This summit was a bit of a challenge with 11 miles round-trip trail and ~2500' elevation change. It took us 4hrs to hike in. (NOTE: no dogs on trails in the MSH National Volcanic Monument.)
Started from Johnson Observatory parking lot (day or annual permit required) on Boundary Trail #1 which leads around the rim of the bowl before ascending to the summit. There is a pretty cool trail section that leads through a rock archway along the way. The hole in the rock perfectly frames Mt Adams. Under the right conditions, you can actually see that hole from the Observatory parking lot.
Beautiful day to be on the summit with area views of Rainier, Adams, Hood and St. Helens. There is an old antenna mast on the summit which I used to strap a Spiderbeam fiberglass pole to and hoist my 20m EFHW. There were several POTA stations on as well as some QSO party contesters.
