Hamilton Creek RR grade, return on PCT
Posted: December 17th, 2017, 12:26 am
Followed Cedar Creek down to the "winter crossing", then down to the falls. Explored various trails: one to bottom of falls (expected), one to Cedar/Hamilton confluence (unexpected). Then picked a trail that I figured would take me to the Hamilton RR grade, and it did. By the time I finally joined the RR grade at the "big slide", it was already running late.
Following the RR grade up, was anxious about slides/drainages, which I had heard were treacherous. Brought ropes, even though I had read there were lines in place. At the first roped crossing, I was relieved. Didn't use the rope (too proud). Same at the second. Third was a bit trickier, but I made it without using the rope. Made note of time. Didn't want to cross back after sunset.
Was thinking I'd follow Hamilton Creek and the RR to the powerlines, but ended up veering to the east, following a much more clear road away from Hamilton Creek, which brought me to powerlines. It should have been obvious these were the powerlines that would take me up towards the Birkenfeld/Table saddle. Somehow I failed to recognize that.
Followed powerline road up to a junction. Took the lower fork which dead ended, just 15 minutes before my turnaround deadline. Wasn't as discouraged as you might think; I needed an excuse to turn back. But then, as I was about to head back down, spotted a PCT emblem on a tree! And also on the other side of the road.
Intuitively knew which direction to go on PCT, but sought verification from compass. Drat, PCT goes east/west at this spot, so that didn't help. Trusted my gut, dropped quickly on PCT, soon out of snow zone. Too cloudy to catch any landmarks that would verify I was going the right direction. Figured I had to be though. Only other possibility was that I was headed towards three-corner rock, but nothing about this trail was consistent with that section of PCT.
Relieved when I hit the Cedar/Westway/PCT junction, which put me in known terrain. Had enough time to rush up to the Table table, but resisted. There was no point in doing that, other than feeding my obsession. Made it to the car w/o headlamp, but barely (sensible hikers would have fired it up, almost completely dark).
Following the RR grade up, was anxious about slides/drainages, which I had heard were treacherous. Brought ropes, even though I had read there were lines in place. At the first roped crossing, I was relieved. Didn't use the rope (too proud). Same at the second. Third was a bit trickier, but I made it without using the rope. Made note of time. Didn't want to cross back after sunset.
Was thinking I'd follow Hamilton Creek and the RR to the powerlines, but ended up veering to the east, following a much more clear road away from Hamilton Creek, which brought me to powerlines. It should have been obvious these were the powerlines that would take me up towards the Birkenfeld/Table saddle. Somehow I failed to recognize that.
Followed powerline road up to a junction. Took the lower fork which dead ended, just 15 minutes before my turnaround deadline. Wasn't as discouraged as you might think; I needed an excuse to turn back. But then, as I was about to head back down, spotted a PCT emblem on a tree! And also on the other side of the road.
Intuitively knew which direction to go on PCT, but sought verification from compass. Drat, PCT goes east/west at this spot, so that didn't help. Trusted my gut, dropped quickly on PCT, soon out of snow zone. Too cloudy to catch any landmarks that would verify I was going the right direction. Figured I had to be though. Only other possibility was that I was headed towards three-corner rock, but nothing about this trail was consistent with that section of PCT.
Relieved when I hit the Cedar/Westway/PCT junction, which put me in known terrain. Had enough time to rush up to the Table table, but resisted. There was no point in doing that, other than feeding my obsession. Made it to the car w/o headlamp, but barely (sensible hikers would have fired it up, almost completely dark).