McNeil Point 8 August 2013

Becky and I headed up to McNeil Point on Mt Hood on Thursday.  I had heard that the wildflowers were still blooming and it looked like a hike I would enjoy.  This was an epic hike for Becky as she had not done anything like it before.  The trailhead was pretty easy to find, but the trail itself is well used and there are lots of junctions with other trails and user trails as you near the top.  So, you have to be careful to pay attention.  We started out from home around 7 a and made it there at 9:15a.  There is a potty at the trailhead.  It took us 3.5 hrs to go 4.5-ish miles and 2200ft but mainly because we were stopping all the time to admire the views and take pictures.  It was beautiful!  When we could see where we were headed - Becky had the classic response "WHAT!" but she was a trooper and made it with no problem.
We ate lunch near the McNeil Pt hut, and headed down around 2p.  Back to the car (sad to go) at 4:15 and home by 6:30p  A wonderful day and now my second favorite hike.

Our first view of Mt hood

False Helleobore

Spirea

a waterless tarn

the old McNeil Pt trail

Looking out to Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier, and Mt Adams

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our destination is across the snow field

our lunch spot

when I saw the trail around Bald Mtn, we had to go back that way

beautiful little streams

the view from below Bald Mtn

from the Bald Mtn trail (Timberline Trail)