Day was gorgeous and we (my youngest daughter and I) had the place to ourselves!  :) 

It was a nice hike, but very snowy.  Goat Marsh Trail was not marked infrequently and was buried in snow, making it easy to get lost.  Make sure you have a good map with you!

Kalama Ski Trail totally snow covered, but well-blazed and easy to follow.  Toutle Trail was generally clear of snow but had lots of washout damage.  Some downed trees and branches, but passable.  

We hiked the Blue Horse trail to the Toutle trail for a short loop, the weekend of the Bigfoot 200.  The route does not include the Blue Horse trail so we had  quiet first half where passed the snotel site at Huckleberry Saddle (yes there were huckleberries ripe, and ready for snackin'). We have been on the Mountain during the Bigfoot before. The last time was a few years ago when we camped on the pumice plain for the perseid meteor shower.  It adds an extra buzz of excitement to the day (and night if you are backpacking).

Plenty of runners strode past as we made our way down the Toutle trail back to the TH.  

It was a perfect day for a short hike.

There were no bugs to speak of. 

The trail is in good condition, with a couple of logs to step over and one downed tree on the Blue Horse Trail that could be removed, (at N46.11.526 S122.15.184). 

A clear sky with a mid-day temperature of 85 F.  I hiked the first third of this trail from Kalama Horse Camp to Red Rock and back - about 8.5 miles (the total length of the historic Toutle Trail is 13 miles one way and ends at the Loowit Trail that encircles the mountain).  For me, this is an annual trek for a great forest visit, a cool river breeze on a hot day, and to note the trail's condition for WTA.  Today the route is clear of debris and blowdowns, thanks to Back Country Horsemen crosscutting timbers and rerouting away from the eroding precipice.  Overall this trail portion is an easy hike, with one steep ascent.  The path follows the Kalama river 90% of the time - until passing by McBride Lake (essentially a marsh), where it ascends again to Red Rock Pass and FS 81 road.  This portion of the trail is forested the entire length, with a reward of big Douglas Fir trees approaching old growth status scattered throughout.  Today I saw the early signs of blueberries.  The absence of coyote scat was curious and usually present.  Orange tags on clothes pins hanging from branches along the trail were noted typically for a trail running event.  

A trail return option is to take the Kalama Ski Trail for the last 1.5 miles back to the Kalama Horse Camp trailhead.  This ski trail section is open more, the tread is of loose pumice, and one loses sight and the sound of the river.  Not recommended.  

To kick off the 2021 Hike-A-Thon we did a clockwise loop around Goat Mountain and Goat Marsh using the Fossil Trail, Blue Horse Trail, Kalama Ski Trail and Toutle Trail. We left the Kalama Horse Camp about 8am, under sunny warm skies.  There were few bugs on our route except for some annoying non-biting black flies on the north side of Goat Mountain.  Most of this route is heavily used by equestrians so be ready for a dusty pulverized tread during the dry season.  We saw only two other hikers the entire day, just a mile before reaching our car.  Total distance 13 miles, cumulative elevation gain 2,600 ft.

To kick off the 2021 Hike-A-Thon we did a clockwise loop around Goat Mountain and Goat Marsh using the Fossil Trail, Blue Horse Trail, Kalama Ski Trail and Toutle Trail. We left the Kalama Horse Camp about 8am, under sunny warm skies.  There were few bugs on our route except for some annoying non-biting black flies on the north side of Goat Mountain.  Most of this route is heavily used by equestrians so be ready for a dusty pulverized tread during the dry season.  We saw only two other hikers the entire day, just a mile before reaching our car.  Total distance 13 miles, cumulative elevation gain 2,600 ft.