Mt. Adams Loop Trip, Day 1, Killeen Creek Trailhead to Devil's Gardens (2018/07/22)

Takhlakh Lake with Mt. Adams in the distance

It was great to finally be underway. Nathan drove me down so I wouldn't tie up a car for an entire week. This also enabled me to do a one-way trip instead of just a short loop or an out-and-back. It took close to 4.5 hours. This included a stop for gas, a rest stop, and 10 minutes at Takhlakh Lake to admire the view. We didn't talk much, but Nathan was in a cheery mood, on his way to hang out with friends and play games in Parkland.

Killeen Creek Trailhead was very nice and easy to get to, but the trail does not go within earshot of the creek and from the trailhead all the way up to the PCT was thick with flies and mosquitoes. It's about 3 miles on a gentle grade to the PCT. The trailhead is about 4600ft and the trail only gains about 1500ft in those 3 miles to the junction. There are a few small meadows along the way with lots of paintbrush and lots of lupine, but most of the lupine was not blooming yet if it will bloom at all due to the very dry conditions. I've heard that the lupine does not bloom prolifically every year and that the previous year was a very good year for lupine blooms.
Mt. Adams from PCT

A patch of paintbrush

A small meadow on the way around Mt. Adams

Mt. Rainier and the vast forest between

Lupine!

Meadow on the North side of Mt. Adams



There are only two or three tiny creeks between the PCT junction and Tr114. Eventually, the trail climbed up to a barren volcanic area. I crossed a small glacial creek and considered setting up camp because of the available water but it was only 2:15pm or so. I saw another creek on the map further on and decided to keep hiking for an hour or so. Eventually a found a flattish spot on a giant lava bed among moraines. It was not too windy and there were great views of Adams. To the south, I could see Rainier and the Goat Rocks as well as the vast expanse of forest between through which I would traverse in a few days. There was a nice stream just over the small ridge and also a small tarn. I had intended to hike all the way to Devil's Gardens but was happy to have water and views. As I set up my tent, I heard music in the distance. After a few minutes, I realized I was hearing all my favorite songs and thought it was weird to be way out there yet still hear other campers playing music. Then I realized my phone had started playing music in my pocket. When I turned it off, there was complete silence except for the creeks and the wind. I got a little chuckle out of that.

After dinner, I waited a few hours for the sun to set. The daylight lasts forever and the sun careens around the sky and seems to make an entire loop around the horizon before it finally swung around to the north. Twilight also lasted a long time and I spent an hour or so looking at the pastel colors on the various ridges near and far. After the months of planning and waiting and stress from work and home, it was an amazing release to be alone and free in the wilderness surrounded by such beauty.
Cinder cone on NE side of Mt. Adams

Lava flow on NE side of Mt. Adams

Snow cave over a glacial creek running down a lava flow

Waiting for the sun to set

Mt. Adams twilight

Camper Shadow

First campsite




Mt. Rainier




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