{"id":3456,"date":"2020-09-04T07:16:37","date_gmt":"2020-09-04T07:16:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/?p=3456"},"modified":"2020-11-18T20:59:43","modified_gmt":"2020-11-18T20:59:43","slug":"riley-camp-horseshoe-meadows-loop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2020\/09\/04\/riley-camp-horseshoe-meadows-loop\/","title":{"rendered":"Riley Camp &#8211; Horseshoe Meadows Loop"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Saturday, August 1 &#8211; Sunday, August 2, 2020<\/p>\n<p>Greg wanted to go to crowded Paradise Park this weekend and I did not, so I headed to the Mt. Adams Wilderness for a solo one-nighter, doing a loop past Riley Camp and Horseshoe Meadow (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.oregonhikers.org\/field_guide\/Riley_Camp-Horseshoe_Meadow_Loop_Hike\">hike description<\/a>). <!--more--><\/p>\n<p>After a two-hour drive from Portland I parked at the Williams Mine Trailhead where there were only six other cars at 8:20am. I filled out my permit and started up the trail:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50266744783_3760651a65_c.jpg\" alt=\"Williams Mine Trailhead\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This hike starts out on the PCT:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50267602422_5f96ef4d4c_c.jpg\" alt=\"PCT\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I reached the wilderness boundary:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50266764168_0849c27e49_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After 1.6 miles I reached the junction with the Riley South Trail and turned left onto that. I saw this Cascades Frog:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50267412821_2f66171bbf_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley South Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And later saw another one!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50267590147_1d0c69d7b7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley South Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I started seeing some lupine. I didn&#8217;t know it yet, but this was just a precursor of much more to come:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50267591022_01d994a12b_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley South Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>3.5 miles from the trailhead I reached the Riley Camp Trail and turned left. Soon I passed the site of Sled Camp where there is an old outhouse that somehow hasn&#8217;t fallen down yet:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50266749928_c64726ef6c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50267407281_bfb97bbce7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There are remains of an old stove here too:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50267420506_f3f96d59fb_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s an old trail number sign along the trail there:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50267600507_3348fb7299_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I continued up the trail, passing some beargrass that probably looked nice several weeks ago:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50267598777_24352e3d9f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This trail crosses over several sections of the abandoned Sled Camp Trail, which I think was the precursor to the Riley Camp Trail:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50266760328_5d8f865180_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I started seeing more lupine:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50267417496_d87a2ff049_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And other wildflowers:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50266757668_ebd13d2038_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50267414741_a1ec2d0585_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At five miles and 5,100&#8242; I entered the burn zone from a 2015 fire and then the 2012 Cascade Creek Fire:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269667646_889236a14d_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Tarn:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50267592987_41eff48328_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looks like it was a good beargrass year, but it was all done blooming:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50268998463_8ae8dbaa02_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The mosquitoes were particularly bad in this section:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50268997868_d1b58f46d6_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But I still couldn&#8217;t help stopping to photograph wildflowers:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269838827_518aa795fa_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50268995933_940766e48e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269835922_e7f5ab57a1_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Fortunately the burn area was only about three quarters of a mile then I was back in the forest:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269662246_6896ac9a90_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Another tarn:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50268993303_b70bc45454_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Still more lupine:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269659701_7fbd7dfba1_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269003683_99a76f40af_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At 6.8 miles I reached Riley Meadow:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269030683_7d0b347f98_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269039663_309140e14a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This was my first backpacking trek of the summer and my feet were hurting, so I stopped for a break at Riley Creek:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269034003_01a971f586_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269039193_25c7ac4822_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I took a look at Riley Camp. I didn&#8217;t see any campsites in the trees, so I think the only place to pitch your tent would be right here on the meadow:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269017233_66b1bf0e4d_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After my break I continued on:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269705931_8c9d66f602_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The wildflowers just kept getting better and better:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269038603_357b75277c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269037508_9e6a414182_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269037093_9420703084_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50269036508_d5f96a93ba_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the Riley Camp Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At 7.4 miles I reached the PCT again and turned right. The trail crossed Riley Creek shortly thereafter:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50276842621_1144ddc972_c.jpg\" alt=\"Riley Creek\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I made camp near the creek. I had only gone 7.6 miles today, but this was a water source outside the burn area and there wouldn&#8217;t be another spot like this for awhile. Since it was early afternoon I decided to continue a little further down the PCT to check out Sheep Lake. More wildflowers:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50276843696_46d7b16f43_c.jpg\" alt=\"Wildflowers\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A good a good view of Mt. Rainier from the trail:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50276845056_b1580de2e1_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Rainier\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sheep Lake was just like all the other little ponds and tarns I had passed today, so why this one got a name is beyond me:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50271344692_a0c6a4d634_c.jpg\" alt=\"Sheep Lake\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50271225236_bc0524c545_c.jpg\" alt=\"Sheep Lake\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50276844456_46fd4d60cb_c.jpg\" alt=\"Sheep Lake\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I returned to my campsite and spent the afternoon hanging out by the creek with my Kindle:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50276996667_d31daeb37c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Riley Creek\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The clouds that had blanketed the area ll day finally started breaking up:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50276996432_81481839a6_c.jpg\" alt=\"Clouds\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And soon I had blue skies:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50276843111_f748a56ac3_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50279479473_b8161a974a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A couple times in the late afternoon and early evening I could hear rockslides up on the mountain. Although I couldn&#8217;t see the falling rock, I could see the plume of dust it sent up:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50301858713_375881bd2e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Dust from rockslide\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Time for dinner!