Eagle Cap Triptych: Tombstone, Diamond, and Off Trail Adventures
Posted: September 1st, 2019, 8:40 am
Chapter 3, Part 1. The way in.
Susan and I continued our Eagle Cap adventures with a third trip, this time taking the trail less traveled to Tombstone and Diamond Lakes out of West Eagle TH. Click photos for larger views.
The recent unsettled weather gifted us a dry cold front on the 25th—for you non weather geeks that spells cool, dry, breezy conditions—perfect for tackling the 2800’ climb of the Tombstone Lake Trail.
Thanks to one of our smoke alarms alarming at 4:20 AM, we managed a 6:02 AM departure from Mount Angel, which saw us on trail at West Eagle TH by 2 PM, but, sadly, without Susan’s lawn chair, which somehow never got into the car.
For afternoon summer hiking the conditions were delightful and just as forecast—coolish, dry, breezy. We quickly (for us) arrived at the Tombstone/Echo Lakes trail junction 2.9 miles in where we took the decidedly less worn Tombstone Lake trail and were greeted by this panorama:
We forded West Eagle Creek, which inexplicably was running higher now than two weeks earlier, but the higher flow was being thoroughly enjoyed by a giant toad that would not move out of the way. We grabbed a quick snack past the ford, marveling at the waterfall below Echo Lake, which was brilliantly illuminated by the westering sun.
And the westering sun brought a pleasant surprise—shade on the never ending switchbacks up. My oh my, with this luck we should have purchased a lottery ticket!!
After quite a few switchbacks, we ran into two people—one a 75 year old happily returning from climbing China Cap and Granite Peak in fulfillment of his quest to climb Oregon’s 100 highest high points!! Wow, hope I’m out and about at 75, but, actually, I’m almost there. Now Susan, she’s a spring chicken, and has a ways to go.
Our fellow travelers told us there was good water at the meadow at 7500’, but that it would take us at least an hour to reach it, what with the blow down across the trail and the 1000’ feet of vertical between our present location and the meadow. And the blowdown was an issue. At one point we could see that the multiple trunked obstacle in front of us was followed by two more, so, psst, don’t tell anyone, we went straight up slope cutting a switchback.
Also, pssst, right after the last switchback of this set of 39 or whatever, if you cross a low ridge there is water. And that was our intended first night’s destination—not the meadow at 7500’ with, according to Barstad, unreliable late season water. For observant hikers three, yes, three, ducks mark the spot.
So we set up camp amongst the fire killed trees and enjoyed a very quiet evening.
About 3 AM I smelled smoke. In the dim light of a sliver moon, the air seemed clear enough, so back to the rack.
Come next morning’s light, we chomped our oatmeal, and enjoyed(?) our instant coffees before embarking off trail.
Susan and I continued our Eagle Cap adventures with a third trip, this time taking the trail less traveled to Tombstone and Diamond Lakes out of West Eagle TH. Click photos for larger views.
The recent unsettled weather gifted us a dry cold front on the 25th—for you non weather geeks that spells cool, dry, breezy conditions—perfect for tackling the 2800’ climb of the Tombstone Lake Trail.
Thanks to one of our smoke alarms alarming at 4:20 AM, we managed a 6:02 AM departure from Mount Angel, which saw us on trail at West Eagle TH by 2 PM, but, sadly, without Susan’s lawn chair, which somehow never got into the car.
For afternoon summer hiking the conditions were delightful and just as forecast—coolish, dry, breezy. We quickly (for us) arrived at the Tombstone/Echo Lakes trail junction 2.9 miles in where we took the decidedly less worn Tombstone Lake trail and were greeted by this panorama:
We forded West Eagle Creek, which inexplicably was running higher now than two weeks earlier, but the higher flow was being thoroughly enjoyed by a giant toad that would not move out of the way. We grabbed a quick snack past the ford, marveling at the waterfall below Echo Lake, which was brilliantly illuminated by the westering sun.
And the westering sun brought a pleasant surprise—shade on the never ending switchbacks up. My oh my, with this luck we should have purchased a lottery ticket!!
After quite a few switchbacks, we ran into two people—one a 75 year old happily returning from climbing China Cap and Granite Peak in fulfillment of his quest to climb Oregon’s 100 highest high points!! Wow, hope I’m out and about at 75, but, actually, I’m almost there. Now Susan, she’s a spring chicken, and has a ways to go.
Our fellow travelers told us there was good water at the meadow at 7500’, but that it would take us at least an hour to reach it, what with the blow down across the trail and the 1000’ feet of vertical between our present location and the meadow. And the blowdown was an issue. At one point we could see that the multiple trunked obstacle in front of us was followed by two more, so, psst, don’t tell anyone, we went straight up slope cutting a switchback.
Also, pssst, right after the last switchback of this set of 39 or whatever, if you cross a low ridge there is water. And that was our intended first night’s destination—not the meadow at 7500’ with, according to Barstad, unreliable late season water. For observant hikers three, yes, three, ducks mark the spot.
So we set up camp amongst the fire killed trees and enjoyed a very quiet evening.
About 3 AM I smelled smoke. In the dim light of a sliver moon, the air seemed clear enough, so back to the rack.
Come next morning’s light, we chomped our oatmeal, and enjoyed(?) our instant coffees before embarking off trail.