On our way to the trailhead, we checked out Ape Cave. What's interesting about it is that it's like a long tunnel, somehow formed by flowing lava. It was refreshingly cool - probably about 45 degrees F.

10 Sep '07. Finally got a chance to climb one of the volcanic giants in our state - 2549 m (it was several hundred meters higher before the huge eruption in 1980).

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Chango > Picking up our permits the day before. They limit to 100 people a day on the mountain. For the active season, weekends are booked months in advance. We went on a Monday.
This is Jay, with his SUV. I've hiked a few times with him before. (He organizes one of the Meetup hiking groups here.)

Chango > On our way to the trailhead, we checked out Ape Cave. What's interesting about it is that it's like a long tunnel, somehow formed by flowing lava. It was refreshingly cool - probably about 45 degrees F.

Chango > We reached the closer end of the "tube" in about 1/4 mile.

Chango > Short warmup hike the day before. We camped at a primitve campground (Climbers Bivouac) near the trailhead.

Chango > On the next day, we started at 6 am, trying to beat the heat and perhaps the crowd. We caught sunrise just as we were getting out of the woods. This is Mt. Adams, 30 miles east. [6:53 am]

On our way to the trailhead, we checked out Ape Cave. What's interesting about it is that it's like a long tunnel, somehow formed by flowing lava. It was refreshingly cool - probably about 45 degrees F.