Northern Oregon: Willamette Pass to the Columbia River

Northern Oregon: Willamette  Pass to the Columbia River

8/17/2012, Cascade Locks, mile 2,155.0, 15.5 miles traveled.

I felt better in the morning.  I enjoyed a beautiful, cool morning as I walked past the many waterfalls on Eagle Creek.  I was amazed at the number of people I saw camping and day hiking there.  I took the bike path from the Eagle Creek trail head back to the official PCT at Cascade Locks.  There, I was happy to meet my parents and take a precious zero day.

Waterfall on Eagle Creek, Mark O Hatfield Wilderness.

Brink of waterfall on Eagle Creek.

Exposed section of trail on Eagle Creek.

Tunnel Falls on tributary of Eagle Creek.

Narrows on Eagle Creek, Mark O Hatfield Wilderness.

Falls on tributary of Eagle Creek, Mark O Hatfield Wilderness.

Lower Punch Bowl Falls, Eagle Creek, Mark O Hatfield Wilderness.

Wauna Falls, Eagle Creek, Mark O Hatfield Wilderness.

Bike path from Eagle Creek Trailhead to Cascade Locks with warning.

8/16/2012, Eagle Creek Trail, mile 2,139.5 23.0 miles traveled.

After a climb out of the Sandy River Canyon, the trail stuck to the ridge tops as it skirted the Bull Run Watershed and headed towards the Columbia River.  I’m glad the trail was easy because I felt pretty bad.  It was either the Giardiasis or the medicine I took for it.  I took the alternate route off the PCT to Eagle Creek.  The scenery is better.  It would have been designated as the official route except that it wasn’t suitable for horses.  When I made camp, it was hot, humid, and dead calm.  I skipped dinner due to a lack of appetite.

Devils Club, and natural footbridge over Muddy Fork Sandy River.

Spider at mouth level across trail.

Mt. Hood, 11,239 ft., from near Lolo Pass.

Fungus on log.

8/15/2012, Ramona Falls, mile 2,116.5, 22.0 miles traveled.

Today my stomach started hurting.  I felt bloated and had occasional stabbing pains in my gut.  I kept thinking of another thru-hiker who had similar symptoms and was diagnosed with giardiasis.  I decided to start a seven-day course of metronidazole which I had brought just in case.  I didn’t want to wait for the symptoms to worsen.  I picked up a package with 2 days of food at Timberline Lodge.  I skipped the buffet because I didn’t have an appetite.  I enjoyed hiking on the Timberline Trail that circles Mt. Hood.  It was the trail my father took me on for my first backpacking trip.  I had a nice visit with Andrew as we dropped into the Sandy River Canyon.  I camped near Ramona Falls.  It was in a dark ravine that reminded me of hollows in the Appalachians.   

Mt. Hood, 11,239 ft., from near Buzzard Point.

One of hundreds of webs across trail.

Mt. Hood, 11,239 ft., and White River from near Pucci Glade.

Mt. Hood, 11,239 ft., from rim of Zigzag Canyon.

Mt. Hood, 11,239 ft., from rim of Zigzag Canyon.

Ramona Falls, Mt. Hood National Forest.

8/14/2012, Near Highway 26, mile 2,094.5, 28.5 miles traveled.

I felt like I was coming home today.  I crossed Warm Springs Creek and then the Clackamas River.  It was strange to connect the two by foot.  They seemed worlds apart when traveling by car.  I got phone reception near Timothy Lake and enjoyed talking with Sarah.  I also called my parents to arrange our meeting in Cascade Locks.  I was really looking forward to a rest and visit with them.  During the evening, I enjoyed views of Mt. Hood from the Wapinitia Pass area.  I made camp at dusk, and fell asleep to the sounds of nighthawks.  Their wings make a loud buzzing sound when they dive for insects.

Bridge over Warm Springs River, Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

Timothy Lake, Mt. Hood National Forest.

North Arm Timothy Lake.

Mt. Hood, 11,239 ft., from near Wapinitia Pass.

8/13/2012, South Pinhead Butte, mile 2,066.0, 26.5 miles traveled.

I enjoyed a quiet morning crossing beautiful Jefferson Park.  I climbed Park Ridge, and noticed a fire to the northeast which looked like it could reach the PCT.  It would result in a temporary trail closure a few days later.  Snow fields obscured the trail on the north face of Park Ridge.  I eventually found my way past them with the help of my map and GPS.  As I descended towards Breitenbush Road, I met dozens of search and rescue personnel headed back up towards Jefferson Park   They showed me a picture of the lost man, a diabetic who was 5 days overdue.  They asked me to keep an eye out for him as I continued north.  As the day progressed, I noticed the smoke from the fire behind me getting larger and larger.  The day was hot, but I was able to stay cool by soaking my shirt in water whenever I passed a creek.  In the evening, I picked a handful of huckleberries.  When I looked up, there was a fat black bear standing about 50 feet up the trail.  He quickly dropped to all fours and bounced away.  I made camp on the Warm Springs Reservation in a logged area.  I was impressed at the way they had left several trees standing and cleaned up the slash.  I wish all the private forests in California were managed that well.

