On this day hike to June Lake on the south side of Mount St. Helens, we planned to do a short loop on the Loowit Trail to Chocolate Falls and back to the lake. I didn’t know I’d end up scrambling on lava rock without a trail for over 1.5 miles.
This was a two night backpacking trip during peak wildflowers at Mount St. Helens, and the first trip for me where photography was the main focus (pun intended!).
South Coldwater Ridge at Mount St. Helens is in the former blast zone, with evidence from the 1980 eruption visible from the trail, including downed trees and twisted logging equipment from that fateful day.
Hiking through the blast zone at Mount St. Helens to Harry’s Ridge on a foggy day.