7 - The Dalles, OR to
Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
with visit to Indian Heaven Wilderness
Saturday, July 27, 1996

Left The Dalles and drove up Route 141 to Trout Lake, WA near Mt. Adams, then on U.S. Forest Service Route 24 to the Indian Heaven Wilderness.

Stopped along the way to visit an Ice Cave which really had ice in it. Stalactites of ice, etc. Supposedly this cave provided ice to The Dalles and other places in the early days. It's a lava tube as this country has many lava flows.

Visited "natural bridges" which are actually short portions of the roof of a long lava tube that have not collapsed like most of the roof.

This is Huckleberry country and lots of berries are harvested in season (which is not quite yet). The local Indians even have an area in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest set aside for there berry collecting (and ceremonies) only.

The berries also support four legged furry berry harvesting animals that visit the campgrounds when the harvest is ripe.

Mt. Adams from Route 141 south of Trout Lake, Washington
Mt. Adams from Route 141 south of Trout Lake, Washington
Mt. Adams from Route 141 south of Trout Lake, Washington
Mt. Adams from Route 141 south of Trout Lake, Washington

Sunday, July 28, 1996

Made a 6 mile round trip day hike from the Cultus Creek campground into Indian Heaven Wilderness.

Had good view of Mt. Adams in the Mt. Adams Wilderness and Mount St. Helens from one spot on the trail.

Mt. Adams from Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington
Mt. Adams from Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington

Flower in Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington
Flower in Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington
Flower in Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington
Flower in Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington

Flower in Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington
Flower in Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington

Flower in Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington
Flower in Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington
Flower in Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington
Flower in Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington

Caught up with a multi-family group heading out after a five day trip with Llamas (they owned) as pack animals.

Llama Packing Family, Indian Heaven Wilderness
Llama Packing Family, Indian Heaven Wilderness
Llama Packing Family, Indian Heaven Wilderness
Llama Packing Family, Indian Heaven Wilderness

Llama Packing Family, Indian Heaven Wilderness
Llama Packing Family, Indian Heaven Wilderness
Llama Packing Family, Indian Heaven Wilderness
Llama Packing Family, Indian Heaven Wilderness

Six year old Llama packer boy and Dragon Fly - has his eyes crossed
Six year old Llama packer boy and Dragon Fly - has his eyes crossed
Mt. Adams from USFS Road 24 south of Mount St. Helens, Washington
Mt. Adams from USFS Road 24 south of Mount St. Helens, Washington

Monday, July 29, 1996

Headed out for Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

The highway along the south side was closed due to road damage so headed up the east side (which had been my original plan anyway).

The road into Windy Ridge which overlooks Spirit Lake was closed due to road construction except on Fri-Sat-Sun.

Mount St. Helens from USFS Road 24, Washington
Mount St. Helens from USFS Road 24, Washington
Mount St. Helens from USFS Road 24, Washington
Mount St. Helens from USFS Road 24, Washington

Mount St. Helens from USFS Road 24, Washington
Mount St. Helens from USFS Road 24, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Northeast on USFS Road 25, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Northeast on USFS Road 25, Washington

So I camped at Iron Creek Campground, 10 miles south of Randle, WA.

Ancient Forest at campsite in Iron Creek Campground east of Mount St. Helens, Washington
Ancient Forest at campsite in Iron Creek Campground
east of Mount St. Helens, Washington
Ancient Forest at campsite in Iron Creek Campground east of Mount St. Helens, Washington
Ancient Forest at campsite in Iron Creek Campground
east of Mount St. Helens, Washington