Since Joan and I had another birthday,
we decided to try some more difficult hikes
Today (8/6/13) we hiked seven miles on the Toutle Trail on Mt. St. Helens

Some of the stream crossings were treacherous. Here is Joan starting across one of the streams on some old rotten logs

Here Joan made it to the center where there was an old tree, so she stopped to rest

That water is cold and deep if one falls off of these logs.

Here are some friends crossing the stream

Here is Joan, Happy that she made it across

Here is Joan and two friends crossing one of the landslide areas

Most of the trail was through old growth forest with some magnificent giant old trees (that unfortunately do not show in any my pictures)
This trail goes through old growth forest, past Blue Lake, a little gem, up to a Saddle with a view of Mt St Helens, then down into Sheep Canyon where there is a giant waterfall.

The first mile of the trail was very rocky and desolate.

This still shows what Mt. St. Helens did to the landscape when it blew its top some 30 years ago

The views were fantastic.

Then we came to a spectacular waterfall

This is the trail we were following

We started at the Blue Lake Trailhead that this sign points to

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B1_82	B1_84	B2_85	B_40
B_83	G_53	J_59	S1_65
S1_66	S2_96	T_93	T_94
T_95	TJ_97	TJ_98	V_52
V_54	V_55	V_63	VG_56
VG_57	VG_58	VG_64

Directions to Blue Lake Tailhead

a) Take I5 North to Exit 21 Cougar/Woodland Exit
b) At exit 21 turn toward Cougar
c) On highway 503 proceed for 25 miles until the Yale Park boat ramp.
d) continue for 1.2 miles past the Yale Park to road 81/8100
e) turn left onto road 81/8100 toward Kalma Recreation Area.
f) Stay on Road 81 for 11 paved miles
g) and then for an additional 0.6 unpaved miles to Junction of gravel road 8123.
(You will pass the Kalama Horse Camp)
h) Go straight/left on gravel road 8123 for 1.5 miles to the trailhead at the end of the road.