At the trailhead someone had posted an ad hoc notice that there was no viable way to cross Newton Creek on the Timberline Trail. This doesn't affect the trail to Elk Cove, but if any of you are planning on doing the longer loop that has you using that upper crossing, take heed.
Beargrass began pretty much immediately. Awesome!
There was a nice sturdy bridge over Clark Creek.
The field guide entry shows a photo of a nice planed log across Newton Creek, but it must have washed away. Today there were just some small makeshift logs that hikers have cobbled together.
I always get shaky knees when I have to do crossings like this. It's more psychological than anything. Fortunately I made it across without falling in the water. I stopped for a break on the other side before tackling the switchbacks. Nice view from here!
Three different groups of hikers arrived at the crossing almost at the same time. A guy from one of the groups used the same log crossing I did, but his companion and the other two groups went upstream looking for a better way to cross. I munched my snack and watched them for ten minutes. When I packed up and continued on they were still looking for a better crossing. I wonder if they found one! (BTW, why doesn't the Forest Service install a seasonal bridge here like they do over the Sandy River on the Ramona Falls trail?)
I passed the crazy argyle tree, which was discussed in this thread a few years ago. No one seemed to come up with an answer about what causes this.
Yet more beargrass.
When I reached the meadow perimiter trail I turned right and started going counter-clockwise. Came upon this rather nice view.
Elephant head wildflowers were growing all over the place.
I also saw quite a few butterflies, and even managed to photograph two of them!
There was also some false hellebore around.
I took the side trail to the shelter, which has a pretty stupendous view of Mt. Hood. I sat on a log, ate a snack, and admired the mountain. This was just the loveliest spot with the birds singing, the creek gurgling, the mountain right in front of me. So awesome! Also, I had the place totally to myself. I couldn't believe it!
The mosquitoes weren't terrible but they were definitely out and about. A bit of a breeze kept them at bay for awhile, but when the breeze died down I had to move on.
Crossing the creek on the way back to the perimeter trail I heard some plops and looked down to see two frogs (or toads? I never know.) They had jumped out of the water and were perched on a log, totally unconcerned with me.
It was pretty cool to see Cold Spring Creek up here, knowing that it eventually becomes the roaring Tamanawas Falls.
Around on the other side of the meadow I got a good luck at the burned trees all along Bluegrass Ridge. Anyone know which wildfire this was and when? It came awfully close to the meadow!
I finished the loop around the perimeter, but I wasn't ready to head back just yet. The one-mile jaunt up to Elk Mountain sounded good, although I had no idea what was up there. I had no description of the trail or the summit with me, but I figured at the very least I would burn some extra calories to make up for my afternoon ice cream stop.
The trail up to Elk Mountain is not hard to follow, but it is getting overgrown with huckleberries. I was too hot to zip on my pant legs and my legs got a bit scratched up. There's only about 400 feet elevation gain so it's not steep. I hiked on through the trees and huckleberries and then all of the sudden....
This is where the Bluegrass Ridge trail (#647) heads north and the short spur along the broad flat summit of Elk Mountain heads east. There was beargrass EVERYWHERE.
They should call this Beargrass Ridge, not Bluegrass Ridge.
I followed the trail along the summit out to the viewpoint at the end. Much of the summit was burned in the wildfire that burned so much of Bluegrass Ridge. The beargrass don't seem to care.
The trail ends at the old lookout site where you get partial views across the river valley.
Looking south. I'm not positive, but I think that's Badger Butte on the left. In the distance are Diamond Peak, the Three Sisters, and Mt. Jefferson.
I think this is Lookout Mountain.
And Gumjuwac Saddle?
I lingered as long as I dared, but the bugs were bad here. Not just mosquitoes but lots of flies too. I enjoyed my return walk through the beargrass paradise then started hiking back the way I came. I hadn't seen anyone for hours. Nobody at Elk Meadows the whole time I was there, and no one on Elk Mountain. I finally passed a group of about 10 people hiking up to Elk Mountain as I was coming down. One of them asked me if they were close and I said not quite, but that it was worth it to keep going because there was so much beargrass up there. "Whatever that is," she laughed. I pointed one out to her. "Oh, so that's what those are!"
As I descended the switchbacks to Newton Creek I started passing all sorts of people hiking in. It was getting pretty warm and I was glad to not be them, hiking up all those switchbacks in the heat! I made it back across the creek without trouble. On the last stretch to the car I saw a family with a three-month-old baby and then a woman with three small dogs and I wondered how they would do with the sketchy creek crossing.
I made it back to the car by 2:30, sore, hot, and tired, but very satisfied. I definitely earned the Chocolate Lover's Chocolate ice cream cone I got in Hood River an hour later.
5 hours and 8 miles
