Timberline Trail September 2018
Posted: September 24th, 2018, 11:18 am
I just wanted to share a few pics and a video from the Timberline Trail last week. These were shot over September 19-20, 2018. I did the complete loop in two days/one night.
The mountain had received a dusting of snow a few days before, but pretty much everything had melted out by the time I got there. I hiked mid-week and the trail was nice and quite. I still saw a few dozen people but would go multiple hours sometimes and not see a soul. The temperature was 45-50 during the day and mid to high 30s during the night.
I started my hike from Top Spur around 7am and hiked clockwise. The temp was a little crisp, but I warmed up quickly as I began to hike. Being late September, all the river crossings were super easy. No wet feet or dicey rock jumping to speak of. What a difference a few months makes with the river flows. A few clouds shrouded the mountain at times, but Hood was very visible most of the day. I hiked pretty slow and steady all day (10 hours or so) and made it down and just past the Meadows Ski area. I camped right off trail in a small campsite. I'm not positive, but I would estimate I covered around 22 miles that day.
The next day I got up around 7am and was on the trail shortly after. After 2 hours of hiking I was at Timberline Lodge where I grabbed some breakfast and got some real food in me. I had a few aches and pains in my knees, but that all went away after a little rest at the lodge, oh and a bloody marry. The next 4-5 hours were pretty smooth sailing as I descended through Zig Zag canyon and down towards the Sandy River. Ramona Falls was beautiful as always. There were only about half a dozen people there which is the least crowded I've ever seen it. After a few more hours I returned back to the Top Spur junction. It was 4:30pm. After a short drive I was home in time for dinner with the fam.
Overall i was really great trip. I love hiking in September when the bugs are gone, the river crossings are easy and the trails are less crowded. My knees complained a little bit about 20 mile days, but I made it fine.
All video and pics shot on an iPhone X.
The mountain had received a dusting of snow a few days before, but pretty much everything had melted out by the time I got there. I hiked mid-week and the trail was nice and quite. I still saw a few dozen people but would go multiple hours sometimes and not see a soul. The temperature was 45-50 during the day and mid to high 30s during the night.
I started my hike from Top Spur around 7am and hiked clockwise. The temp was a little crisp, but I warmed up quickly as I began to hike. Being late September, all the river crossings were super easy. No wet feet or dicey rock jumping to speak of. What a difference a few months makes with the river flows. A few clouds shrouded the mountain at times, but Hood was very visible most of the day. I hiked pretty slow and steady all day (10 hours or so) and made it down and just past the Meadows Ski area. I camped right off trail in a small campsite. I'm not positive, but I would estimate I covered around 22 miles that day.
The next day I got up around 7am and was on the trail shortly after. After 2 hours of hiking I was at Timberline Lodge where I grabbed some breakfast and got some real food in me. I had a few aches and pains in my knees, but that all went away after a little rest at the lodge, oh and a bloody marry. The next 4-5 hours were pretty smooth sailing as I descended through Zig Zag canyon and down towards the Sandy River. Ramona Falls was beautiful as always. There were only about half a dozen people there which is the least crowded I've ever seen it. After a few more hours I returned back to the Top Spur junction. It was 4:30pm. After a short drive I was home in time for dinner with the fam.
Overall i was really great trip. I love hiking in September when the bugs are gone, the river crossings are easy and the trails are less crowded. My knees complained a little bit about 20 mile days, but I made it fine.
All video and pics shot on an iPhone X.