Mt. Hood Wilderness

Pacific Northwest hikers wait with great anticipation for a warm summer day to visit the Mt. Hood Wilderness.

One of my favorite starting points is the 4,000-foot Top Spur Trailhead on the northwest side of Mt. Hood. From there it’s a one-half mile climb to the Timberline and Pacific Crest Trails.

Fun destinations are the 6,100-foot McNeil Point stone shelter, the 7,000-foot climbers’ tie-in above the shelter, or picturesque tarns below the shelter. All are great alpine destinations which I have done many times.

Bald Mountain

On an early August morning, it was time to try something new. After reaching the Timberline Trail, I hiked a few hundred feet to the south where an old trail ascended the west side of Bald Mountain for one-half mile before reaching the overgrown summit.

At one time there was a fire lookout facility on the summit built more than a century ago. Now all that remains are some concrete blocks. Typical of old lookout sites, the views were spectacular. Mt. Hood dominated the vistas to the east.

Returning to the Timberline Trail, I made a counter-clockwise loop around Bald Mountain. Many colorful wildflowers decorated the open meadows along the trail drawing dancing butterflies to their petals.

As I returned to the trailhead, I marveled at the beautiful scenery we can access in the Pacific Northwest.