One of our annual summer hikes, we use the Divide Camp Trail to access subalpine wildflowers on the slopes of Mount Adams.
Forest Road 23 from Trout Lake has been brushed on both shoulders about as far as the PCT crossing (good!) but the paved section has some serious slumping issues that require alert driving while the 6 miles or so of gravel road to the junction with FR 2329 are the worst condition we have experienced in a long time (bad!). FR 2329 is paved to Takhlakh Lake Campground, then gravel beyond and in somewhat better condition than FR 23 except for the climb up the grade just beyond TakhTakh Meadow, which is rough. It is a relief to reach the trailhead parking area.
The parking area was nearly full of cars when we arrived, surprising for a Monday, especially since we were greeted by mosquitoes and black flies when we opened the car doors. We quickly lathered up with sunscreen and insect repellant and set out up the trail.
Almost immediately we encountered the first of about 6-8 trees across the trail that must have come down since the trail was logged out by the Forest Service crew earlier this summer. We could see evidence of fresh cut logs so we know the trail crew had come this way.
Besides the logs across the trail, the trail tread really needs some repairs or re-routes where it climbs steeply up the fall line and has been down cut into a waist (or higher) trench.
In 2.2 miles, we reached the Divide Camp Meadow and its fabulous view of Mount Adams. The wildflowers were mostly burnt out by the hot temperatures this summer, but we did find Explorer's Gentians coming into bloom.
We continued on another 0.9 mile to the junction with the PCT, where we immediately encountered several thru hikers. We turned south on the PCT and climbed a ridge to a shady spot under some mountain hemlock trees for a lunch break.
After lunch, we continued south of the PCT to where the rubble of glacial outwash floods down the nascent Lewis River provided Mount Adams views and some wildflowers still in bloom along stream channels. The rubble fields invited exploration but we kept an eye on cloud build up over the mountain which hid views of the upper third.
All too soon, we needed to turn back the way we came since I needed to make a Pika Watch stop on the drive home. In the afternoon warmth, the mosquitoes and black flies seemed even more annoying than during our hike up the trail in the morning.
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