While staying at beautiful Skamania Lodge, I attempted to drive to the Observation Peak Trailhead on the north side of  the Trapper Creek Wilderness.

Turned back by too much snow and fallen trees, I instead drove over Oldman Pass to McClellan Viewpoint. On clear days the Viewpoint provides a picture-perfect vista of Mt. St. Helens.

Interestingly enough, this is the same Major-General George McClellan who was eventually fired by President Lincoln in the Civil War for not taking the fight to the enemy.

Prior to the Civil War, McClellan was an explorer/surveyor in the Pacific Northwest. McClellan wasn’t particularly good at surveying either.

After enjoying the views of the grand volcano, I attempted to reach the Thomas Lake Trailhead on the north side of the Indian Heaven Wilderness. Again I was turned back by too much snow.

It’s amazing how long the snow is holding on this year.

Mt. St. Helens from McClellan Viewpoint

View of the Columbia River Gorge from Skamania Lodge

Time to turn around (It quickly became much deeper)

Sun breaking through the storm clouds in the Columbia River Gorge

Summit of Mt. St. Helens

Stopped from accessing a trailhead