Eliot Creek Crossing (alternate)
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Hikes including this location:
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 45.3977, -121.6599
- Elevation: 6100 feet
Contents |
Description
As of 2017, this alternate crossing is no longer necessary, because the Timberline Trail has been re-routed to cross the Eliot Branch farther downstream. (observed 2017/08/07)
To cross at the washed-out area (formerly known as "the ropes"):
From the East side, starting at Cloud Cap (5850 feet), you go south about 0.1 mile towards Cooper Spur. Take the trail to the right, now labeled "Eliot east moraine." Go about 0.2 miles to the top of the east side moraine at 6150 feet. Stay on the well worn trail down to the creek (6050 feet), 0.2 miles from the top of the moraine. There used to be a rope at the bottom, but it wasn't really necessary. You can cross right there if you think you can safely scramble up the opposite bank, or go upstream 200 yards or more to a place where Eliot splits into two - crossing the forks one at a time is easier. Go downstream, following footprints and cairns, and then go up a ramp to your left. When you're almost to the edge of the earth, scramble up to your left. (There used to be a rope, but it's gone.) At the top of the west side moraine (6250 feet), there's a trail. Go down it to your right about 0.2 miles, to the Timberline Trail at 6000 feet.
Best description is Adam Schneider's map & trip reports:
To cross Eliot Glacier itself:
From the Cooper Spur shelter, continue west on the climber's trail, staying at about the same elevation, about 0.1 mile to the edge of the east moraine.
Take the climbers trail down into the Eliot drainage. Continue on the crude trail, following the rock cairns. At some point the rock cairns disappear. Keep going across the drainage, gaining a little elevation.
At some point you get onto the glacier. It's covered by rocks so it's not obvious you're on a glacier. There is some risk doing this - the ground is very unstable and there are sometimes slides from above. Test out the ground before stepping on it and get by this area quickly to limit exposure. Now is not the time to stop for a break.
Getting up onto the ridge on the west side is difficult. It's fairly steep with loose rock. It's easier a little higher up, where the rocks are larger.
When you get up onto the west moraine, there's a trail. It's primitive and a little hard to follow at places. Follow this trail down to the junction with the former Timberline trail, then turn left to reach the trail's current alignment.
Elevations:
Cloud Cap: 5860' East moraine lower junction: 6150' Cooper Spur shelter: 6800' East moraine upper junction: 6870' Climber's trail where it reaches the glacier: 6780' Top of west moraine: 7300' Bottom of west moraine (former Timberline Trail): 6200'
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Eliot Creek
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Eliot Creek
More Links
Page Contributors
- Splintercat (Tom Kloster) (primary)
- retiredjerry