One of my fave camping spots is up on Benson Plateau at Benson Camp, so I got my pack packed and headed for a solo backpacking trip starting at Wahtum Lake on Saturday morning, August 30th.
The forest road just before Lake Wahtum was in great shape, there was a big mowing operation going on along the road sides. Arrived at Lake Wahtum around 9:15AM.
I loaded up and headed down the long stairway to Lake Wahtum.
That's about 228 happy steps down, 228 steps from hell on your way out with soggy backpack!
I decided to try the "shortcut" up to the Pacific Crest Trail northbound, so I made the crossing over the logs at the Wahtum Lake outfall.
Saw some great campsites along this side of the lake and a water pipe running next to the trail. Does anybody know the story on the water pipe?
After the steep climb up to the Pacific Crest Trail I headed north for Benson Plateau!
There were a few trees across Pacific Crest Trail, but nothing major.
Excellent views!
I'm almost there!
Here's a look at my campsite, Benson Camp. Just a few feet from a creek.
Here's another campsite, this one on the east side of the creek...
I saw 3 or 4 very beautiful meadows near the Benson Camp sites, there are several along this Trail 405.
Hard to believe this kind of beauty is just a few miles down the road from Portland!
My Benson Plateau trip was great, it stayed cool, usually between 40-48 degrees most of the time. Both near Lake Wahtum and while up on Benson Plateau it was pretty windy, misty and cool. Pretty different from what I was seeing on my drive in and back.
It was also very quiet, only saw 2 other hikers, during my first 23 hours of the trip.
