The Forest Service website advised against circumnavigating Mt. St. Helens this year, noting several areas where the trail was washed out due to glacial run-off. Scott called but could get little additional information. We wrote it off as an overly cautious warning by a government agency. Turns out it was spot-on and after doing it on Saturday I would advise against the south-west portion of the Loowit trail through Sheep Canyon and the S. Fork Toutle River. Through careful route picking and some scrambling we did manage to find a way across the numerous gullies where the trail would just end at a drop-off. Sam was with us and did remarkably well at the start. He had a new pack on which has a handle so Scott and I could hand him down off some of the bigger drop-offs.

We got a good couple of hours of running in the shade before the sun reached us. And while it was hot it was no scorcher. The day was crystal clear and the views were outstanding. I had only see St. Helens from Portland and never been to the north side where the side of the mountain slid off in the 1980 earthquake and eruption. Much of the trail was across rocky lava slopes but there were also a surprising number of meadows with wildflowers. The day had a bit of everything.

Sam has been with me on numerous adventures and I thought he was ready for this one but between the new pack, not having enough food for him, the heat and the stress of the gully crossings he was really dragging by about mile twenty-two or so and around twenty-seven or so was unable to walk much at all. Scott and I both carried him over many sections to reach the car around 8:30pm after a 5:30am start. Still to come are Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood.

Scott also got some great photos.