Oregon Hikers

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/e ... 996dcc?u=i

4 days, 3 nights

Crossings for Timberline Trail around Mt Hood that I used at PCT Muddy Fork, Sandy River, and Zigzag Canyon were no issue, all had log bridges. Also heard that Eliot and Coe were about mid-calf high and only 8-9 feet across on 09/23/21.

Tunnel Falls was amazing! It's a waterfall with a tunnel bored into the rock behind. You walk behind the waterfall, look up, and get really close, right next to the water coming down near the tunnel entrance. A little scary and exhiliarating since you're standing on a trail ledge with cables at the same time. Chinidere Mountain was an easily accessible summit with no scrambling and wide trails with a great view. Paradise Park near Timberline was as gorgeous as always and this was the first time I went so late in the season and saw beautiful autumn colors. Also heard about the pseudo-summit trails and took one up Split Rock. It looks like the moon up there, really dry, but also some waterfalls! Very safe, just a lot of exercise with the trail from Split Rock; it's kind of like walking up a huge gravelly dune. There might be a slightly better summit a little further southeast from looking at maps on AllTrails. I started trying to traverse the spines but bailed going up a very steep sandy section.

Chinook salmon in Eagle Creek. Heard lots of pika and saw one in the scree. American three-toed woodpecker, grouse species, yellow rumped warbler, western tanager, red tailed Hawk. Chicken of the woods and unknown mushrooms.

Campsites:

(1) Eagle Creek trail. Really nice by the creek. 2 sites with established fire rings.
45°34'21.0"N 121°49'28.4"W
https://maps.google.com/?q=45.572506,-1 ... &entry=gps

(2) PCT west of Lost Lake
around 45.48898, -121.858711
Marked on Guthook at mile 2122.3. Halfmile shows these GPS coords
Space for a few tents, flat and very quiet

(3) Ramona Falls
Well established with fire rings and space to spread out. Possible to camp in several places along Timberline and Ramona Falls trails.

Public Transportation:

Portland MAX to Gateway Transit Center: $2.50 / $1.25 for Honored Citizen
Columbia Gorge Express: from Gateway TC to Cascade Locks $10 one way or GOrge annual pass $30 / free for qualifying with income restrictions
Mount Hood Express: Timberline Lodge to Sandy Transit Center $2
Sandy Local and Gresham Express (SAM): From Sandy Transit Center to Gresham MAX station $1

Wow, sounds like a great trip. Cool idea to use public transportation for a thru hike. Is there other burned areas on the route other than on Eagle Creek Trail?

Great trip! Looks like you nailed the good weather. I too am impressed by your taking advantage of public transportation!

Well, don't own a car so have to use public transportation! A bunch of people I knew on the East Coast who were hikers didn't own a car. Seems much harder to get to the trailhead from Portland without one.

Yeah, mostly just part of Eagle Creek trail was burned. PCT seemed OK.

Sounds like a good trip

"Very safe, just a lot of exercise with the trail from Split Rock; it's kind of like walking up a huge gravelly dune. There might be a slightly better summit a little further southeast from looking at maps on AllTrails. I started trying to traverse the spines but bailed going up a very steep sandy section."

Yeah, I've been up there and tried that but it's pretty steep and loose.

The public transportation to Eagle Creek and Timberline are relatively recent, used to be nothing. I should try that sometime. I don't like parking my car at the gorge trailheads.

I didn't own a car when I lived in a big east coast city. I did at first, but parking a half mile from your apartment was more than a pain. I joined one of those car share systems, where you can essentially rent a car by the hour when you need one. The details are pre-arranged, so you just reserve the car online and then go get it, blocks away - you had a card to unlock the door with a swipe, keys inside. You did have to have a virtually perfect driving record to join. I used those cars to go for local hikes sometimes.