Hike: Oneonta Gorge + Triple Falls via Horsetail Falls, Cascade Locks, OR

Getting There

I wanted to get in one more hike for WTA's Hike-a-Thon. I was expecting to see signs about needing a permit for Multnomah Falls but I never saw one (Hwy 30, I-84). I decided to chance it. When I arrived in the parking lot there are a number of open spots so I thought I was golden. I got geared up and started towards the tunnel. 

I realized there were a number of people milling around near the ramp down the tunnel. I thought they were just waiting for people at their car or a shuttle pickup. I noticed two people in orange vests at the tunnel entrance: they were checking permits. Fuck! I scanned the QR code and paid $2 but my time slot was for 3pm but it was only 2:20pm. After a min, I decided "fuck that". I'm not waiting 40 mins to start my hike, I can't afford to waste the daylight.

Annoyed, I marched back to the Jeep and threw my stuff in the back. I wasn't even going to see the Falls, I was hiking away. I wondered if the "gatekeepers" would have let me through, given my intent and destination.

I hopped back on the freeway and went to Horsetail Falls via exit 35 (Ainsworth State Park). There was one open spot but at least I wasn't parked on the side of the road like last time. 

The Hike

Length: 5.98 miles
Elev. gain: 1,644ft
Moving time: 2h 29m
Total time: 2h 46m
Avg. pace: 24:49
Calories: 1,309
Total time: 2h 46m

 

 

 

 

 

Even though it was just 2 days since my big hike at Hamilton/BRSP, I felt like my legs were in good enough condition to go for another spin. To be honest, my left hand still hurt and my jaw is still sore, for some reason. It was for a good cause: Hike-a-Thon!

I passed a few people on the way up but pretty much had the place to myself.

To my surprise, I made it to Triple Falls in about an hour. Dang! Not to shabby. I feel really good about climbing MSH next month.... two weeks!!!! I've been worried my lack of hikes this year would set me back physically but I've still been doing trailwork, i.e. hiking with tools but not the same mileage or EG.

This close to my climb date, I feel like I have the right level of fitness. Combined with proper nutrition (before and during) and mental toughness & resilience I should have a successful day on the mountain. The biggest unknown is the conditions: weather, fires.

Since I was feeling good I figured I keep going up, the bridge back across the creek. I also set a turn around time of 4pm and it was already 3:40pm. The trail looked like it had been brushed somewhat recently, however I got to a spot where it looked like the trail work ended. The fireweed seeds were drifting in the air all over the place. When I would brush against them, it would cause of cloud of seeds to surround me. Ugh. I didn't want to deal with that for another 1/4 mile for minimal distance and EG gain. This was a exercise hike after all.

I promptly turned around and enjoyed my descent. 

There was one sunbather at Triple Falls so I did my best to give them their privacy. I took some photos facing north, a(nother) selfie.

I felt good about my decision to get out of the house.

This was routine hike.

I made it back across the river and continued towards the viewpoint west of Ponytail Falls.

The views from there are great. I noticed the plaque for Glenn W. Replogle, a 14-yo that fell from Horsetail Falls in 1988. Sad and a reminder that these beautiful places are also dangerous and demand respect.

I loved seeing Archer and Hamilton across the river, formed 5-17 millions years ago. 
See Columbia River Basalt Group.

 

Hike: Hamilton Mountain + Bridge Trail + Hardy Creek, N Bonneville, WA

Getting there

Just after Doetsch Ranch you'll see the Ranger Station on the north side of the road just before the Beacon Rock parking lot, then another road across from the bathrooms. The road winds up the hill for a bit.

I haven't been here since May 12. I haven't been hiking much this year, though I've done a bunch of trail work parties, some I've recorded, some I have not. I've been participating in WTA's annual Hike-a-Thon fundraiser and it was getting to the end of the month and I needed to squeeze one more hike in. 

Plus, I got a climbing permit for MSH next month and I needed to see what kind of shape I'm in. I've realized over the years that a successful summit is one part fitness, one part nutrition, one part mental toughness, and probably a sprinkle of luck (conditions).

