Over the weekend in partnership with Mt. St. Helens Institue, Washington Trail Association hosted a three day work party with over 40 volunteers working on various trails off of Forest Service Road 99. There is a good sized parking lot with pit toilets

On Saturday two dfferent crews work on Independence Ridge to help 'reopen' this soon to be lost trail. The crew I was working with started at the Norway Pass trailhead heading up to Independece Pass / Ridge. Once we passed the junction of Norway Pass our work started clearing out overgorwn brush along the trail so that you can actually see where you are walking at. Heading South on the trail there is a short steep area that you have to duck under a large tree. Watch your footing since the ground is very ash and pumice. Now far after this tree is a rocky area that is kind of sketchy if you lean to the uphill side of the trail it's not as bad. 

Our crew was only able to clear out about 400 feet of brush while we were working. The trail is very exposed with little shade avaiable on it. The bugs (flies) were horriable!!! no amount of bug spray could help. We ended up in long sleeves just to get some relief from the bugs

In the morning we had clear views of Rainier to the North and Adams to the East. By about noon the smoke had blown in and the haze obscured the view.

Getting to the trail head: We all came in through Randal on FS 25. This road does have some rough patchs, but a Motorcycle is able to make it, there were many on the road. FS 99 is in a bit rougher shape with some pretty decent sized bumps in the road and some of the road is starting to give way to the hillside. 

I hiked this spectacular Mount Margaret Backcountry 15 mile out and back today.  It was spectacular but way too hot - recommended for lower temperatures than 90.  I left the TH at 6 and it was hot by 7 and I was back at the car at 3.  Three slopes were snow-covered but not difficult to cross.  I had hoped to do the loop but saw that Whittier Ridge looked too challenging for a solo hiker considering the snow.  

All five lakes were unique and beautiful.  I added Peak 5519 above shovel lake as a bonus.  I saw no one else on the trail the entire day - and no sign of any campers - and no sign of any rangers or of any trail maintenance.  For such an important trail, I would hope that some help could be rendered to this important place.  

A must-do is to read Steve Olsen's ERUPTION (the story of the eruption of St. Helens in honor of the 40th anniversary and an excellent read).  Note also that this is one of Craig Roman's 100 Classic Hikes in the state - a well deserved honor. 

NOTE:  The FS website notes that FS Road 25 and 26 are out - but that is only the section south - from Randle to the TH is paved and open.

The wooden bridge and boards on Norway Pass Trail has become rocky due to some screws being ripped out of the beams. Trail is otherwise in good shape and a few spots need some overgrowth work. The well is still out of service.  

Hit the Boundary Trail up to the intersection with the Lakes Trail, then went east on that to Bear Pass.  Gaia clocked the day at 6.28 miles with 1300 ft elevation gain.

I got to the trailhead around 9AM.  FRs 99 and 26 are drivable by any car, but they aren't in the best conditions so it'll be slow going. There are toilets at the TH but they're not in the best shape (which was the case for any of the toilets I used in the MSH area).  There was TP but the seat was broken in one and they both could have used a good clean.  The best toilets I found (of those that were open for the season) were those at the Monument Entry Road Interpretive Site, though they ran out of TP by the end of the day.  

Trail up to Norway Pass is in good condition.  Flowers are out in droves; Sitka Valerian, Scouler's Valerian, Penstemon, Lupine, Paintbrush, Fringecup, Western Serviceberry, Avalanche Lilies, Foamflowers, Bleeding Heart, Rose Spirea, Strawberries, and the list goes on.  There were a few ripe strawberries in one small section of scree, but most of the trail they were still flowering.

About 0.3 miles past Norway Pass there is a washout that you need to navigate (see Photo 4).  Looks like some people are choosing to drop down and take on the very loose gravel slope rather than continue on the trail (coming from Norway Pass, people are dropping down about 10 ft before the washout - track the steps on the lower slope back up and you'll find the easier access point).  I chose to go with the trail, but did need to put up my poles so I had both hands with which to grab the side of the rocks/ trees. There is one step in particular that is very precarious, but I still think that was the better option over trying the lower slope - for me at least and based on the conditions as I found them.  

Continuing past the washout, Mount Hood became visible.  Then Mount Rainier made her glorious appearance when I got to Bear Pass (all four volcanoes can be seen from Bear Pass).

As you drop down towards Grizzly Lake immediately after Bear Pass there were a couple sections of very steep snow blocking the trail that I wanted no part of, so I stopped at the pass to enjoy the view.  I did see a group of three backpackers continue on, though from what I saw they were looking for a way to get around the snow rather than risk hiking across it.  

Bugs were flying around in swarms the entire day, though when the breeze chose to blow it did help a little.  Weren't the voracious swarms I ran into at Takhlakh Lake and Takh Takh Meadow, though (which bit me at least 4 times through permethrin treated clothing), so I'll take it.

Gorgeous day overall, if a bit hot.

Norway Pass has been on my list to hike forever, and I finally had the opportunity to head south and tackle it.We arrived at the parking lot at 8AM, and there were only four other cars there. It was already warm, but there was a decent breeze blowing. We started up the trail and immediately noticed the soft pumice that made up the tread. Most of the elevation occurs in the first mile or so, and I was so pleased we started early as it is fully exposed and HOT.

Some late-season flowers are still powering through, but fall is definitely here. The blueberry bushes are already turning bright red and the berries themselves are ripe. They make for quite the contrast with the bleached and fallen trees in the blast zone.

We reached the dip for Norway Pass and then headed up the Independence Pass trail for a bit to get the best view of Spirit Lake and MSH. There was a bit of a haze from the Cowlitz complex wildfires, but it was still an amazing sight. We stayed for a bit and watched some of the log floats gently migrating across the lake surface.

We turned around after our break and met with a few more hikers heading up. There is a potable water pump straight from a well in the parking lot, and it was amazing to strip off my boots and socks and wash all the pumice off my feet, lol.

From Randle, we opted to take FS 26 on the way to the trailhead. We took FS 99 and 25 on the way back. Both ways are paved and comparable in time, though FR 26 is narrow with some buckles and cracks in it. In my opinion, it's six on one, half a dozen in the other for choice.