19:05:41 From Foothills Branch Mountaineers : Those of you who have just arrived: please put all your questions in the chat and we'll cover them during the talk! 19:13:29 From Katherine : any permits required? Answer: No hiking or backpacking permit for the Loowit, but you need the appropriate Federal Forest parking pass . Timberline requires self registration on trail at a kiosk, which is on trail. At Timberline, no parking pass or issues. 19:16:50 From Michelle Oglesbee-Flores : how many miles is the \ristricted area? Answer: It's about 8-10 miles depending on how you approach it and if you visit Loowit Falls. 19:19:46 From Michelle Oglesbee-Flores : yes 19:22:05 From Cheryl Conklin to Foothills Branch Mountaineers(Direct Message) : was it hard to find campsites. Answer: Not too hard. Plenty of spots at the South Fork of the Toutle, 19:26:21 From brian talbert : very nice shot! 19:27:04 From Raina Lovrien : I totally missed what section this was at... Ropes, say what? Answer:Ropes at the South for of the Toutle and then on Crescent Ridge, however Crescent Ridge is slim pickings. Plenty of camping in the Plains of Abraham just north of Pumice Butte and just south of the Butte at the Ape Trail Intersection. You will find camping along the trail around Butte Camp Dome, as well as around Butte Camp itself. Camping at Swift Creek. Camping at June Lake. Between June Lake and Pumice Butte you will find options you could make work but be wary they the most desirable spot might be taken. 19:27:20 From Raina Lovrien : got it 19:35:13 From Emma Agosta : Sorry we beat you to it! 19:35:45 From Lori Dejarnatt : Wow! 19:36:14 From Jean Fisher : It was an awesome view!! 19:39:16 From Tom E : How were the mosquitoes and other bugs? Answer:We were not bothered by bugs over the July 4 weekend. It was still a bit cool as I recall. We also didn't camp near water. 19:39:41 From Jean Fisher : No bugs that I recall!! 19:40:38 From betsbert : Black Bear 19:44:50 From Jean Fisher : LOTS of ravines!!! Yes! 19:47:04 From Lori Dejarnatt : nice shot! 19:49:44 From Cheryl Conklin to Foothills Branch Mountaineers(Direct Message) : clockwise vs counterclockwise? Answer: For the Loowit: I didn't mention in the presentation, but our experience was that most folks hike/backpack it clockwise (and one-day runners do too because they hit the boulder field first when they are fresh starting from June Lake). We were against the grain with most other backpackers. I find that desirable. We also started at Windy Ridge, which for me, given our timeframe, made sense to go counter-clockwise. I think it really depends on where you start and your own pace. It's a 10 mile stretch through the no camping zone. This also needs to factor into your day. If you were going clockwise from the south fork of the Toutle around, your next camp is over Windy Pass to the Plains of Abraham. For the Timberline: Again, I think it depends on your starting point. I liked starting at Timberline Lodge. Easy to find. Safe Paved lot. It just made sense to start hiking down hill. I think this direction, clockwise, also allows you to build the difficulty as you progress. Sort of ease into it. It seemed most were gong this direction, but not all. 19:50:15 From Foothills Branch Mountaineers to Cheryl Conklin(Direct Message) : Are you asking about the Loowit or the Timberline? See answers above. 19:50:32 From Cheryl Conklin to Foothills Branch Mountaineers(Direct Message) : how about both? See answers above. 19:51:57 From Susan Shih : Why did you choose to do 20mi first day? Answer: We only had 3 days to get the trip done. It's rated at 40 miles or so depending on the map and resource, and we logged 45 on our garmin watches. I prefer to get big miles early. We were already day hiking solid miles and pretty light packs at 15 and 25 pounds. 19:56:33 From Melody George : Did you say what month this was? 19:56:42 From betsbert : When did you do this? sorry if I missed the dates. Answer: July 24-26, 2020. Slept in car at Timberline Thursday night. Drove home Sunday. Back to car about 1PM on Sunday. 19:59:40 From Lori Dejarnatt : Thanks for that tip! 20:03:47 From michale : How were the bugs? No bugs as I recall. 20:04:28 From Jean Fisher : No bugs? we were lucky!! 