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50276164278_e6f71c621c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Backpacking dinner\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There was nice alpenglow on the mountain that evening:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50280706157_8de0bc6245_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Lest you think the mosquitoes were gone, let me correct you. There was still no breeze and the bugs were still very much around. I had to wear bug spray, long sleeves, and my headnet during the afternoon, and after dinner I finally gave up and retreated into my tent to get away from them.<\/p>\n<p>I slept well and the next morning was beautiful. Today there was more of a breeze which meant far fewer bugs. I ate breakfast, packed up, and hit the trail:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50282577222_d474351c6e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I got a nice view of Mt. Rainier and the Goat Rocks from the trail:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50282577912_abcccf29da_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Rainier and the Goat Rocks\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50281738523_1298f6af31_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Rainier\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50282418826_3e75efb796_c.jpg\" alt=\"The Goat Rocks\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I entered the burn area again:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50282576402_fc6bcb78a5_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the PCT\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50282574672_7b4fb426b7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the PCT\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50282573742_51afee3e79_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the PCT\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The wildflowers just kept going:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50282575567_c49618d4bd_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the PCT\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50282412586_0692d2396e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking the PCT\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The views were pretty dang great too. Here is Mt. St. Helens:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50296585061_9c7073dde6_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50296740997_3842627516_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50296583681_8701872ca7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mt. Rainier:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50296582891_5174d994c6_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50296576746_f32f7baa7f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50296734092_342167156e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The peaks of the Dark Divide (flat-topped McCoy Peak on the left and pointy Sunrise Peak on the right:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50296582251_78701c2efd_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Lemei Rock poking up at center:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50296737527_141b9f80d1_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Steamboat Mountain on the right:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50296580116_468001ae26_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>More flowers:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50296578671_1f6edf92fa_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50295897338_be6f4b3cdc_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50299422888_48b4b4ebae_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50300258957_e0fc65db3b_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50300100611_2f1b41aa62_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The terrain was such that I didn&#8217;t actually see that much of Mt. Adams, but I did get occasional views of it, especially as I got closer to Horseshoe Meadow:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50300098976_45d226cccd_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50300104741_9e4a293d55_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Clouds coming in around Mt. St. Helens:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50295896743_6955945abf_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At one point I heard the unmistakable sound of a hummingbird. It was bouncing from one paintbrush flower to another and I actually managed to get a photo of it:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50300261557_338ac3e22f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hummingbird\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mt. Hood:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50299420003_c64d399787_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A new wildfire had started near Hood River and I could see smoke from it (on the left below):<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50299419508_5d30769cd4_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sleeping Beauty on the left in the foreground and Lemei Rock on the right in the background:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50299418813_38984fb5bc_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>About 3.5 miles from Riley Creek I reached Horseshoe Meadow. This first part was just FULL of lupine, which was crazy cool:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50300254177_539d16da56_c.jpg\" alt=\"Horseshoe Meadow\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50301855933_187869c496_c.jpg\" alt=\"Horseshoe Meadows\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s a little creek that flows through one part of Horseshoe Meadow but it was almost dry. I poked around here for a little bit enjoying this nice place and the greatly diminished mosquitoes thanks to the breeze:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50300096581_d9e1a698b5_c.jpg\" alt=\"Horseshoe Meadow\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50301853338_ff8bce4cd8_c.jpg\" alt=\"Horseshoe Meadows\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50302690912_9f1e13d13e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Horseshoe Meadows\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Round-the-Mountain Trail #9 continues southeast from here. I continued down the PCT which headed west:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50302689007_737b4cf6fc_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50302696412_031e5401a3_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mt. Adams Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I passed the junction with the Stagman Ridge Trail after half a mile and kept going. The burn area seemed to go on for a really long time. I left the flower zone and trudged on through the burn. Finally, 3.7 miles from the trail junction at Horseshoe Meadow, I re-entered the shady forest for the last 2.2 miles back to the trailhead. I reached my car at 3pm.<\/p>\n<p>This was a great loop hike! The mileage was a little lopsided, with 7.6 miles on Saturday, and 10.2 on Saturday, which made for a long footsore day. But the wildflowers were profuse and beautiful, and the views were pretty great too. Too bad so much of this area has burned, but that is the reality in our wilderness areas here.<\/p>\n<p>Gaia stats: 17.8 miles, 2,500&#8242; elevation gain<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YO-FR87PLoU\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Saturday, August 1 &#8211; Sunday, August 2, 2020 Greg wanted to go to crowded Paradise Park this weekend and I<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2020\/09\/04\/riley-camp-horseshoe-meadows-loop\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Riley Camp &#8211; Horseshoe Meadows Loop<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3509,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[187,231,161],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3456"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3456"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3456\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3580,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3456\/revisions\/3580"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}