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Pets allowed
Not Allowed
Elevation Gain
2,060.00 ft (627.89 m)
Trail type
Loop
Distance
16.20 mi (26.07 km)
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Southwest Washington/Mount St. Helens, Washington
Washington, Mt. Adams/Indian Heaven Wilderness/Goat Rocks
Cispus River
Comments
The north half of Whittier Ridge is a little more trail-like, but the worst part for me by far was hiking down steep scree over dirt trail- where I relied on my single trekking pole and accompanying trees for a "veggie belay" so I didn't fall to the valley floor. Near the north end of the ridge, there is a very convincing goat trail that leads you to the left instead of the incredibly sketchy (but correct) trail that goes straight up the boulder ridge, and we mistakenly took this goat trail and ended up in a meadow far off-route. Once topping the ridge again we realized our mistake and caught the trail that goes to Snow Lake to lead us back to the saddle just before the Shovel Lake junction.
Hiking to Panhandle Lake was a breeze (and luckily for us there was a literal breeze- we were so hot!) and the lake provided a perfect swimmable respite. The 9 miles of Day 1 took 8 hours. The next day hiking out from Panhandle Lake was a steep climb up and over Bear Pass and down the other side back to Norway Pass, 7 miles of which we accomplished in about 3.5 hours.
This is far and away my favorite trail at MSH, though it is not for the faint-of-heart, those with vertigo or a fear of heights, or anyone that isn't a *very* confident scrambler/hiker.
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