I had planned to spend the day hiking in McDonald Forest on a Chemeketan trip led by Jim Reichwein, but when I heard there would be 17 hikers and not many wild flowers, I began to think of the Cascades. My McDonald Forest idea had already been questioned by hiking friend Mary Coleman, saying, 'Seems like an awful nice day to not go to the Cascades'. So at the last minute Mary and I headed up for Iron Mountain. On the way, however our plans changed to next-door neighbor, Cone Peak. I had never done it before, but Mary had, and she assured me its open slopes would be free from snow that was still holding to Iron Mountain's north side.

The Cone Peak Trail does not actually go to the top of Cone Peak, but rather skirts its shoulder and connects with the Iron Mountain Trail. To get to the summit of Cone you must leave the Cone Peak Trail at about its highest point and scramble cross-country up the side of Cone Peak. It's fairly steep, and with the abundant wild flowers, you must chose your steps carefully.

The summit rewarded us with wonderful vistas of the Cascades from Adams in the north, south to Diamond Peak. Of course all the Old Cascade peaks were there for us to identify. Also on the summit we found a registry placed by the Lebanon Crevasse Creepers. We had previously found their notes on North Peak last year. They shall remain nameless to protect their innocence, only to be known by those who make the summit. Statistics for the day: distance 5 miles, time 4 hours, cumulative climb 1550 feet.