Bonneville to Washougal via Three Corner Rock 10-Jun-2012
Posted: June 11th, 2012, 5:01 pm
I got the idea for this hike from Jack & Company’s excellent adventure last April out and back to Three Corner Rock from Table Mtn (Jack’s TCR TR). Since I’m not keen on backtracking and had done the Three Corner Rock trail last December (TCR TR), I thought why not go to TCR and just keep going? I hadn't hiked the PCT between Table and TCR before, so that would be something new - which is always good. As Sunday was scheduled to be the requisite bluebird day for hiking, I arranged with the loved one to drop me at Bonneville Hot Springs early in the morning. From there I headed up the Dick Thomas and Two Chiefs trails to the PCT. Along the Two Chiefs, I was amazed at how profuse the vegetation had become in such a short time.
I followed the PCT N past Table Mtn and the old logging structure that sits next to the trail just before the power line crossing.
Staying on the PCT, I soon climbed up and around the lower slopes of S Birkenfeld for a distant view of Mt. Adams.
The portion of the PCT ahead of me had been buried in snow just 2 months ago,
but was now completely open.
From the saddle between the Birkenfelds, I could see across to my goal in the distance - Three Corner Rock (arrow).
This section of the PCT was new terrain for me, as were the views to the west of Hamilton (H) and Phlox Point/Hardy Ridge (P),
and to the east of S Birkenfeld (B), Cedar Mtn (C), and Hamilton (H).
There were also numerous species of flower blooming along the trail.
This section of the PCT runs mostly level along a ridge toward TRC - allowing for very easy and fast hiking. There is one point where the trail intersects with a major dirt road - here a hand-lettered sign said that the PCT had been temporarily diverted through a gravel quarry! But the trail was visible just across the road, so I passed on a chance to walk through a rock-strewn wasteland. After a bit more wandering along the ridge through the forest, a very obvious spur trail cut left off the PCT to TCR. From the summit, I had a view of Hood
and Silver Star,
as well as Lookout Mtn (L), Little Lookout Mtn (LL), Mowich Butte (M), and St. Helens (H).
It was sunny and clear, but a little windy and thus not particularly warm, on the summit - so after a quick lunch, I took the TCR trail down toward the Washougal River. Along the way, I surprised a snake catching a snooze in a sunny spot in the trail,
saw beargrass in full bloom (before it gets nipped off by the deer),
and admired a ground-dwelling dogwood in bloom.
The trail drops into Stebbins Creek (water is pretty low now so it was no problem to hop across) then climbs (
) out of the drainage before continuing on to the river. At the top of this climb, there's a good view back to TCR.
Despite the chill on the summit, the weather was otherwise near perfect for hiking. With the exception of one big downer tree about 200 yds above where the Two Chiefs trail crosses the PCT, all of these trails were clear and it good condition. I saw 4 hikers (on TRC) and 5 mtn bikers (on the TCR trail) and that was the extent of the "crowds" I had to deal with. This was possible as a one-way trip because the loved one agreed to pick me up at the TCR TH on the Washougal River Rd - thanks!
It's a long hike (20 mi, 4300' EG) but the views and variety of terrain really make it worth the effort.
I followed the PCT N past Table Mtn and the old logging structure that sits next to the trail just before the power line crossing.
Staying on the PCT, I soon climbed up and around the lower slopes of S Birkenfeld for a distant view of Mt. Adams.
The portion of the PCT ahead of me had been buried in snow just 2 months ago,
but was now completely open.
From the saddle between the Birkenfelds, I could see across to my goal in the distance - Three Corner Rock (arrow).
This section of the PCT was new terrain for me, as were the views to the west of Hamilton (H) and Phlox Point/Hardy Ridge (P),
and to the east of S Birkenfeld (B), Cedar Mtn (C), and Hamilton (H).
There were also numerous species of flower blooming along the trail.
This section of the PCT runs mostly level along a ridge toward TRC - allowing for very easy and fast hiking. There is one point where the trail intersects with a major dirt road - here a hand-lettered sign said that the PCT had been temporarily diverted through a gravel quarry! But the trail was visible just across the road, so I passed on a chance to walk through a rock-strewn wasteland. After a bit more wandering along the ridge through the forest, a very obvious spur trail cut left off the PCT to TCR. From the summit, I had a view of Hood
and Silver Star,
as well as Lookout Mtn (L), Little Lookout Mtn (LL), Mowich Butte (M), and St. Helens (H).
It was sunny and clear, but a little windy and thus not particularly warm, on the summit - so after a quick lunch, I took the TCR trail down toward the Washougal River. Along the way, I surprised a snake catching a snooze in a sunny spot in the trail,
saw beargrass in full bloom (before it gets nipped off by the deer),
and admired a ground-dwelling dogwood in bloom.
The trail drops into Stebbins Creek (water is pretty low now so it was no problem to hop across) then climbs (
) out of the drainage before continuing on to the river. At the top of this climb, there's a good view back to TCR.Despite the chill on the summit, the weather was otherwise near perfect for hiking. With the exception of one big downer tree about 200 yds above where the Two Chiefs trail crosses the PCT, all of these trails were clear and it good condition. I saw 4 hikers (on TRC) and 5 mtn bikers (on the TCR trail) and that was the extent of the "crowds" I had to deal with. This was possible as a one-way trip because the loved one agreed to pick me up at the TCR TH on the Washougal River Rd - thanks!
It's a long hike (20 mi, 4300' EG) but the views and variety of terrain really make it worth the effort.