The weather was much improved, AQI levels down to almost nothing. It was overcast and my brain said cool but it was a bit humid. I geared up and stripped off a layer before setting out.

The Hike

Length: 12.0mi
Elev. gain: 2,772ft
Moving time: 4h 38m
Total time: 5h 36m
Avg. pace: 23:11
Calories: 2,453

It felt really good to be back on my favorite trail to close out the month. I still seem to get more winded and I've tried adjusting my pace. When I did the GOH hikes recently, I had to hike slower to stay with the group and felt great so I guess it's about finding the right balance of speed and breathing.

Somewhere between the power lines and Rodney Falls, I ran into a fellow member of the PortlandHikers FB group. I've admired this guy from afar: he posts hikes with long mileage and lots of EG. I recognized him instantly and said hello. In my haste I didn't properly introduce myself to him and his hiking partner, oops.

I continued at a good pace and made it to the switchbacks in good time and was feeling pretty good, definitely warmed up. 

When I reached Baby Ham, Piglet?, there were a bunch of people relaxing on the outcrop. I continued up the trail. I ended up taking the unofficial trail to Little Ham. I kind of knew that some of those people probably saw me head up. It was easy, it took less than 10 mins to disappear out of sight. 

After a short break on Little Ham, I made my way down the trail. I was feeling confident if not a little complacent. I slipped once and told myself to be more careful. When the trail was in sight I slipped again but this time hyper-extended my L index finger. Fuck! Not broken but really painful. It would throb for the rest of the hike but the pain diminished eventually. 

I passed a few people on my ascent. After turn 14, I shot a couple of videos. While recording as I hiked to the summit, I heard voices. When I got to end, I ended the video so I didn't include the other hikers. I'm not an influencer! LOL.

I took a spin to review our work from the spring. I also verified the decommed section was still.... decommed. It was.

Next was the descent to the Saddle. The trail was in good shape and seemed like the park rangers have brushed unless I missed another work party!

At the Saddle, I did a little recon to see how doable climbing up to the rocky outcrop was. I followed user trail as far as I could, to the point where the "trail" ends and it's a scramble. It looked feasible but not with my hand in its condition and probably not alone. I'm guessing going up wouldn't be too bad, it was the "coming down" that gave me pause. Maybe another time.

At the north end of the Saddle, I stopped to take some pictures and noticed a couple coming my way. I scooted off down the trail. 

I dipped off at Don's Cutoff. When I reached the main switchback, the forest was so quiet, not a sound at all: no wind, no bugs, no birds, no water. I closed my eyes for min or so. Amazing. Then, I heard that couple - dang! I scooted off again.

I wasn't planning to extend my hike beyond the usual loop but I wanted to get away from the other hikers. When I got to the Upper Hardy Creek trail, I headed up towards the Bridge Trail.

I vaguely considered a two-peak-day, adding Phlox Point to my day but then the weather changed. It started raining, like quite a bit. I was mostly protected under the dense canopy but it was loud hitting the leaves. I revised my goal to just walk up to the end of the road. Nope.

I turned around and started hiking down to the Equestrian Trail. When I got to Hardy Creek, the rain had stopped and the sun was out. Dang! I might have had some killer views from Phlox Point. I stopped at the picnic table and ate my sandwich.

The descent back to the Hamilton Mtn Trail was uneventful. I made sure to pause a few times to appreciate how lucky I am to be there/here.

I caught up with a couple of hikers I'd seen earlier in the day. I tried to give them some room but I knew I had a faster pace. Fortunately, they stopped and I was able to scoot by, making a remark about the weather.

To complete my "usual loop", I hiked through Hadley Grove to Little Beacon. I passed a family of 5-6. 

At the top of the viewpoint, I had the place to myself. The sun was still high in the sky so I probably wouldn't wait until sunset.

