Butte Camp — Friday, Jun. 25, 2021

We did a two-night backpack up the Butte Camp trail, staying at the lower camp both nights and day-hiking up to the Loowit on the middle day. Gorgeous views and a relatively easy hike - perfect!

Intermittent snow patches started around camp but were rapidly melting in hot weather. Some larger snow patches up on the Loowit. We brought microspikes but didn't need them.

The bear grass is on full bloom in the first part of the trail from the parking lot- truly spectacular!

Water is running well in the small stream by the campsite. Great for restocking, and for cooling off in the afternoon.

Mosquitoes weren't too bad, but there were tons of flies, including the biting black flies.

The trail was in great condition, except for a few terrible spots near the top of the switchbacks. There was a large log down over the trail, and then a stretch of trail across a step slope that is eroding. Definitely not impassible, but we took it slow through there.

We saw just a handful of other people, and each night only one other group was in the campground. A hidden gem of Mount St. Helens!