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Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake, and Chinidere Mt 7/12 - 7/14

Posted by jeffstatt (2006-07-26)

When my wife asked to join me on my next backpacking adventure, it was a pretty easy decision where to go. This would be her first backpacking trip, and she had never seen Eagle Creek. Eagle Creek, despite its notorious crowds, is mile-for-mile as beautiful a stretch of trail as you�ll find in the Northwest, it�s easy-to- moderate difficulty level, and it�s relative closeness to home quickly became the obvious choice.

The plan was to hike in the 13.3 mile trail from the Eagle Creek trailhead to Wahtum Lake on the first day. The second day we�d take it easy by the lake and maybe hit Chinidere or Tomlike Mt. The third day we�d go back down the way we came. Nice thing about Eagle Creek is you have dozens of camping options along the way. No way I was going to ruin years of built up good faith by killing her on the first day. My guess deep inside was that we�d get as far as 7 � mile camp. And I was ok with that.

DAY ONE:

Eagle Creek Trailhead

Well, we hit the trailhead about 8:00 AM on a Wednesday � there was not another soul in sight. The forecast called for 60 degrees and overcast skies�chance of rain. (Cool air � yeah!)

It�s great to experience a great trail again by watching it through a first-timer�s eyes. Eagle Creek offers you lots of good stopping points along the way, with some nice early payoffs like Matlako Falls and of course Punchbowl falls. (The last time I was at Punchbowl Falls, a group of kayakers were riding them down and using ropes to get back up!. This time our biggest excitement was watching a family of ducks having fun riding the rapids.)

Metlako Falls

Jeff Statt (JeffStatt) > Eagle Creek II photo

Punchbowl Falls

Our pace was pretty moderate. There was fog hanging the valley below up and playing peek-a-boo with all the cliffsides around us. We passed through the first of the many scree slopes and cliffside trails � crossed over 2 or 3 heavily shaded creek bridges until we approached Loowit Falls and High Bridge. To this point we hadn�t seen a soul.

I sensed that Linda, who had been marching along steadily and with nary a complaint, was ready for a break from her heavy pack by the time we hit High Bridge, so we stopped at the first campsite we encountered. As we munched on power bars and beef jerky we were passed by no fewer than 25 people. The first dozen were a bunch of weary looking girl scouts heading out�having likely stayed at one of the campsites near Wy Est. Soon after we were passed by a dozen or so older adults heading inbound (we�d later pass this group again fly-fishing by 4 � mile bridge)

High Bridge and 4 1/2 mile bridge, the only two Eagle Creek crossings along the way. Notice the fisherman!

We passed a deserted Wy-Est camp about 1:00pm. (There are a good 7 sites at this spot, some less private than others. The nearby creek and waterfall � gushing back in February � was dry this day.)

Wy-Est Camp

After a morning of threatening on and off, the rain finally arrived. Saw a deer just past the Hatfield Wilderness signpost.

The "Puddles" were dry / Flowers hanging off the cliff near Tunnel Falls / Tunnel Falls

By 3:00 or so we hit Tunnel Falls �always grander and more spectacular than I remember or than the pics do justice. Despite it�s name, Linda had no idea about the carved Tunnel behind the falls. It was great to experience her delight in that.

The next part of the trail, someone else on the board called the �vertigo mile� �These cliffs had always been my favorite part of the trail (until I had to watch a loved one navigate it!)

The end of the 'Vertigo Mile' over looking a magnificent gorge / Twister Falls

How great is that grand gorge before Twister Falls? I just love it there. I should mention we didn�t see another soul after passing Tunnel Falls.

Looking back just upstream of Twister Falls. How lush it all is!!

I didn�t realize there was one more major falls after Twister Falls.. Anyone know the name of this one?:

unnamed waterfall just before 7 1/2 camp

It was becoming obvious that we weren�t going to make Wahtum Lake today. I didn�t know how many sites would be left after that first creek crossing past 7 � camp. The trail was getting really overgrown and the rain was really starting to come down, so we stopped at a cute little private site near one of the creek crossings. We figured we make camp and decide what to do the next morning.

Trail past 7 1/2 mile camp / Linda admiring the little waterfall just outside out campsite.

DAY TWO
It was a pretty wet night but with the morning came some sun. After a breakfast of what
Linda called Mountain house �Soggy Sponges and Bacon Bits� we decided on a new plan of attack. We both really wanted to see Wahtum and do Chinidere, but our pace on day 1 didn�t bode well for making two more 12 + mile days!

We decided to wimp out and go back out Eagle Creek and drive up to Wahtum the back way. I gave Linda credit for her eagerness to camp out again after such a soggy night.

We got up to Wahtum about 5:00. What a beautiful evening! We had a great site right on the lake (right where the PCT comes in). Made dinner and sat out waiting for the stars to come out. Heck it must have been 10:15 before it was dark enough to see even the big dipper. It cooled off quickly and we had a really pleasant night of sleep.

Our campsite on beautiful Wahtum Lake.

DAY THREE

Next morning we got up slow and did Chinidere. Went up counter-clockwise following the PCT. Nice wide open forest with a tall canopy. Turned up the short, steep trail to the Chinidere summit.

Wahtum Lake from the rocky summit of Chinidere

Views were great in all directions: Rainier, Helens, Adams, Hood and Jefferson. You could see the top of Olallie Butte, still holding onto a bit of snow (to the south) and north of Adams you could make out the Goat Rocks. Cool.

Mt Jefferson and Olallie Butte from the summit of Chinidere

A cloudtipped Mt. Adams, with Tomlike Mountain in the foreground. Herman Creek is down the valley to the left (off photo). You can just barely make out the Goat Rocks out to the left on the horizon in the clouds.

Me saying what I always say: "Man, I just...love it here"

What�s great about Chinidere is seeing the whole of the Eagle Creek valley with Wahtum Lake at one end and tell-tale triange shape of Table Mt marking the would-be start of the other end. Great views of the Benson Plataeu, Herman Creek valley and Tomlike Mt, and Tanner Butte.

We must have spent 1 � at the top of the mountain clicking photos and just enjoying the gorgeous day. Finally we left. I took a swim in the lake � cold but very refreshing.

Refreshing dip in the lake after the climb

Finally we broke down camp and headed out. Since we had a babysitter for another day, we headed into Cascade Locks and got a room at the Best Western. Had a big jucy Charburger (with the Habenero BBQ sauce � that stuff is awesome) and a slice of marionberry pie a la mode.

GREAT GREAT couple of days. Kudos to Linda for being a great sport!

Here's the rest of the photos: http://jeffstatt.smugmug.com/gallery/1689353/1/82954498

Re: Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake, and Chinidere Mt 7/12 - 7/14

Posted by jimsiff (2006-07-26)

Jeff,

Cool trip report! Great pics and stories. Sounds like you guys had a fun weekend. That was a great call packing out the second day and driving to Wahtum. You saw all the sights and kept the pressure off. When's the next backpacking trip? Big Smile

Jim

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