I went up the PCT to Benson Plateau not seeing anyone but a solitary trail runner named Jay-Bob all day. Nice guy, we had a couple of good conversations. He did almost as many miles to Chinidere and back in one day that I did in two days. I stopped for lunch at the Benson Spur trail junction. Since it was the first overnight of the year I was moving slow with the 28 lb. pack and lack of conditioning. I don't think old age has any thing to do with the lack of trail velocity
.Hiked on over the plateau; the steep side-hill just after the plateau got my attention. The amazing views from the avalanche chute took my breath away. Just beautiful spring weather all week-end. I'm so glad I didn't just sit on my ass at home and let this opportunity pass me by.
By the time I got in the area of Chinidere I was a bit behind schedule. I tried to follow the PCT around the lake but lost the trail in the snow. Then I made a big mistake by deciding to go cross-country down the slope, cross the stream, and catch the trail on the other side. The slope got so steep that I couldn't really go back so I ended up in a potentially bad situation. Way off trail, getting late, and lost the chance to back-track. I broke a couple of my own solo hiking safety rules. I managed to get through by studying the topo map and finding a shallower slope to deal with but I ended up getting to camp by a little after 7 pm, tired and hopefully a little smarter.
I found a site by the outlet stream and stomped a platform in the snow. I found that the trick of turning the tent stake sideways and burying it in the snow works well with regular stakes not just snow stakes. My home-made dehydrated beans and rice was extra delicious if a bit late.
I was up sort of early in the morning around 8 am, on trail a bit before nine. Deep snow right around the lake made for slow travel; post-holing all the way. I found the stairs and went up-slope to the road intersection and promptly took off down the wrong road. Discovered my mistake after finding a great view of Mt. Hood and back-tracked to the intersection. I went up the Anthill trail until the steepness of the side-slope turned me back and found the old road bed known as the Rainy Wahtum trail. This parallels Anthill lower on the hill. I enjoyed the peek-a-boo views of the lake through the trees as I slogged along the road bed; easy to follow in the snow but kind of deep and slow traveling.
After a trail-side lunch I finally got to Anthill trail part 2 and turned North toward the intersection with the Herman Creek trail. My original plan had been to hike the Rainy Wahtum trail to the Rainy campground and hike over Greepoint back to the trail-head. Lack of time and tired of snow trudging changed my mind. After promptly losing the trail in the snow I floundered about for awhile before I just got a relative bearing off the GPS and transferred that to the compass and land-marked from tree to tree. Duh
. Then I followed the Herman Creek trail through more steep side-slopes down to Noble Camp and on to the trail head with a thoroughly kicked butt and big smile on my face. My best guess on mileage is 30 or so hard for me miles over two days. That includes back-tracks and floundering. Quick snow report to end my long winded yammering and then pictures. Real snow over a few crunchy inches didn't actually start until Benson Plateau. The basin around Chinidere and Wahtum Lake about 3 feet or more depending on the specific area. Snow-shoes would have been helpful but ultimately not worth the 4 lb. weight penalty to me. Day-hikers may disagree. Traction devices and poles highly recommended. Snow continued below the Mud Lake turn-off but was clear before Noble camp.
- Lunch at the north end of Benson.
- If you know how tall this sign is that is the snow depth by the lake shore. ( :