Mt. Jefferson from Jefferson Park.

Park Butte, 6,851 ft., Mt. Jefferson Wilderness.

Smoke from Water Fall 2 Fire on northeastern flank of Mt. Jefferson from near Park Butte.

Waterfall 2 Fire from near Olallie Lake.  Fire would result in 10 mile PCT closure a few days later.

8/12/2012, Whitewater Creek, mile 2,039.5, 26.0 miles traveled.

The scenery today was dominated by Mt. Jefferson.  One damp section of trail was covered with little frogs.  They were about 1-inch long and had narrow yellow lines down their backs.  They would start hoping around as I approached.  It was difficult to avoid stepping on them.  The mosquitoes weren’t too bad.  There were lots of spider webs across the trail though.  I met another through hiker, Andrew, who informed me that a search was in progress for a lost hiker in the Jefferson Park Area.  Toward the end of the day, I was amazed at how steep the landscape was around Russell Creek.  I hoped that the lost hiker hadn’t strayed into that area.

North face of Three Fingered Jack, 7,841 ft., Mt. Jefferson Wilderness.

South Cinder Peak, 6,746 ft., Mt. Jefferson Wilderness.

Mt. Jefferson, 10,497 ft.

Mt. Jefferson, 10,497 ft., from Milk Creek.

8/11/2012, Three Fingered Jack, mile 2,013.5, 25.0 miles traveled.

I was glad to cross the lava field north of McKenzie Pass during the cool of the morning. Even so, the heat eventually caught up to me and it was with great relief that I reached a small lake where I washed my feet and socks.  It didn’t take long for the fine, volcanic dust to permeate my socks and feet again though.  I enjoyed talking with a father and son on a south-bound section.  Later in the day, I crossed the busy highway at Santiam Pass and climbed to above 7,000 feet on the southwest face of Three Fingered Jack.  The mosquitoes were fierce there, so I set up my tent quickly and dove inside.

Looking south at North and Middle Sisters from Belknap Crater, Mt. Washington Wilderness.

Mt. Washington, 7,794 ft, Mt. Washington Wilderness.

2,000 mile mark for PCT north-bounders.

Three Fingered Jack, 7,841 ft., Mt. Jefferson Wilderness.

8/10/2012, Junction with Lava Campground trail, mile 1,988.5, 25.0 miles traveled.

This was one of the most scenic days of my hike so far.  I enjoyed views of the Sisters from a large meadow called Wickiup Plain where Native Americans used to gather for ceremonies.  The landscape became more and more colorful and strange around Opie Dilldock Pass, with red and black cinder cones and bizarre lava fields. I met several Boy Scout groups out for long hikes.  They all seemed to be having fun.  The mosquitoes, which had been bothersome during the previous two days, seemed to disappear after I reached the lava.  What a relief!

View of fog over Elk Lake from Koosah Mountain.

South Sister, 10,358 ft., from Wickiup Plain, Three Sisters Wilderness, Willamette National Forest.

Lupines, Three Sisters Wilderness.

Middle Sister, 10,047 ft., Three Sisters Wilderness.

The Husband, 7,624 ft., Three Sisters Wilderness.

North Sister, 10,085 ft., Three Sisters Wilderness.

Collier Cone, 7,583 ft., Three Sisters Wilderness.

North Sister from Opie Dilldock Pass, Three Sisters Wilderness.

Yapoah Crater, 6,737 ft., Three Sisters Wilderness.

Belknap Crater, 6,872 ft., Mt. Washington, 7,794 ft., Three Fingered Jack, 7,841 ft., and Mt. Jefferson, 10,497 ft. from Yapoah Crater, Three Sisters Wilderness.

Yapoah Crater, Three Sisters Wilderness.

8/9/2012, Past Elk Lake, mile 1,963.5, 25.0 miles traveled.

The trail stayed in deep forest throughout the day.  I passed several ponds and small lakes, but none that seemed worth photographing.  I met Asabout coming the other way.  I had met him several times along the trail because he was doing sections southbound while his wife camped nearby in their RV.  Asabout was moving fast, trying to stay ahead of a couple of horses.  He told me it was his last night on the trail before he had to return to work.  I was sorry to hear a few days later that he passed away in his tent that night.  My deepest sympathies to his wife, family, and friends.  I picked up a package with 6 days worth of food at Elk Lake.  It would get me to my next drop 150 miles away at Timberline Lodge.

8/8/2012, Brahma Lake, mile 1,938.5, 24.5 miles traveled.

Sarah and I said our sad farewells after a couple of restful days in Oakridge.  She dropped me off at the Willamette trail head at 9:00 am on her way home to Nevada.  I really appreciate her companionship and assistance during the summer.  The trail today was predominantly through forest with a few lakes and ponds.  I saw a couple of other thru-hikers, Robin Hood and Bladder Pillow.  I reached Brahma Lake at 8:20 pm.  They and a couple others were already asleep. 

Lower Rosary Lake and Pulpit Rock, 6,384 ft.

Charlton Lake, Willamette National Forest.