route is well marked with massive cairns however and at least in good weather there is little risk of getting lost. Nevertheless, the intervals of soft sand and good sized rocks were tedious at best. (It is a moraine, after all. Think of heading directly up to the top of the Railroad Grade from the suspension bridge over Rocky Creek on the Scott Paul Trail.) I eventually opted to reduce my anxiety level (and to eliminate the risk that I might have to turn back at the boundary of the Yakima Indian Reservation – which would have meant re-crossing the outflows late in the afternoon of a warm day) and turned around at the 6900’ crossing. Camped that night at the junction of the PCT and Highline trails and retraced my steps to the trailhead the following morning. Camping at the PCT/Highline junction was quite pleasant. The best site (at the base of the prominent waterfall) was taken, but there are several nice established sites off a short spur trail heading north a few hundred yards west of the actual trail junction. For reflections of Mt. Adams and sunset photos, however, the place to be is the small pond less than 100’ above and east of the PCT/Highline junction. (See Ira Spring’s image on page 197 of “100 Classic Hikes in Washington.”) Don’t bother until at least 3:00 or 4:00 however. Earlier in the day the light is terrible.

We started at noon at the Divide Camp trailhead, and headed up the trail. The farther we went, the more bugs there were. Black flies and mosquitos made hiking in shorts rather painful. However, the higher we went, the more amazing the lupine got. It is at full bloom right now, all the way up to the PCT. The trail is in good shape. We hiked on up above the PCT toward High Camp, amazing flowers all the way. The only place we were bug free was on the talus slopes above Adams creek where a nice breeze was blowing. The Adams crossing at 2 pm was quite doable, and coming back, we crossed higher on a snowfield. We saw 1 marmot and a few distant goats. A nice afternoon hike.

Complete Round Mt Adams Hike Our party of three left the car at Divide Camp trailhead ascending a gentle grade 2.8 miles to intersect the PCT in a meadow with splendid view of the Adams Glacier. We then hiked north to the meadow at the intersection of the PCT and the Killen Cr. Tr. this is a very lovely area with a lovely waterfall, dry meadowlands, flowers, a few small snow patches and many camps. Mt Adams is above, below is a view of a small lake and in places, Mt Rainier. in the night we heard a distant cougar screaming, we think. The second day, we continued onto the Highline Tr. with more views and more elevation gain, seeing more of the NE side of the mtn. The last couple miles to the pass into Devil's Garden is generally well cairned and tracked, but finding a crossing for the last creek was difficult. The way is across both lava flows and moraines in places, but not hard to regain the trail when it disappears. At times cairns are hard to spot because they blend into their rocky surroundings. At the pass is a sign marking the boundary of the Yakima Reservation. See Forest Service website for regs on crossing and camping on the reservation. The descent down and then across a basin to the divide above Avalanche Spring and Valley was not difficult. The way was marked with cairns and orange trail tape in a few spots. This section becomes marginally cross country in a few places, but the track is easy to regain. Second camp was near the lower end of the small lake at Avalanche Springs. Great views across the eastern face of Mt Adams, very rugged and spectacular. We saw an ice avalanche high up beneath the ice cap. We were about 7 hours underway for day two. Day three was the crux. Very much cross country with very few to no cairns. There is a low route described by Woodmansee in Trekking Washington that was visible as a possibility. We took the high route shown on the Green Trails Mt. Adams map that ascends to Sunrise Camp, then descends from there via the climbers trail to The Viewpoint. Difficulties of note were: We crossed the branches of Rusk Cr. early without trouble. Poles advised. Then skirted around the end of Battlement Ridge relatively high, descending to the northern lateral moraine of the Klickitat Glacier. We ascended the moraine crest, meeting a solo hiker with dog who was doing the entire circuit in one day, for the 12th time. Oh well. He had crampons and poles for his early descent of the snowfield above. Descending the unstable slope of the moraine was awkward due to material wanting to slide out from under us, including large rocks as well as the usual sand and scree, We crossed the outlet stream Muddy Cr just below the snout of the glacier. Poles essential. Rocks rolled down the ice slope above as we took our careful turns in crossing, some landing 30 ft away. When we were across and away, a rock the size of a small refrigerator came down, missing our crossing area by 50 ft. Above, we ascended the terminal moraine reaching a long snowfield that leads up about 1000' to Sunrise Camp. We used ice axes, and at 1pm were able to kick 3" deep steps into the surface. The slope is moderate, maybe 20 degrees. Sunrise Camp is just over the crest, a colony of a dozen rock wall tent shelters. The route down is somewhat cairned but rough through talus and rock fields. Fortunately long snow fields saved us much of that. Below the way trail up from the Viewpoint is tricky to find from above, but we found it. Descended trail toward Bird Lake to meet the Round the Mt. Tr. which we followed west until we passed the edge of the reservation where we found a camp in a meadow with water. The map shows much of this area dry but there is lots of water this year late. About 9.5 hours for the day. Day four followed the trail to its intersection with PCT and then north about 14 mis in all. Many great views of the Adams and territory south, west. Camped in meadow area just north of Sheep Lake. The trail in this section hugs the 6000' contour, without big ascents or descents, but great scenery. Day 5, completed the loop and descended Divide Camp Tr to car in 3 hours. This is PCT through hiker season. We met two couples and enjoyed talking to them. Enthusiasm is high after weeks of forest hiking when they get here.

A group of 9 Mountaineers did a point to point hike on the PCT segment of the Mt Adams Highline from Williams Mine TH (rd 521 off hwy 23) to Divide Camp TH 112. To minimize the car shuttle our group split into northgoing and southgoing groups with a key exchange in the middle. The weather was gorgeous, perfectly clear and in the 80s. This narrative will follow the northbound route. The Williams Mine TH on the PCT was very easy to find from FR23 about 40 miles south of Randle. There was a very good sign for the PCT trail junction from 23, taking us left about a tenth of a mile on an unmarked spur road (521 on the map) to the large PCT trailhead sign and roadside parking area (no trail park permit or Forest Pass required). The trail set out due north then winding east through forest, climbing slowly for about 3 miles and then a bit steeper until turning due north at a signed trail junction with trail 12 at about 6 miles. Nice camps on a stream near the trailhead, first peek-a-boo views of Mt Adams at about 5 miles. The trail was extremely buggy from the start, dry and dusty tread, and these features continued through the hike. After the junction the views of Adams opened up to the right across Horseshoe Meadows and glorious close-up views came in and out across various named and unnamed rockpiles (the Bumper, the Hump). Within a mile of the junction the terrain dropped away to the west, northwest and southwest leaving us with amazing vistas including Mt Hood, Mt St Helens and Mt Rainier (don't forget to look!!). For the rest of the PCT segment we retained these amazing views while winding through pygmy forests of mostly mountain hemlock and some true fir. Wildflowers were just reaching their peak, a few snow patches just melting and lupine beginning to emerge. Tried a short lunch stop during which the main course was us...for the massive swarm of mosquitoes. Crossing paths with our southgoing group we took a quick buggy group photo, traded keys and proceeded on our respective ways. At about 10 miles the trail passed through a massive field of giant pumice and basalt rocks, obviously a giant volcano burp from the past, now more like a brick oven in the midday heat. At 13 miles we came to the Divide Camp trail junction 112, turned left, and descended steeply to the trail end (at 16.5 miles) through forest and meadow. A few stream crossings, nothing treacherous or even requiring getting wet feet.