Читать книгу Day Hikes in the Pacific Northwest - Don J. Scarmuzzi - Страница 12

6	SIOUXON PEAK TO HUFFMAN PEAK

ELEVATION: 4169 ft; 4106 ft; with vertical gains of about 1300 ft for Siouxon Peak alone, 2200 ft for both summits from the highest TH

DISTANCE: 5 mi one way for both peaks, 9½ mi round-trip

DURATION: 2 hours to Huffman Peak hiking Siouxon Peak first, 4 hours round-trip

DIFFICULTY: Strenuous. Solid trails, steeper at times, no signs, ups/downs, scrambling, GPS device helpful

TRIP REPORT: This sweet double-peak hike has many redeeming qualities, including great views of four large Cascade volcanoes and plenty of exercise while exploring a long ridgeline most of the day. The least redeeming quality is the drive up the final 6 mi to the highest TH as it’s actually rougher than the hike itself. It is, however, perfect if you are upset with your vehicle! The pothole-ridden dirt road has awkward drainage gullies to cross and narrows briefly, allowing overgrown branches to perhaps scratch your vehicle. The beauty is that you can accomplish both summits fairly easily in one day. Other starting points make the hike twice as long and difficult, and mandatory creek fords and are usually not mentioned. Check ahead to be certain all roads to the TH are open, especially near winter. Also beware of bee swarms in June and July on the final miles of the drive, but thankfully they don’t seem to follow you on the hike. No fee or restroom.

TRAILHEAD: Siouxon Peak TH. Take I-84 E from Portland to exit 44 (Cascade Locks), continue under Bridge of the Gods and turn right up the circle to cross over it into Washington after paying the toll, turn right on WA-14 E 5¾ mi, turn left through Carson on Wind River Road (FR-30) 14 mi NW (¼ mi past National Fish Hatchery), turn right to stay on Wind River Road (FR-30) 2 mi, fork left onto narrow Dry Creek Road (FR-64, signed) 4 mi rougher. Continue into unpaved on FR-64 for 2 mi, fork right to stay on FR-64/Dry Creek Road (no more signs, FR-58 is the left fork) less than ½ mi, fork left on FR-64 for 3½ mi, fork right on Siouxon Road (FR-6403) 3 mi to the end of the drivable road with plenty of parking on the sides. High-clearance 2WD or AWD recommended (75 mi, 2 hours from Portland).

ROUTE: There is no water along these trails far above Siouxon and Wildcat Creeks. Walk up the continuation of the old road (Huffman Peak Trail 129, no sign) W from the TH at 2868 ft. Ascend steadily about an hour and 2¼ mi through open areas and trees finishing with 3 steeper switchbacks before the trail levels a bit. You’ll have views not far from the TH of nearby Mount St. Helens and Swift Reservoir with Mount Rainier far to the NNE, and above that you’ll see Mount Adams and Mount Hood on a clear day. Mount Adams gets even bigger from the top of the switchbacks briefly to the summit trail on the left. Take Trail 129B ¼ mi S to the Siouxon Peak (old lookout site) by following the rocky ridge crest without difficulty. Keep an eye on a solid E-facing cliff band to the top. There are plenty of wildflowers en route; some trees obscure the view of Mount St. Helens, but Huffman Peak is visible SW.

From Siouxon Peak on a bluebird day across part of Swift Reservoir to Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier.

Backtrack to the summit spur trail and proceed left (SW) down the narrower Trail 129 for about 500 vertical ft and 1 mi to a low point in the ridge saddle at the next juncture. Wildcat Trail 156 (signed) takes off left (S) very steeply, but continue SW instead ¾ mi on Trail 129 to the spur paths leading ½ mi up to Huffman Peak. Leave Trail 129 heading right to the N of Huffman Peak and choose a spur, as you begin to bushwhack W, mostly through the woods nearest the ridge. The route quickly becomes a very steep scramble. Finish over rocks on the right past a fake little high point to another decommissioned lookout site in the clearing. See nearby SW Huffman Peak and others, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, and Mount Hood. Return the same way for a delightful day!