July 11, 2021—
The feeling of a light breeze that kisses your cheeks and sunshine that warms your heart, the sweetness of a butterfly landing on a bud that’s opening skyward to soak in the morning sun, the crunch of sandy gravel that awakens underfoot—this is what sets the scene as you wander through the high meadows of the Pacific Northwest.
Morning hike (7.2 miles, 2,162 ft gain) | AllTrails Activity | Trailhead used
It starts uphill—a straight-shot scramble that climbs up and up and up. Not too tough, but enough to let you know that yeah, this view is probably going to be worth it. Most of our elevation was gained in the first 3 miles with relatively consistent shade from above and a mix of dirt and rock to climb over below.
Around mile 4, the landscape suddenly changes, our cover opens up and we are greeted by a beautiful meadow just as the sun is about to crest over the horizon. In the distance we gaze out at retreating clouds that could be easily mistaken for waves rushing on the shore. The trail levels off and rewards our upward climb with a relatively flat, leisurely walk through bounds of wildflowers: prairie-fire, oxeye daisies, ground elder, mountain goldenbanner, rose meadowsweet, and more.
“Sometimes I wish I could photosynthesize so that just by being, just by shimmering at the meadow’s edge or floating lazily on a pond, I could be doing the work of the world while standing silent in the sun.”
— The Honorable Harvest, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Location:
Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Washougal, Washington
Activity:
Day hike
Trails used:
Silver Star Mountain via Grouse Vista Trail
Length covered:
~7.2 miles
Elevation gain:
2,162 feet
Time of year:
July
Total time:
3.5 hrs
Our meadow walk ends as we wind around a curve back towards covered forest, a grateful respite considering the now full sun shining over head. The trail is a little busier now, with a few trail runners and earlier risers guiding our way to the viewpoint. The now lighter, gradual incline allows us to charge on quickly in anticipation of what awaits us just ahead—and it is well worth it.
Mt. Adams
Mountains left to right: Helens, Rainier, Adams
From the top, we can see four mountains clearly. Helens to our left standing guard in front of Rainier, Adams straight ahead, and Hood, mostly clear and only relatively snow-covered off to our right. The view is incredible—not a cloud in the sky and only a few of us here at the top so far, soaking it all in.
Mt. Hood
Mt. Rainier
Mt. St. Helens
We sit at the top for quite awhile, dining on PB&Js and granola bars in awe of the what sits in front of us. It is truly a beautiful sight to see all of these mountains rising up out of the layers of rolling hills. I always love looking at the layers in particular—the illusion of light that almost looks like mist sitting in the valleys. Each ridge is set against the contrasting brightness of the next set of hills until they themselves ascend into a darkened edge of tree-line, subtly growing wholly lighter all the while. This alone is something I will never tire of looking at, something that always allows me a moment of pause and appreciation for the world around me.
Eventually, we make our way down—fueled by the momentum of a mostly down hill retreat. Our way down is much busier, groups of friends and families pass us by on their trek up to the viewpoint above. We make our way back to the parking lot, now full, and head on our way home. Until next time, ✌🏼✨.
Mt. Rainier