tons of snow everywhere and my snowshoes with a friend.
went for a quick overnight up and back to tunnel falls
pitched in what i think was probably blue grouse campground, but not sure.
these paw prints were pretty small (1.5" across). kitten cougar? didn't see any momma prints...
i don't think they are dog/coyote (no claws), they are in the new snow from overnight and there were no new boot tracks until below wy east campground.
great to be back out there!
saw some tall European (had an accent) dude with a huge fire axe come marching down the trail with his lady. said he was part of rescue.
huge pack. had to rescue some moron who burned his entire pack when he got cold the previous week.
he said if i got cold i should cover myself with pine bows. i assured him he wouldn't have to come back to get me.
i also saw people headed down from tunnel falls at 4:10pm or so, no packs, i'm assuming no lights.
eagle creek 29Dec-30Dec2012
eagle creek 29Dec-30Dec2012
bad knees rules everything around me.
- retired jerry
- Posts: 14426
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Re: eagle creek 29Dec-30Dec2012
He had to burn his entire pack to stay warm?
How odd
I think making a fire is over-rated - better to just get all of your warm stuff on and get in your tent. These survival people that suggest making a fire are causing more problems than solving.
Actually, you're probably right, just a moron
How odd
I think making a fire is over-rated - better to just get all of your warm stuff on and get in your tent. These survival people that suggest making a fire are causing more problems than solving.
Actually, you're probably right, just a moron
- weathercrazy
- Posts: 1478
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Battle Ground, Washington
- Contact:
Re: eagle creek 29Dec-30Dec2012
I was up there yesterday...shorts and all and was surprised to see two others in shorts. I always end up too confined in pants, so unless it's in the 10s or lower, I usually opt for shorts.
I also thought as I was descending (back to the car at 3) that anyone starting up then was going to be cutting it very close even to reach Punchbowl and back in the daylight. The snow/ice made it slow going as you were constantly having to balance yourselves. My feet are sore today, not the bottoms really, but all over, from constantly balancing lol
I also thought as I was descending (back to the car at 3) that anyone starting up then was going to be cutting it very close even to reach Punchbowl and back in the daylight. The snow/ice made it slow going as you were constantly having to balance yourselves. My feet are sore today, not the bottoms really, but all over, from constantly balancing lol
Tyler Mode
http://www.naturespixpdx.com
http://www.naturespixpdx.com
Re: eagle creek 29Dec-30Dec2012
so those prints, were possibly from a bobcat. probably too small to be a cougar.
this page:
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/species/mammals/cats.asp
says:
"The heel pads of both fore- and hind feet have three lobes on the posterior margin which are useful in separating the tracks of the Cougar from those of other felids, such as the Lynx. "
so i'm thinking it must be a bobcat since they are so small, and have the cat 3-lobe posterior heel print. lynx, although small cats, have huge feet to float over snow (and also like to be at much higher elevations)
this page:
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/species/mammals/cats.asp
says:
"The heel pads of both fore- and hind feet have three lobes on the posterior margin which are useful in separating the tracks of the Cougar from those of other felids, such as the Lynx. "
so i'm thinking it must be a bobcat since they are so small, and have the cat 3-lobe posterior heel print. lynx, although small cats, have huge feet to float over snow (and also like to be at much higher elevations)
bad knees rules everything around me.
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: June 12th, 2012, 9:14 pm
Re: eagle creek 29Dec-30Dec2012
Snowshoes?
Does anyone know what it's looking like right now? I'm going up there on an over-nighter and am tripping out a bit thinking of doing a balancing act along that narrow cliff trail with 45lbs of
gear.
Does anyone know what it's looking like right now? I'm going up there on an over-nighter and am tripping out a bit thinking of doing a balancing act along that narrow cliff trail with 45lbs of
gear.
- retired jerry
- Posts: 14426
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Re: eagle creek 29Dec-30Dec2012
NOAA snow model says there's no snow http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/interactive/ ... &zoom8.y=6
and recent trip reports
if you start going up from Eagle Creek you'll see snow
but, the problem would be if it got below freezing - the trail gets very icy with water dripping from up above, next few days should be okay
and recent trip reports
if you start going up from Eagle Creek you'll see snow
but, the problem would be if it got below freezing - the trail gets very icy with water dripping from up above, next few days should be okay
Re: eagle creek 29Dec-30Dec2012
Bring your spikes. I was up there saturday and patches of packed snow / ice started just past high bridge. Plenty of folks were making it in to tunnel falls with just shoes, but if you're worried about being out-of balance with a pack, you might as well bring them.MarinerDNA wrote:Snowshoes?
Does anyone know what it's looking like right now? I'm going up there on an over-nighter and am tripping out a bit thinking of doing a balancing act along that narrow cliff trail with 45lbs of
gear.
another option is to pitch camp somewhere like Wyeast (a few slippery patches up to that, but nowhere you'd be in trouble if you fell), and then just visit the falls sans packs.
Have fun. I'll post a TR probably today. All the seasonal falls were just beautiful.
-payslee