A rare rainy day that provided a respite from recent toasty temperatures. We started from Bear Meadow Interpretive Site where there's a roomy paved parking lot and vault toilet, as well as interesting photographic display of Mt St Helens' eruption and the lateral blast from that vantage point. Not sure why there's complaints about FR25 and FR99 ... both roads are paved and a heck of a lot better than driving washboard, pot-holed gravel roads.
This route passes in and out of the trees, eventually reaching the barren ridge leading to Strawberry Mountain Lookout site, our destination. 4.5 mile roundtrip, 1350’ elevation gain
Trail surface is good and we found only one short section of a couple steep steps up on fractured rock covered with broken pieces that was a challenge ... mostly because a slip/fall could mean a tumble down a long, rocky slope. Being the older crowd that we are, this section was safely managed with careful foot placement and poles. Possibly, the younger, sure-footed might not even notice this transition area 😂. We lunched at the Lookout site where remnants of concrete pillars, cable, nails and other artifacts give evidence. Mostly in the clouds, our perch didn't provide the promised 360º views. However, demarcation of the lateral blast zone could be appreciated and tranquil Strawberry Lake easily seen. The skirt of Mt St Helens finally made a brief appearance right before departing the Lookout site and we waved goodbye (video). Lack of expansive views let us appreciate the blooming wildflowers all the more. A couple of my favorites for the day are included in this post.
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