Hey everyone. Took to the trails at the popular Salmon River Trail #742 on Saturday. I kind of got off to a late start from constant debating with myself to go hiking or not in the cold wetness of a typical Pacific Northwest Fall day. The days prior, forecasters were predicting a few sun breaks under mostly cloudy skies, but with no rain. But as I woke up to the sound of 'rain drops are falling from the sky,' I opened my front door to check if the 70's of September returned to us surprisingly, to find that the temps were in the low 50's. Then the little Forestkeeper on my shoulder whispered in my ear, "Quit whining you big baby! Get your butt out there. NOW!" So, I arrived at the trailhead around 10:30.
The parking lot wasn't too full but it had enough cars to show this was a pretty popular trail. The beginnings of the trail parallels the Salmon River, and promising some excellent views.
This trail takes you through a dense, very green, Pacific Northwest rainforest with an abundance in Firs, Hemlocks, Cedars, various ferns and forest floor shrubs and plants.
As well as the plentiful bounty of mushrooms.
The trail traverses a couple of very nice footbridges!
After the second footbridge, you enter into the Salmon Huckleberry Wilderness.
Then the trail goes up, up and a way. Nothing like a long ascent to get the fluids flowing. And if you tend to sweat a lot (like me ), make sure you drink plenty of fluids for the uphill on this one. I gained 1,100 feet until I reached the first viewpoint above. Glad I'm still on my low fat diet, for if I had that short stack of Pig n Pancakes that I dreamed of the night before, I'd be wearing it on the front of my shirt.
The trail is beautiful, especially going through the yellow colors of Fall.
And reached the viewpoint.
(Will continue in the reply, due to Portlandhikers low maximum photo limit. )
Salmon River Trail #742 November 1st, 2014
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Re: Salmon River Trail #742 November 1st, 2014
Here's another pic of the viewpoint.
Hiked a little on the Old Salmon River Trail #742A before calling it a day. Eight miles and a 1,200' EG.
I hiked another 1/2 mile or so to the next viewpoint, in hopes off descending down the cliffs to get some views of Frustration Falls, but the clouds rolled in, and I was pretty chilled, especially from getting pretty sweaty from the uphill ascent. I should have peeled a layer of clothes to no have gotten so sweaty but it felt pretty cold up there at the 2,667' level. So I downed a Peanut Butter Snickers Bar and a Diet NOS and headed back.Hiked a little on the Old Salmon River Trail #742A before calling it a day. Eight miles and a 1,200' EG.
Re: Salmon River Trail #742 November 1st, 2014
Fun reading that! We were just there yesterday. That's an excellent rainy-day trail. (Some of my photos.)
Thought about just doing the quick, simple link from your Flickr account?forestkeeper wrote:(Will continue in the reply, due to Portlandhikers low maximum photo limit. )
Karl
Back on the trail, again...
Back on the trail, again...
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Re: Salmon River Trail #742 November 1st, 2014
Nice report, Will! One of my favorite trails, though I didn't make it up there this year... so far. What I love about that trail is that it's usually open year-round, and the forest is just as pretty in its mossy winter phase as during the leafed-out months.
Thanks for posting - nice pics!
Tom
Thanks for posting - nice pics!
Tom
Re: Salmon River Trail #742 November 1st, 2014
I love that Pacific Rainforest shot! Very nice.
Re: Salmon River Trail #742 November 1st, 2014
Nice pictures! I like cliff top viewpoints up there, real payoff for steep climb. In the early summer, there's good wildflowers on these mossy outcrops.
Re: Salmon River Trail #742 November 1st, 2014
Nice report, Will. I have always enjoyed that hike. The mushroom shots are really great!
Some years ago, no trip to Salmon River was complete for me without a visit to Frustration Falls. The lip of the little side falls makes a great lunch spot. But now my sense of balance isn't so good and the scramble down doesn't seem safe. It is a beautiful spot, but probably not completely safe for anyone (especially not if the path is muddy and slick).
Some years ago, no trip to Salmon River was complete for me without a visit to Frustration Falls. The lip of the little side falls makes a great lunch spot. But now my sense of balance isn't so good and the scramble down doesn't seem safe. It is a beautiful spot, but probably not completely safe for anyone (especially not if the path is muddy and slick).
Re: Salmon River Trail #742 November 1st, 2014
Went there for the first time last weekend, which was very wet. I'll just reiterate the above, for amplification (emphasis mine). There are some short stretches where you're counting on, basically, moss-on-mud to keep you from sliding down towards some fairly gnarly cliffs. Odds are, you could fall prone and stop most slides, but I'm certainly glad I didn't have to test that semi-reassuring thought!jdemott wrote:Some years ago, no trip to Salmon River was complete for me without a visit to Frustration Falls. The lip of the little side falls makes a great lunch spot. But now my sense of balance isn't so good and the scramble down doesn't seem safe. It is a beautiful spot, but probably not completely safe for anyone (especially not if the path is muddy and slick).
Karl
Back on the trail, again...
Back on the trail, again...
Re: Salmon River Trail #742 November 1st, 2014
Such an awesome spot though.kepPNW wrote:Went there for the first time last weekend, which was very wet. I'll just reiterate the above, for amplification (emphasis mine). There are some short stretches where you're counting on, basically, moss-on-mud to keep you from sliding down towards some fairly gnarly cliffs. Odds are, you could fall prone and stop most slides, but I'm certainly glad I didn't have to test that semi-reassuring thought!jdemott wrote:Some years ago, no trip to Salmon River was complete for me without a visit to Frustration Falls. The lip of the little side falls makes a great lunch spot. But now my sense of balance isn't so good and the scramble down doesn't seem safe. It is a beautiful spot, but probably not completely safe for anyone (especially not if the path is muddy and slick).
One of my favorite fall viewpoints to visit.
Re: Salmon River Trail #742 November 1st, 2014
Agreed! "I'll be back!"-Q- wrote:Such an awesome spot though.kepPNW wrote:Went there for the first time last weekend, which was very wet. I'll just reiterate the above, for amplification (emphasis mine). There are some short stretches where you're counting on, basically, moss-on-mud to keep you from sliding down towards some fairly gnarly cliffs. Odds are, you could fall prone and stop most slides, but I'm certainly glad I didn't have to test that semi-reassuring thought!jdemott wrote:Some years ago, no trip to Salmon River was complete for me without a visit to Frustration Falls. The lip of the little side falls makes a great lunch spot. But now my sense of balance isn't so good and the scramble down doesn't seem safe. It is a beautiful spot, but probably not completely safe for anyone (especially not if the path is muddy and slick).
One of my favorite fall viewpoints to visit.
Karl
Back on the trail, again...
Back on the trail, again...