Eagle Creek 1-14-2011
Posted: January 15th, 2011, 9:26 am
In keeping with my New Year's Resolution -- "one day every week, I will go outside and play" -- I blew off a bunch of perfectly good work and at least one pretty solid deadline to enjoy the spectacle of Eagle Creek in winter.
After a fine breakfast at Bumblekiss (photos here) on the way out of town, I hit the trailhead at the crack of 12:15 and soon was on my way. I'll let the Field Guide entry speak for the trail, but the quick summary is that I went something like 3.5 miles up before I ran into more snow on ledges than I felt like dealing with. The trail is in good shape, the creek is raging, and there are waterfalls everywhere. I saw maybe a dozen people. Got back to the trailhead around 4 and went for terrible espresso in Cascade Locks.
So, a few scenes for your enjoyment:
Punchbowl Falls was raging! See the log against the wall? It was bobbing up and down, with waves occasionally going over it.
Just before High Bridge, after coming through this (and lots of other stuff like it) ...
... and with this going on WAY below me ...
... and with this right ahead of me ....
... I figured that was enough for a day. Didn't notice any recent tracks going over that snow, either.
On the way back I stopped for the view at Metlako Falls and had a little chuckle, courtesy of the Forest Service. I took the trail to the viewpoint, walked 50 yards or so down it, then saw this sign.
And I thought, what???? How can it be 1.5 miles? Of course, as we all know, I walked another 10 yards and saw the falls. So I guess they mean it's 1.5 miles from here to the trailhead, but I wonder how many people turn around there? Weird place to have that sign.
A little more scenery on the way back, and we'll see you next week for Resolution Day!
After a fine breakfast at Bumblekiss (photos here) on the way out of town, I hit the trailhead at the crack of 12:15 and soon was on my way. I'll let the Field Guide entry speak for the trail, but the quick summary is that I went something like 3.5 miles up before I ran into more snow on ledges than I felt like dealing with. The trail is in good shape, the creek is raging, and there are waterfalls everywhere. I saw maybe a dozen people. Got back to the trailhead around 4 and went for terrible espresso in Cascade Locks.
So, a few scenes for your enjoyment:
- The first set of ledges.
On the way back I stopped for the view at Metlako Falls and had a little chuckle, courtesy of the Forest Service. I took the trail to the viewpoint, walked 50 yards or so down it, then saw this sign.
