Killen Creek Trail, August 30, 2023
It’s a long drive to get to the trail, but certainly worth the time and dirt roads. This trail heads up the north side of Mt Adams, so the perspective is different from the usual views from the south. The trail winds through forest of fir and pine and climbs, steeply in places. So steeply that some stairs have been put in to help with both the climb and the erosion. After two and a half miles of this steady uphill, you get to meadows and views of the mountain. This day, I saw no one else on the trail, though the last time I hiked this trail, I saw a few hikers, some going up to climb the north face of Adams. Last time was very early August of 2020; the lupine had massive blooms; so much so that you could smell them all around you. (Who knew lupine had a fragrance?!!!) But this trip I was too late for the lupine; I saw only two plants flowering. But once into the meadows, the explorer’s gentian were everywhere. There had been some rain and a few mushrooms were along the trail, and fresh snow on the mountain. Plan to go mid to late July or early August.
Sickletop lousewort along the trail
Stairs on the way up to the meadows and views of Mt Adams
Amanita Muscaria mushroom, one color variety
Another amanita muscaria, the more usual orange color
Subalpine lupine
Explorer’s gentain
Cluster of explorer’s gentian
Fresh snow on Mt Adams’ north side