20:04:31 From Margaret Long : love the chairs! 20:04:40 From betsbert : So no snow anywhere? Answer: No snow on Loowit. And very small snow fields on the east flank of Hood. Not dangerous but needed to be careful. We use trecking poles which help. 20:04:48 From bsherrymezger : what sleep sacks are you using? blanket style? Answer: Feathered Friends Flicker 20 degree. They are known as a zippered quilt or hoodless back. Basically a hybrid. I use mine just like a quilt with it zipped half way which is the intended use or style. It completely unzips to be a big blanket. Very happy with them.These were a new purchase in early 2020. 20:06:24 From bsherrymezger : By this map, looks like Pulpit Rock: Yes, it is Pulpit Rock. I couldn't find it in my notes. 20:06:43 From bsherrymezger : your spire you liked 20:07:41 From Jean Fisher : I was wetting my buff to stay cool!!! 20:09:15 From Foothills Branch Mountaineers : Nice three-volcano view fromthere! Yes, amazing! St Helen's, Rainier and Adams. 20:16:19 From Jodie : where did you get those chairs? REI Flexlite Air. Weigh one pound! A comparable one, and more popular and a tad more expensive is the Helinox Chair. It's maybe 17 ounces, but most folks prefer it's sitting position. I actually do too but they were not available when we make our purchase and ours were $99 for the REI versus $119 for Helinox. 20:16:57 From Paul Olmsted : Did the silt in the water clog your water filter? Answer: No,we didn't have issues. I maybe slowed a bit, but I'm very careful how and when I get water and I always carry the backlash syringe. The Muddy River on Loowit was pretty silty and then the Elliot Branch on Timberline. But on the north side of Timberline there are lots of streams so you just plan well. 20:20:03 From Jean Fisher : Carry light sandals for river crossings. Answer: We took crocks around the Loowit but nothing on the Timberline. I tend to just go barefoot, or wear my trail runners. 20:22:07 From Lori Dejarnatt : Thank you! 20:22:09 From betsbert : Super cool stuff - thanks for the presentation!! 20:22:20 From Anthony : Great job Ron. Nice trips. Thank you 20:22:23 From brian talbert : Really great presentation! Thank you, inspiring! 20:22:25 From bsherrymezger : Planning on doing Wonderland trail? of the two discussed, one preferred? Answer: yes, we plan to do the Wonderland. In 2021 if we get a permit and another trip I'm thicking of doesn't happen. I'm now committed to complete as much of the so called Volcano Project as I can. I think I preferred the Timberline, but each is unique. I would go back and do the Timberline again and spend more time and camp at different spots and be sure to do some day hiking up high on the NW flank. Not glacier high, just high! 20:22:26 From Kristine K. Vosk : Did you need to hang food? No we did not. Answer: I tied an Ursack to a tree in all spots. 20:22:27 From sandra saathoff : Thank you for doing this! I did the Timberline a few years ago and am interested now in the Loowit. Answer: Thank you - You will love it! 20:22:27 From Bill Adams : Excellent. Thank You! 20:22:31 From michale : I'm inspired! Thank you! 20:22:39 From Nanci Johnson : Thanks so much 20:22:40 From Ayumi Kojima : Thank you! 20:22:42 From Carothers : Thank you! 20:22:43 From Steve McClure : INSPIRING! Thank you. 20:22:45 From TJ King : Thank you!! 20:22:47 From Jodie : were there a lot of people on the trails Answer: Not bad really. Yes we saw people, we leap frogged a bit. I think we chose camp sites well and avoided being in a big group except for Newton Creek on Timberline. Much of our hiking time was just us. 20:22:52 From james souza : Thank you! 20:22:52 From cindy : very nice, Thank you Ron 20:22:56 From Raina Lovrien : I think a lot of us are nerdin' out hard. Thank you so much for the info,. Personally needed the extra info on Loowit 20:22:58 From Charles E Grant : Thanks! 20:23:18 From Julie Dillon : Thanks so much!! You guys rock. 20:23:31 From April : Inspiring views -- thank you! 20:23:35 From Sharon Carlson : Thanks. Great photos 20:23:35 From Sandy Leopold : thank you 20:23:39 From Emma Agosta : Fantastic photos! Thanks1 20:23:40 From Mary : thanks!!! From Ron: Thank you all for the positive feedback and questions.