Oregon Hikers

Overnight trip from Multnomah Falls to Bell Creek via Multnomah Spur Trail (446) and Oneonta Trail (424), returning via Sherrard Point the second day. The weather was wet, but drying throughout Friday and Saturday. I had the goal to take public transit to the trailhead since I'd be leaving Friday afternoon from SW Portland. It was great! Bus to downtown, MAX to Gresham, shuttle bus to the falls. All in all I think it was the same time as sitting in traffic would've taken.

Bus


MAX train


Columbia Gorge Express


Friday afternoon at the falls. The lot was full! I'd never seen the falls going off like this. Such power!


Overlook


I was spoiled at this point. Unhappy because there were puddles on the trail from the dripping overhang.






Tread lightly


Wet feet


Accidentally took the "low trail". The creek on the left is the trail.


LOL




First of two notable fords. This one was 2 ft deep and moving quick.


Luckily there was a huge downer 1/4 mile upstream.


Great tread!


Second ford. Knee deep and moving fast.


Camp.


Morning, day 2. It was weirdly cool hiking along the boundary for Portland's water source.


At the top, wet and cold.


Mt. Hood view


And of course, Rainier


And back to the start!


Here's a link to videos too. The water was roaring due to recent rain and I these show the real power of nature.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QvzFfLoE46hkHyWE3

great idea using public transportation

I'd like to do a loop around Mt Hood that way

How did you get home, hike back to Mult. Falls?

Waitasec... When was this? Haven't seen water that high in ages up there, and no weather like that lately, either...

This spring you could easily hike the low water trail -while there was still a lot of snow up on Sherrard Point. Also: the one-at-a-time bridge sign has been gone for months at least. Columbia Gorge Express was running, so this isn't too old... without taking the trouble to look at weather history I'd guess a year or two ago?

That is so cool, using the transit.

I did the Multnomah Falls to Larch Mt hike up and back on Thursday July 13. The trails were very dry the whole way up. Unfortunately, I also ran into cloud hiding the mountains on that day.

Thanks for the comments, all.

As far as how I got home on day 2, I summited Larch mtn early in the morning and then followed the normal way back to the Multnomah falls parking lot. Going down I passed a lot people coming the other way and also set a personal goal of hiking 10 miles before 10am which was exciting for only me.

Regarding the water levels, the dates were June 16-17 2017 and I only remember that there was rain for 2 or 3 days leading up to the hike. After this, hiking day 1 saw rain which petered to nothing overnight while day 2 was foggy but dryish. First time I've forded a creek more than ankle deep + the scary 1-person bridge = an exciting trip to say the least!

Public transit was wicked easy and cheap.