Based on weather we pushed our trip back by a day starting on Sunday, returning on Tuesday. The previous rain kept the dust down and we just had a couple of small puddles to skirt near Muddy Meadow, after which it was mainly mud-free sailing.
Date: August 17 - 19
Location: Mt Adams, Muddy Meadow TH to Foggy Flats with a day adventure to Devil's Garden and Avalanche Valley
Arrival Time: 10:42 am
Number of cars upon arrival: 1
Road conditions: Good, paved then graded gravel
Weather conditions: Mostly sunny start on day one, with increasing clouds later in the afternoon. It cleared overnight to sunny skies for day 2, which was a little chilly. Day 3 sunny and warmer, perfect for the downhill return to the TH.
Last time we hiked the trail: 2018
Trail grade and tread: Good
Trail conditions: The trails were in decent shape minus about 12 downed trees on the Muddy Meadows Trail between the PCT and Highline trail junctions. All had well-defined user paths around them. The trail through the rocky volcanic sections and past Devil's Garden was faint to non-existent at times but with the aid of cairns and a little route finding it was not too difficult to stay on course. Stream crossings were rock hops on the way over but with higher levels on the return, we did do one wet ford.
Hike features: wildflowers, open volcanic landscapes, glaciers
Wildlife: a herd of mountain goats above Devil's Garden
Bugs: Very minimal. The first night there were a few bugs but nothing to speak of after that.
Flowers, berries: Still some nice displays of the usual wildflowers on the greener side of the trip, and the more volcanic side had wonderful flowers popping against the dark volcanic rock. We focused getting our cabooses up hill and finding a camp spot on the way in, but on the way out... we indulged in some of the tastiest huckleberries around.
Number of cars upon return: 4 at 11:25am
Mileage: 24.73
Elevation gain: 5269'
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