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Mt. Defiance: 4 May 2008 (Sunday) Posted by CherokeeDriver (2008-05-04)

What's the toughest hike in the Columbia River Gorge? Ruckel Ridge is probably the most technically challenging hand-over-hand scramble. Nesmith Point and Nick Eaton Ridge have deserved reputations for steepness. But nothing will get you higher than the trail to the summit of Mt. Defiance, a 4,959 ft. peak that offers a brilliant 360-degree view of the surrounding hills and mountains. And thus, I set off this morning with a few climbing companions (and full summit packs w/ snowshoes) to see if we could bag it. The route (a little more than five miles each way, when journeying out-and-back) starts innocently enough, with a noisy walk along I-84 and a few waterfalls, including Cabin Creek Falls, Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, and Lancaster Falls, which offers a small drop next to the trail, while a larger portion is just viewable well above: The trail then begins some tough switchbacking until it reaches the crest of the ridge leading to the summit area (I don't know the name of the ridge, but it's just east of the Lindsey Creek drainage). We only came across one significant obstacle (a downed tree right over the trail), while the more-level portions along the ridgecrest offer a pleasant walk through the forest. There are just a couple of viewpoints along the ridge -- here's a look at the Columbia River just by Wind Mountain: Snow didn't become a factor until above 2,500 ft, and there's still a bit up there, if we use this wilderness-boundary sign as an indicator. However, the snow was soft and steps were mostly well-defined, making the ascent along the upper portion of the ridge easy to manage. Where the hike really becomes worth it is when the trail emerges from the ridge, into an open snow-field (at this time of year) with a few trees here and there. The 180-degree view to the north is one of the best window-seats you'll ever find in the Gorge -- at this elevation (above 4,000 ft.), Washington's Wind Mountain (2,000 ft) is no less beautiful, but far, far below. Mt. St. Helens is in the distance as well, hiding behind clouds. Looking up at the final mile or so toward the summit of Mt. Defiance (with the distinctive radio tower), we opted to slap on our snowshoes and simply head out, hoping to reach our goal in another 45 minutes or so. There were two well-defined routes along the way, mostly with boot-tracks, so we kept near one of them, but opted to use our shoes for all they were worth on the slushy snow. And yes, the summit views made it all worth it, even though the mountains were cloud-capped on an otherwise-clear day. We got there in four hours 30 minutes with only a few short breaks en route, and then remained for about a half-hour before starting the long trip back to the Starvation Creek Rest area, five miles and nearly 5,000 feet below. Defiance is definitely open for business for any climbers with reasonably good fitness and a free day, provided the weather is acceptable. I zipped the legs off of my convertible hiking pants and never wound up putting them back on, doing the entire trip in just shorts and a lightweight top layer (snowshoeing in shorts is awfully fun, too). Conditions were excellent, we saw several other climbers along the way (no soloists, but a few couples and one larger group with friendly dogs), and my team worked together very well, making all decisions as a group while watching our altimeters and chronos to maintain our 1,000-foot-per-hour goal. If you're up for it, now's the time to do it. -Robert

Re: Mt. Defiance: 4 May 2008 (Sunday) Posted by pablo (2008-05-04)

Nice report on a tough hike. I recall that downed tree, was a real pain to get around... --Paul

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