Driving to the large trailhead at the bottom of Dog Mountain, Washington Highway 14 drives right around the base of another smaller peak with its own form of drama, Wind Mountain. A beautiful cone-shaped peak, Wind has a brother, Shellrock Mountain, on the opposite side of the Columbia River in Oregon. Both mountains are thought to be from the same volcanic intrusion which needed to be cleaved in half by the Columbia River.  Unlike Shellrock, Wind Mountain has a trail to the top.

GIRL SCOUT EXCERCISE

Described on the Washington Trails Association website the trail is thought to have originated some 75 years ago, possibly to give Girl Scouts some exercise.  The website entry goes on to say, “The trail is not an official USFS system trail, and with the varying landowners and the sensitive site at the summit, hikers are encouraged to seek alternate summits in the Gorge that offer equally breathtaking views.”  Some official agency has taken on the trail, however, with a boot cleaner at the beginning of the trail and Forest Service signs at the summit.

IF GIRL SCOUTS, THEN MOUNTAIN CORGIS

The trail has been described appropriately as a mini-Dog Mountain hike.  While the Dog Mountain hike gains 2900 feet (884 meters) on a 7.3 mile (11.75 kilometer) loop, Wind Mountain gains 1230 feet (375 meters) in a 2.8 mile (4.5 kilometer) up-and-down.  That comes out to be around 10% steeper for the Wind Mountain path.

ACCESSING

For a trail that “is not official”, the hardest part can be to find the trail head.  To get here, you drive on Washington Highway 14 to the Wind Mountain Road found on the east end of the community of Home Valley.  Going uphill for 1.5 miles, you come to Girl Scout Road going off to the right on a big sweeping turn – there is a sign pointing to the right reading “Wind Mtn TH”.  Follow the new road up a short distance to a large open space that used to be a quarry.  The road continues as a narrow gravel road.  There is a small turnout opposite the trailhead though it is easier to park back uphill the couple hundred yards in the large open area.

TALLY HO

With 1230 feet to gain in just 1.4 miles, the trail wastes no time gaining elevation.  Steep it may be, but it is in good shape. Careful of the poison oak in the lower sections and rattlesnakes can be found along the path. Both are problems shared with nearby Dog Mountain.

The first half of the trail, you climb up the east face of the mountain in the trees with peek-a-boo views of Dog Mountain to the east.  About halfway up, you gain an eastern shoulder of the peak where the trail levels out for about two seconds before resuming its climb pushing up over talus slopes and more forest until you finally reach the summit plateau.

SUMMIT SIGNIFICANCE

A first sign warns you to stay on the path since the summit area is an archaeological site.  Walking further, a large sign gives more about the significance of the mountain to Native Americans who sent their young men up here to spend a night fasting and hopefully gaining a dream unveiling the youth’s guardian spirit, which he maintained over the course of his life.  The sites are pits or mounds in the talus fields, which continue to be visited today.

Native Americans explain the constant winds surrounding the mountain (though sadly, not on these warm day) as punishment from the Great Spirit, a punishment to those breaking the taboo by teaching white men to catch salmon.

SUMMIT VIEWS

For us, the summit is open and the views east and west are magnificent.  To the east, The Dog to Augspurger Mountain ridge is glorious.  The top of Mt Adams can just be seen to the left of Augspruger.

To the west, you can see downriver with the Wind River valley, the towns of Carson and Stevenson beyond, Table, Greenleaf and Hamilton Mountains, as well as Mt St Helens.  The communication tower and knob on which a former fire lookout was located on Three Corner Rock. can, also be picked out.  Across on the Oregon side is Indian Point.  To the south, you can see Mt Defiance.

RETURNING WITH MY SPIRIT GUIDE

What goes up must come down.  Retrace your steps carefully back down the steep path.

Some people have described Wind Mountain as a nice add-on hike to fill out a day of hiking which is what I did on this particular day after climbing a couple to see some waterfalls on the Oregon side.  Others I met up on top, said they were trying to get into shape for Dog Mountain.  If you can make it up Wind Mountain, the Dog should be fine.

There is a small path leading directly up from the former quarry parking area.  Supposedly according to some, this was the original Native path to the summit gaining it in only 0.5 miles.  I walked up it a short distance from the bottom, but neither I nor Ollie, the Mountain Corgi, thought much of the path as an alternative.

POSTSCRIPT

Days in the Gorge always seem to end at Thunder Island with the little fellow dreaming of the next hike.