One Day Wilderness: Barrett Spur

One of the best high points on Wy’East, in my opinion can be reached by way of the epic Timberline Trail.  The Mazama Trail follows Cathedral Ridge where views of Hood open up as you wander into meadows of red and gold where tiny streams wind down the Mountain. Follow US 26 three miles east of the Mt Hood Information Center in Welches. Turn left (north) on the Lolo Pass Road (Road 18) at Zig Zag (across from the Zig Zag Pizza). Follow this road to Lolo Pass which is about 9 miles. Then turn right onto the gravel portion of this highway. Follow the gravel road for about 4 miles and it will turn back into a paved road. It is at this point, that you bear to the right and drive up Road 1811 until you reach the well marked trailhead for the Mazama Trail up Cathedral Ridge.

Once you hit the T-Line Trail, that is where this hike really heats up. Make a left and follow the trail to Carin Basin with its lovely subalpine meadows and historic shelter, make sure to look down the slope to tiny Eden Park, one of my favorite Timberline camps. Next, cross Ladd Creek and make your way into a freshly burned area (Dollar Lake Fire 2013) and up to a small ridge line. Now, before you drop down to Wy’ East Basin proper, take a small way trail on your right that follows the ridge higher up the slopes of the Mountain. Here you enter into fantastic open alpine  meadows (with great camps) before taking on the rocky Barrett Spur, the high point straight ahead. Take your time climbing this class 2 scramble up to the top overlooking the Ladd Glacier and  the upper reaches of the west side of  Wy’East. Sit down for a spell and soak it all in before retracing your steps back to the trailhead. This destination is about 12 miles round trip with some substantial elevation gain, so take it slow and start early. Or better yet, camp in Carin Basin, Eden Park or in those upper Wy’East Meadows if the weather looks good and make a overnight trip of it.