This hike starts off with a very long drive, most of it on a windy paved road. It was a clear sunny day and the forecast included heat. Plus the breeze was minimal. We started out at 9:30a, but in short order it was quite hot. Our plan was to do a loop out to Loowit Falls then over Windy Pass and back over Windy Ridge. That didn't happen. We should have nixed the falls and headed for the ridge. Oh well! We made it mostly to the falls, within sight, turned around, found shade and water and rested, took off our shirts and dunked them in the stream, pushed on. It was pretty dicey, all of us feeling like we were having some heatstroke. We passed all kinds of people on the way back who where heading to the falls, with little water, incorrect clothing, etc. I was concerned for them for sure. We returned to the ridge trail and hiked up the ridge for a mile or so and turned around when two of us ran out of water. Back to the car - exhausted because of the heat! Altogether I don't think the elevation gain was that much, but it was so hot - 90's? And so exposed. Total we hiked 9.3 miles.
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| blow down from 34 years ago |
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| from the Windy Ridge viewpoint |
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| flowers were blooming on the ridges |
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| inside of the crater |
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| there was occasional water |
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| Loowit Falls |
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| Windy Ridge |
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| Sharing the trail with bikers. We rounded this section to the backside and turned around. |
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| Mt Adams |
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