So this late season snow thing is really becoming a pain in the rear. This is the 3rd time in the last month that I've had to go to Plan B Or, I guess I need to get my bf out of the house earlier! Anyway, we had planned to hike to Dome Rock and Tumble Lake near Detroit from the upper trailhead. Conditions were looking pretty good until about 6 miles up Road 2223. I saw some snow patches on the road and said "uh-oh, this is not looking good". Then, wa-lah, we turned the corner and there was a large patch of snow covering a steep section of the road and a cliff on the other side. Plan A thwarted, so we decided to hike a portion from the lower trailhead, which required driving back to Hwy 22 and backtrack about a mile west of the Detroit Ranger Station.
We saw this pretty little cascade on the side of the road:
..and this family of geese crossing the road just before Hwy 22:
When we finally got to the lower trailhead, it was already 4p (yes, Saturdays have been lazy days) so I'd figured we'd hike for a couple of hours and then turn back. At least we'd get some exercise out of of the nice little switchbacks shown on the map Although several cars were already parked at the trailhead and other than a dad and his boys returning just as we arrived, we never did see another person the whole time.
The first 0.4 miles along the old road was kind of a mess, with blow downs and what looked like recent trail clearings in and about Tumble Creek. Once we turned onto the trail itself, everything was much quieter (less road noise) and greener. Lots of bracken fern along this first part, some waist high and more. Less than a quarter mile in, we got the first view of Detroit Lake below. We could see several white streaks from powerboats in the green waters. Then the trail turned some more and switchbacked into the forest. There were plenty signs of bear grass, but only several with actual flowers. Not sure if it was past blooming time? Some rhododendrons were still in bloom along the lower sections. There were a few more on the upper sections for a nice surprise of pink here and there.
We passed a ridge crest about 1.5 mi in where we could hear all kinds of birds chirping but cannot see any of them. It was pretty neat considering it had been just the two of us and the trees for a while. Then at an open section of the trail, we got an even better view of Detroit Lake and the canyon that surrounded it. Looking immediately across to Halls Ridge, we could also see a few odd-shaped lava plugs here and there. Not sure if any of them were named as this was our first venture here. Immediately above us were more random lava plugs in various shapes. One of the rock formations actually reminded me of a Maori idol I had seen in NZ some years ago. Overcast skies obscured any chance of seeing Mt Jefferson, but it was nice to have the trail all to ourselves. We made it about 3.0 miles in around 3950 ft according to my altimeter watch before deciding it was time to turn around. All in all, a nice little hike in about 3.5 hrs of walking, picture taking, etc etc. Hope to make it to Tumble Lake and Dome Rock next time, whichever TH we end up at
Tumble Lake & Dome Rock, thwarted!
Re: Tumble Lake & Dome Rock, thwarted!
I did this one from the lower trailhead last year, and ran into snow on a northern exposure just beyond Margie Dunham Spring, a large open meadowy area. I've been to the summit of Dome Rock from the upper trailhead, but that was in September. Didn't make it to Tumble Lake, but the view down onto it was awesome from up top!
Kevin
Kevin
"Going to the mountains is going home."
— John Muir
— John Muir
Re: Tumble Lake & Dome Rock, thwarted!
Nice pictures!
You haven't by chance tried wandering up the Whitewater Trail (to Jeff Park) yet this year, have you?
You haven't by chance tried wandering up the Whitewater Trail (to Jeff Park) yet this year, have you?
- AlexanderSupertramp
- Posts: 1447
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:02 pm
Re: Tumble Lake & Dome Rock, thwarted!
not yet, but it's on my list from the Breitenbush side this year There were snow patches on some of the rocks nearby Tumble Rock area, including this one taken from Road 2223 near the upper trailhead. I think this was looking west toward Hall Ridge area. There's also this one taken from the same vantage point as the upper viewpoint Detroit Lake pictures, but looking further south through the trees... Detroit Ranger station website from 6/8 had said TH accessible, but not yet cleared. I had also emailed them on 6/18 about snow levels and received this:pdxgene wrote:Nice pictures!
You haven't by chance tried wandering up the Whitewater Trail (to Jeff Park) yet this year, have you?
"I know that there is snow on the ground in shadow areas above 3,500 feet. Above 4,000 feet in the areas where there are steep slopes, I have been informed that snow can get to 4 feet deep in low spots, obscuring trails.
Snow has fallen at higher elevations, but did not stick. The snow that is remaining is from previous weather events."
- CuriousGorgeGuide
- Posts: 260
- Joined: March 28th, 2010, 10:48 am
Re: Tumble Lake & Dome Rock, thwarted!
I Loooove Tumble Lake in August....here's a pic of my swimming companion from last summer---there were tons of the happy guys!
Re: Tumble Lake & Dome Rock, thwarted!
NEAT! Looks like newts? How big were they?CuriousGorgeGuide wrote:I Loooove Tumble Lake in August....here's a pic of my swimming companion from last summer---there were tons of the happy guys!
So much fun to find critters
- CuriousGorgeGuide
- Posts: 260
- Joined: March 28th, 2010, 10:48 am
Re: Tumble Lake & Dome Rock, thwarted!
Their bodies are like 4-5 inches plus a tail...there were swarms of them in August...enough that i could swim under some and look up to see them swimming above me--pretty cool!
Have you ever seen the Phantom bridge Rock arch just up past the upper Tumble trailhead a couple of miles more??
Have you ever seen the Phantom bridge Rock arch just up past the upper Tumble trailhead a couple of miles more??
Re: Tumble Lake & Dome Rock, thwarted!
no, missed that one - snow was blocking road about 2 mi from the upper TH. do you have any pictures? the ones I've googled were pretty small..CuriousGorgeGuide wrote: Have you ever seen the Phantom bridge Rock arch just up past the upper Tumble trailhead a couple of miles more??