>>545397Planned three days up here, but unfortunately all water sources were dry due to the drought. Had to come in a day early. Luckily I had a heads-up and packed two gallons in. Otherwise the whole trip would have been a bust. It was 95 degrees with zero tree coverage.
At the end, I risked a $500 fine to bushwack down to St. Helen's Lake (pictured with Mt Rainier in the distance, the crater partially exposed to the right, and Mt Hood at 150 miles south just barely visible to the left of crest of the hill obscuring the volcano) but the deadfall down there was legit up to my chest. I probably could have made it but didn't want to risk breaking a leg or something because I was solo.