I sat and had a snack. I feel confident to do the MSH climb in a couple of weeks. Despite not hiking much, I'm still in decent shape. As I told Ted and Ethan, I didn't have to summit to have a good day on the mountain. 
 

Hike: Packwood Lake, Packwood, WA

Getting There

From I-5, take Hwy US-12 eastbound for about 65 miles through Morton & Randle to Packwood. Drive through town until you reach the intersection for Skate Creek Road + Snyder Road. Take Snyder Road (east) for about 1.5 miles until it becomes NF-1260. Continue for about 4.5 miles to the Packwood Lake Trailhead.

The trail is for hikers and pack animals. It's a huge parking lot with a pit toilet, and ample room for horse trailers.

I responded to a post by a (semi-retired) geologist Pat to the MSHI group asking for a hiking buddy to scout an upcoming research site at the lake: dating submerged trees to find out the age of an ancient landslide that caused the formation of the lake about 900 years ago. Pat was one of our guest speakers at the MSHI-WTA Jamboree recently. I've also heard him talk about the 1980 eruption during one of the Volcano Naturalist lessons.

We met at Mountain Goat Coffee and caravaned up the Packwood Lake Trailhead. Two years ago I helped out with a Glacier Overlook Hike and stayed in Packwood to hike to the lake. As it turned out, I'd also done the GOH trip and stayed in Randle to join Pat.

The Hike

Distance: 8.24 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,280 feet

We got geared up and set out on the trail. We adopted a leisurely pace, stopping occasionally to rest or look at a cool plant or rock or marvel at the mature, old growth Western Red Cedar or Douglas Fir. The trail barely seems to ascend, more like a roller coaster of small inclines and declines. Pat pointed out the remnants of a pumice-ash from a couple of MSH eruptions in the 1400s.

After a couple of hours, the trail comes to an area of lots more sunlight and some giant boulders, evidence of the old landslide. 

Eventually, we caught of glimpse of a wall of trees and turquoise water. Before we reach the shoreline, the trail turns abruptly north. We're close to the water but it's down a-ways a steep hillside. Bushwhacking.

We continue downwards and see the ranger's residence. At least, we've reach the lake. When Pat comes back for the project, he and his crew will drive up on the forest road to the hydro-electric plant. We inspect the steep driveway and Pat considers his truck ability to make it up and eye-balls some a place to park at the bottom of the hill.

We stop for lunch and chat with a couple and their two Huskies. We encounter a handful of others. Pat says he wants to hike along the western shore to find some old-growth trees. I know there isn't a trail but don't say anything. It would be a lot of bushwhacking to make any progress. I'm glad we don't make the attempt.

We decide to start heading back down to the car, having done what was needed at the launch site. We're going to take a core sample from an older tree. We skip past a few for one reason or another: evidence of rot, weird cracks in the bark.

Finally, we find one that's suitable. I get the opportunity to do the whole things (well, mostly). It a thin hollow tube with threaded point on the end. With every half turn, the trees squeaks, a good sign that the wood is healthy and not rotted inside. A few times it's muffled or makes no sound at all but I continue.

With help, I insert another aluminum piece that has barbs on one end. This slides under the woody core and allows us to pull the core out of the hollow, coring tube directly into a thing to store it for the journey back to the car and then the lab. It's just three plastic straws from Starbucks.

After some effort, I extract the boring tube and pack it back up for transport.

We continue on our descent to the car. It's a bit of a slog but we break up the hike down with rest stops and to chat with some folks heading to the lake (overnighters).

At last, we round a corner and can see cars in the parking lot. A father and daughter have stuff strewn around their car on the ground: packing their backpacks for a couple nights at the lake. They are one a road trip and did another overnight on the Olympics. 

Pat and I change into 'driving' clothes and say goodbye. I'm grateful to be able to join Pat. He offers to cover my lodging the night before with money from his grant. He says he doesn't hike alone anymore and I'm glad to have spent the day. 

 

1910 Ranger Station

Outflow for hydro-electric dam

Agnes Island