East Eagle Loop Conditions?

[daveb56]

Hi, does anybody have info on current conditions on East Eagle Creek-Little Kettle Creek loop in Eagle Cap Wilderness? Especially interested in any info on brush along the descent from Crater Lake down Little Kettle Creek trail, and what snow conditions are (if any left) on passes. And of course any updates on smoke.... Thanks, much, hoping to hike a 5 day loop up there next week.

[rutpos14]

We did the loop in mid-August. Snow shouldn't be a problem now. We came down the Little Kettle Creek Trail in the afternoon and it was a pretty challenging 6 miles down. The brush was brutal, we came across one bees nest and there was quite a bit of bear sign. Fill up on water at Crater Lake and enjoy your stay there before making that decent. Your car will look pretty good when you get to the bottom.

[Charley]

Very overgrown. No trouble at all following the trail, but brush growing down onto it from above and below much of the way down from Crater Lake. We did it in a drizzle, so were soaked the whole way. Great times.

[bobcat]

Little Kettle is tough and uneven. Watch your footing (if you can see your feet) if you're carrying a heavy pack. Bears are rare in the Wallowas - it's the only place I've seen one there.