On this year of record low snowpack, I hiked up to Horseshoe Meadow via the Stagman Ridge Trail over Memorial Day weekend. A thick marine layer kept the lowlands dank and dark, but it was sunny and hot at 6000'.
Horseshoe Meadow was about 70% snow covered when I arrived and there were still a few clouds. I had a nice melted spot for camp.
After arriving around 1:30 and relaxing a bit, I took off for Lookingglass Lake. There was a fair amount of dry trail initially with lots of phlox blooming
After which I hit full and deep snow on the trail. After turning downhill that snow abated and the lake was fully melted out in all it's charred glory from the Cascade Creek Fire
The nearby falls on Cascade Creek
Back near camp on the ridge at the south end of Horseshoe Meadow, I could see the marine layer that most people were under
But at 6000 feet, I had blue skies and a great view of Mt Adams
The next morning I took off cross country to hike up to a feature named The Bumper. You cross to the upper end of Horseshoe Meadow and start up a ridge. Initial view back down to Horseshoe Meadow.
Near the top of the ridge, you look across at The Bumper (6490')
Looking up at Mt Adams from there
Looking west to Mt Saint Helens above the marine layer
I plodded through the soft snow even higher
Alas, it was time to head for home
