Getting There
Take I-84 eastbound from Portland to Cascade Locks. Drive through town on Wa Na Pa Street. (You can also take the exit after Cascade Locks ("the exit toward Weigh Station"). Follow the Frontage Road for about 1.7 miles to the Herman Creek Campground and Trailhead (Herman Creek Road). The small parking lot is 0.3 miles from the turnoff.
The parking lot wasn't quite full even though it's small, there was a spot near the bathroom. There weren't any cars over the construction area where I parked last time.
The Hike
Elev. gain: 2,976 ft
Moving time: 3:52:18
Avg pace: 26:50
Calories: 2,047
Total time: 4:22:27
Herman Creek Trail #406 > Nick Eaton Trail #447 > Ridge Cutoff Trail #437 > Gorton Creek Trail #408
Last time I came here, I got some poison oak on my wrists which got infected. My selective memory forgot that while I didn't go off trail, it is pretty overgrown in places.
This time, I was in a short-sleeved shirt and was bushwhacking through several sections. Those section were moderate to "I can't see my feet" overgrown.
This was going to be a health/fitness check before my upcoming annual summit attempt of Mt St Helens next week. I haven't been hiking much besides the trail work parties. I've had some health issues like vertigo (again!) and heart palpitations (maybe??). I wore a heart monitor for a week and did the Glacier Overlook Hike with MSHI and one trail work party on the Loowit.
This hike was about what I remembered from March except for how overgrown it is in places. It climbs nearly 3000 ft (~900m) in 3.8 miles (~6.1km). My heart was beating pretty hard and felt like I wasn't quite getting enough O2 but I soldiered on. I was happy to reach the Ridge Cutoff (#437) junction hear the unnamed high point off the Nick Eaton Trail (#447).
I swore I heard voices but it was probably the phantom noises from my water bottle. Not the first time I've imagined human-like voices.
I double backed to the Ridge Cutoff and continued my lollipop loop towards Indian Point.
Again, I deferred going down there to "next time" (if ever). I did see a guy on the river side of the point. High exposure, at least for my angle. I whistled a couple of time and waved by he didn't look up. Probably for the best. I had a nightmarish thought of distracting the guy and seeing him fall. I watched him cautiously make his way along the ridge (safely) and continued my hike when I saw he'd reached the trees.
The Gorton Creek trail is gorgeous. It does have some sections that were likely part of the Eagle Creek fire in 2017 but the trees I noticed along the trail were still alive and had lots of greenery at the top even though the bark was blackened.
When I got back to the Herman Creek Campground, I saw a mountain biker starting a descent on the Gorge Trail (#400). I was happy to have completed the loop section of my hike and was heading back to the car.
On the way down, I stopped and stepped off the trail to allow more mountain bikers heading uphill.
The hike was a success. Not only was it great to return to this area of the Gorge but I felt good. Besides a deep worry about my lungs, my legs did fine. I feel ready to tackle MSH knowing the challenge is slanted the mental game.
