Showing posts with label Herman Creek. Show all posts

Sunday, September 7, 2025

Hike: Herman Creek, Cascade Locks, OR

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

Length: 8.66 mi
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.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Hike: Herman Creek, Cascade Locks, OR

Getting There

The lot was full but there were several cars parked next the a fence storage area for some kind of construction project. I parked next to a car in front of a stack of board and a No Parking sign. It was afternoon so I hoped that there wasn't any active work here.

Last time I came here, I got a blood nose and saw a lot of broken car glass in the parking lot. I bailed. Today, I hoped the thieves would not show up. Also, I made sure nothing enticing was left in my car.

The Hike

Distance: 7.61 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,180 feet
Highest Elevation: 3,109 feet

I only vaguely knew what the trail had in store for me. It was going to be great weather (mid-70s) and I was hiking without a base layer for the first time in month. I had my sun shirt and I needed it.

The first part of the trail I pretty wide, like a forest road, to Herman Creek Camp. I wonder if it's mixed use (hike, bike, horses) (*I did see two mountain bikers on their ascent in the afternoon). It pretty heavily wooded so the only views of the river were limited. I could see the top of the mountain but couldn't guess the route from my vantage point below.

I'd done a little research on a loop hike that was about 8 miles but some descent elevation gain, 3000+ feet. It seemed doable.

The EG from the trailhead to Herman Creek Camp was only about 1000 feet. I knew the next section was going to tough, 2000+ feet. I had my sights on a view point at the top. About 1/2 way up, I emerged from the trees and the views opened up to the southwest. I could see behind the mountains behind Cascade Locks and Mt St Helens and Mt Adams were more visible to the north and northeast.

I passed on hiker going the other direction. We acknowledged each other but that was about it. I was happy to know the clockwise loop was passable. As it was making my way, I thought I remember reading about lots of downfall over the trail. I hoped I had made the right choice and didn't encounter any logs that weren't easy to step over. I even cut a few out myself with the handsaw. This is where the big fold-able saw would have been key!

While I was tired when I reached the junction for "unnamed high point", I saw it wasn't a lot of EG. I was glad to have made it to the apex of my hike. There was a small cairn but it was wooded on the northside, obscuring any direct views of the river. I could see Mt Adams through the trees and you could sort of see Bonneville Dam to the west.

From here it was all downhill. LOL.

When I got to the junction for Indian Point, I realized it was pretty technical and I would lose a bit of EG to get down there. The actual point is a rocky spine with moderate exposure. I was too tired for a technical climb on the ridge. Maybe next time!

Judging by how far down the river was, I still had a ways to go, even if it was downhill. My muscles were sore but I felt good and strong. No IT band issues.

I got lost in my. thoughts but made sure to stop every once in awhile to appreciate my surroundings, and accomplishment of tackling this mountain climb. I was stoked to have checked off a new trail from my "list".

I came around a corner and recognized the signage at the Herman Creek Camp, back to where I'd started the long uphill climb. I was back on the forest road. As usual, it seemed longer than I remember.

A couple of mountain bikers were climbing the hill. I stepped off the trail.

When I got within sight of the parking lot. I suddenly got worried that I was looking at work trucks. Oh shit. I was sure I'd gotten a ticket for parking in front of the No Parking sign. I rehearsed my apology. It only took a little while to realize that the work trucks weren't anywhere near the trailhead.

I found just two cars in the official parking area and my Jeep was the only car left in the "overflow" area. No ticket, no workers, nada. No vandalism. Win-win!