Another headlamp adventure!
Ok, so Gillette Lake isn't the most glamorous destination in the Gorge - a "pond" by all accounts, under powerlines next to a dirt access road. But when the sun started to go down after two hot days in Portland, after a week of hot and busy days in San Diego, I needed to find a close-to-home quick-hitter to stretch my legs a bit before the new work week began.
I've been reading "Cesar's Way", the book by the self-proclaimed "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan. He strongly advocates taking dogs on regular walks in new and different places to stimulate the pooch's nose and brain and help fulfill his intrinsic need to hunt and search...So much of the reason for heading out was to give the dog a good stretch in an area brand new to him, where I knew it would be quiet enough to practice off-leash obedience.
Map from the book "Hiking the Columbia River Gorge" by Russ Scheider
Most people that see Gillette Lake are either traversing the PCT or climbing Table Mt. It is probably the first obvious resting spot along the way. The Falcon guide "Hiking the Columbia River Gorge" has it listed as it's own hike (#46, page 222 in the 2nd edition)
I got to the Tanamous trailhead around 7:30PM Sunday evening. (I've always referred to this as the Bonneville trailhead, until I had to pay attention for this trip report - Anyone agree with me, that this should be called the Bonneville Trailhead? It's like right across Route 14 from the dam!)
Photo of the trailhead (from a previous hike)
Table Mt from the trailhead
The air was still warm, sticky and very still. However, there were no bugs to speak of, even by the lakes. The first stretch of the trail connects the trailhead to the PCT. It goes for about .6 of a mile. The trail was obviously frequented by horses. It's still ironic to me that I have to scoop up my dog's poop while tiptoeing all over the horse droppings along the way.
Dodger is much more forgiving of the shared-use trail than his "pack-leader" is
The ridge on the Oregon side - to the south. Nesmith Point is the high point on the horizon
After connecting to the PCT you head north and pass a small lake. The trail snakes around an old overgrown forest road for a bit and some ancient clear-cut areas give you some nice views of Table, Hamilton, Greenleaf and the ridge on the Oregon side.
The unmistakable profile of Hamilton Mt on the horizon to the west
I reached Gillette Lake right around 8:30PM, as the last bit of sunlight began to give way to nighttime. I could tell the lake was there, but it was a bit hard to see.
Another unmistakable profile! I need Adam to photoshop the powerlines out!
Gillette Lake. Beauty, ain't she?
While giving the dog some well-deserved water at our turn-around point, I saw a flashlight pointing my way down trail about 50 yards. I'd be lying if I said it didn't startle me! I wasn't aware of any campsites in the area. Suddently I became very aware of how alone I was and my proximity to the powerline access road! Truth be told that other guy was probably more worried about me because I hadn't yet turned my headlamp on. The light disappeared as quickly as it appeared, so I thought the better of waiting around, and immediately started back.
Soon it was pitch black and I turned the headlamp on. Only sound of my own footsteps and the dog's incessant panting filled the empty forest.
Yet another heart-skipping experience! About a quarter mile downtrail I turned a corner and saw four red lights making a perfect square in the middle of the woods!!! The lights appeared to be about a football field's length away. The two top lights were blinking and the bottom two constant. At first this skeptic of skeptics had to consider some pretty extraordinary possibilities!! I continued walking and the optical illusion quickly exposed itself...it was the lights from the distant Bonneville Dam (about 2 miles away). Whew!
That'll get the heartbeat pumping!!
The rest of the moonlit hike was uneventful. I was back to car at 9:15 drenched in sweat on this humid evening. (It never did cool off!!)
I'm really looking forward to the cool season!!
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Stats (from the Falcon Guide):
Distance: 5 miles out and back
Difficulty: Easy
Total elevation gain: 1200 ft
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Photo of Gillette Lake during the day:
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