Wauneka-Munra Loop 31-Mar-2013
Posted: April 1st, 2013, 5:03 pm
Back in June 2012, EP and other assorted loonies did a loop (in the poor weather they so cherish) from Elowah Falls over Wauneka Point and back via Tanner Ck (EP on Wauneka). Looked like fun (weather aside). I had done Upper Munra before owning a GPS and had always wanted to repeat it for that purpose. So, voila(!), smash the two ideas together and a Wauneka-Munra Loop emerged. So Sunday found me leaving the Nesmith Pt TH (in very bluebird weather) for Upper Elowah Falls.
After crashing across McCord Ck, I headed up the side of Wauneka Pt. Higher up, there were good views of Table and Adams,
back toward Portland,
and of the sheer cliff faces that front the point.
Following up the ridge was steep but fairly easy – it was just hard to tell the animal trails from the faint human use trail. 2000’ later, I popped out of the trees on to the open boulder field with its vision quest pits and view of Adams.
This is one of the most amazing views in the Gorge – Hamilton (H), St Helens (S), Birkenfeld (B), Table (T), Greenleaf (G), Rainier (R), summits in Indian Heaven (I), and Adams (A) – were all clearly visible.
The trail from the tip of Wauneka Pt is sketchy at best, and currently covered with snow in a few places, but did provide a nice view of Silver Star.
I hit solid snow at about 3000’ - the nominal location of the Moffett Tr (430). I followed up the E tributary of McCord Ck over deep but very walkable snow,
until I emerged at the power line corridor.
There’s a nice service road that goes almost all the way to the last tower before the drop into Tanner Ck and the start of the Upper Munra route.
The descent of Munra Ridge went fairly well, the only real challenge was the steep drop off at about 2800’. You can get around it be dropping off to the E or W – I did a little of both – but if you go W, be prepared to descend pretty far before traversing N. If you don’t like steep, dirt and moss covered, loose rock, approach this route with caution. It was pleasant walking the ridge, but I was glad to see Munra Pt come into view.
The grass widows were blooming – later here than at Catherine Ck – as I looked back the way I'd come.
Then it was down to the 400 trail (or what’s left of it), over the bridge at Moffett Ck,
along the “new” 400 “trail” (which is pretty nice where it’s not right next to I-84),
stopping to admire a really cool snake warming itself on the new asphalt,
then finding part of the “old” 400 trail to get a view of (and refreshing blast of cold wet air from) Lower Elowah Falls,
before reaching the TH. A short (11.5 mi, 3500’ EG), but intense (95% essentially XC), hike thru some truly amazing and less visited parts of the Gorge.
After crashing across McCord Ck, I headed up the side of Wauneka Pt. Higher up, there were good views of Table and Adams,
back toward Portland,
and of the sheer cliff faces that front the point.
Following up the ridge was steep but fairly easy – it was just hard to tell the animal trails from the faint human use trail. 2000’ later, I popped out of the trees on to the open boulder field with its vision quest pits and view of Adams.
This is one of the most amazing views in the Gorge – Hamilton (H), St Helens (S), Birkenfeld (B), Table (T), Greenleaf (G), Rainier (R), summits in Indian Heaven (I), and Adams (A) – were all clearly visible.
The trail from the tip of Wauneka Pt is sketchy at best, and currently covered with snow in a few places, but did provide a nice view of Silver Star.
I hit solid snow at about 3000’ - the nominal location of the Moffett Tr (430). I followed up the E tributary of McCord Ck over deep but very walkable snow,
until I emerged at the power line corridor.
There’s a nice service road that goes almost all the way to the last tower before the drop into Tanner Ck and the start of the Upper Munra route.
The descent of Munra Ridge went fairly well, the only real challenge was the steep drop off at about 2800’. You can get around it be dropping off to the E or W – I did a little of both – but if you go W, be prepared to descend pretty far before traversing N. If you don’t like steep, dirt and moss covered, loose rock, approach this route with caution. It was pleasant walking the ridge, but I was glad to see Munra Pt come into view.
The grass widows were blooming – later here than at Catherine Ck – as I looked back the way I'd come.
Then it was down to the 400 trail (or what’s left of it), over the bridge at Moffett Ck,
along the “new” 400 “trail” (which is pretty nice where it’s not right next to I-84),
stopping to admire a really cool snake warming itself on the new asphalt,
then finding part of the “old” 400 trail to get a view of (and refreshing blast of cold wet air from) Lower Elowah Falls,
before reaching the TH. A short (11.5 mi, 3500’ EG), but intense (95% essentially XC), hike thru some truly amazing and less visited parts of the Gorge.