Sleeping Beauty
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Hikes to this destination:
- Sleeping Beauty Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 46.0930, -121.6493
- Elevation: 4907 feet
Description
Look carefully at the profile of Sleeping Beauty from the east side of the Trout Lake Valley, and you will see the facial outline of a young woman on the andesite summit area, with her breast and blanket-covered body reclining along the ridge to the west. The trail up is short but steep, with many switchbacks. This weathered magma intrusion, 25 million years old, is home to a small group of mountain goats and the summit affords spectacular views of the Oregon and Washington Cascades, including nearby Mount Adams.
The former lookout here was constructed in 1931. Parts of the building were assembled in Portland and then transported to the base of the mountain. Winches and cables were used to get materials to the summit. Don Williams was the first lookout stationed here.
In Native American lore, Sleeping Beauty, rather than Mount Saint Helens, is sometimes posited as the sultry maiden Loowit, who was genesis of much conflict between her inflamed suitors Wy'east Mount Hood and Pahto Mount Adams.
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- bobcat (creator)