I left West Linn after church yesterday morning and made it to the Ramona Falls trailhead at ~10:45am, heading for Yocum Ridge. With a little off trail exploration near my high point I logged a little over 19 miles and a bit over 4k gain.
Trailhead sign for the Timberline Trail reroute.
Fair number of cars in the parking lot, but the trails never felt busy except at the Sandy River crossing. The Sandy River crossing is still in good shape. Sandy River Trail and the Ramona Falls trail are both clear, and there were no deadfall issues until maybe a third of a mile past Ramona Falls.
Leaving the Timberline Trail:
The pond at 5100 feet:
First snow patches at just over 5200:
Two photos between the pond and an amazing view point at 5900:
One of my favorite places on the mountain.
Nearing my high point. Most people stop at the dark green area just below the ridgeline.
There's a neat area above trail's end (see photo in the OH writeup) that not many people go to. The way forward (just over 6300 feet here) is straight at the upper Yocum Ridge to ~7000 feet. Your choice of moderately steep snow or unstable junk dirt/rock for a ways but much nicer after that. I had crampons with me but decided to turn here since it was 2:45 and I had plans for later in the evening back in Portland.
This hike has good shade cover for most of it's length. Some trees down; easily navigated. Still a few places to filter water if needed. Mosquitoes weren't too aggressive, even near the pond, but flies were a real nuisance at times.
--Rob
