Tanner Butte – Columbia River Gorge 2/1/11

Garmin Interactive Map

20.7 mi

Elevation Gain:
5,806 ft

Min / Max Elevation:
78 ft / 4,111 ft

Matt, Dexter, Sadie & I

Tanner Butte had been a hike on my ‘ to hike list’ for along time. Its one of the many higher mileage day hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. I had finally dedicated myself to getting an early enough start to have the opportunity to finish before dark.

The trailhead starts in an awkward spot right off of exit 40 (Bonneville Dam). You can either park at the Wahclella Falls trailhead (just to the right/South as you come off i84) or the Tooth Rock parking lot (just left/East at the fork). Tooth Rock parking is free and is known for access to the Columbia River Gorge Historic Highway that has been converted into a walking / biking path in different sections. Tooth Rock is just West of Eagle Creek (Punch Bowl Falls & Tunnel Falls) and serves as the trailhead for Wauna Viewpoint. We parked at the Wahclella Falls trailhead (requires a NW Forest Pass) .

From the parking lot you walk back (North) towards i84 where the road forks – the hike begins here. The trailhead is halfway decently marked, but beyond this good luck…

Matt and I brought information about the hike; however, it did not completely help as there were many unmarked and obscure roads. We explored a few roads and one finally led us to the top of some ridge dead-ending. Discouraged as we were hiking down we started to plot our itinerary for the rest of the day – possibly hitting up a couple other hikes in the area. We ended up giving it one last shot and found the correct road, which led us to the Tanner Butte Trailhead … finally!

Apparently back in the day you were able to drive to the real Tanner Butte Trailhead. From the get-go the trail is beautiful! It starts with a series of small cascading waterfalls. We had to hike across a small icy creek that required some rock-hoping preplanning to prevent getting wet. My dog Dexter loved walking through the creek hydrating while my brothers dog Sadie is still deathly afraid of water. Sadie would not budge – I had to grab her scruff and pull her across the creek. This didn’t wade well for my feet as they got slightly damp with many more miles to go.

There was a strong East wind that kept the air brisk – chilly brisk that is! Needless to say, I wasn’t willing to bust out my camera much and sacrifice my hands freezing. Much of the hike we stayed in the dense forest somewhat protected from the wicked East wind of the Columbia River Gorge.

[The Snowy Tanner Butte Trail – Dexter loves to run ahead]

Luckily once we got onto the Tanner Butte trail it was mostly easy to follow. As you can see above the trail clearly cuts through the forest. Sections of the trail we hiked were actually an old road. There was a few areas where it almost got away from us (due to the deceiving snow) that we took loose tree limps and logs to clearly mark  the trail to see on the way back.

The snow level had been at a high elevation for awhile leading up to this trip, but since much of the trail hikes through dense forest the snow is protected from the sun leaving us to hike though it. Most of the way the snow was firm and icy. As the snow melted off the tops of the trees the moisture created divots in the snow – this was definitely wearing on your feet and ankles causing your foot strike changed constantly. Hiking a few miles through this type of terrain slowed us down tremendously. As we reach a vista we felt like we were near the summit, but it was a false summit – a beautiful vantage point though!

[Mt Hood with Tanner Butte in the near distance]

It was starting to get late in the day so we had to make some difficult decisions. From the ‘false summit’ we decided to give the summit a shot. After a half mile or so the trail disappeared as did our summit fever. The snow had gotten thicker and icier and the forest had grown a few too many trees leaving us to poor visibility. Just a few hundred vertical feet from the summit we decided it was best to not show up in the news and turn around.

[Mt Adams in the distance]

When hiking you see so many different things – when you are leading vs following or when you are going ‘out’ or coming ‘back.’ As we were hiking ‘back’ we got a glimpse of Mt Adams in the distance.

[Matt in good spirits]

The decision to turn around or keep trekking is a difficult one to make. Like many, I want to reach my final destination – the summit! However, there are many factors that are considered prior to turning around – time/day light, trail conditions, supplies packed, individual’s fatigue. We probably would have been okay, but didn’t want to risk coming back to the wrath of our significant others for arriving way late 😉

[Munra Point just West of us]

On the way back we took full advantage of the downhill keeping a solid pace. With just a couple miles left the sun started to set behind the might ridges of the Columbia River Gorge. It made for a cool shot of Munra Point and reminded me of how steep of a climb it was!  We arrived back to the car just as it was nearing complete darkness. The dogs fell asleep instantly as they probably put in double the mileage we did!

Triple Falls – Columbia River Gorge 1/17/11

Garmin Interactive Map

5 miles RT

Min / Max Elevation:
45 ft / 683 ft

Elevation Gain:
2,849 ft

Kristin, Dexter & I

We had ventured up Horsetail / Ponytail Falls way a few weeks earlier experiencing some extremely cold temperatures and icy landscapes. The combination of the Columbia River Gorge’s strong winds and cold temps are a recipe for beautiful frozen waterfalls. This time around the temps were much warmer and the water levels much higher. The jump in warmer temps, snow melt and massive amounts of rain put many areas in flood danger.

[Horsetail Falls]

I had never seen the waterfalls flowing with this amount of water ever. They were extra powerful with an intense plummet creating a massive mist soaking everyone around. There were many people hanging out in awe – we were lucky enough to sag a parking spot before the crowds started to flock. I snapped a few pics and let Dexter pull me up the trail..

[Ponytail Falls]

[Kristin & Dex gearing up to get soaked]

[Beneath Ponytail falls]

Hiking along the stretch of trail beneath Ponytail Falls it was nearly impossible to hear anything but the sound of falling water. Underneath the waterfall is an eerie feeling as you see and feel water leaking through the rock above and hear the intense vibrations from the water flowing off the rock from which you are standing beneath.

As you continue hiking around to the other side of Ponytail Falls prepare yourself for a water-soaker. As we pop out the other side I always put it into high gear hiking quickly through the 100 ft of trail you are most vulnerable to the cold misting waterfall.

[Oneonta Gorge]

Oneonta Gorge in the summer time is a fun hike wadding through waste deep water at times. I was interested in seeing the gorge with this amount of water – I’d never seen it so high and with so much ‘white water.’

[On bridge just above Oneonta Gorge Falls]

With all of the water the area had received and the quick change in temps this had created some good landslides.

[We noticed a few new creeks and waterfalls along the trail]

[Dex lovin the water]

[Much more water than usual making creek crossing interesting at times]

[Kristin & Dex atop Triple Falls]

[Triple Falls – hmm more like double falls..]

 

[Checkin things out from the other side of the falls…]

I always enjoy hiking trails during all seasons as they are dramatically different from season to season. Just be sure to stay safe and be alert during this time of year with huge potential for trees falling and landslides.

Horsetail / Ponytail Falls Icy!

1.5 mile RT

Garmin Interactive Map (.5 mi to Ponytail Falls, .25 mi to Top of falls)

I always enjoy heading out to the Columbia River Gorge when them East winds blow the arctic breeze through. The ice-glazed or even sometimes just iced over waterfalls are a beautiful site that is pretty incredible to see!

On this particular day the temperature was high 20’s with a killer wind chill from the East.

 

[Horsetail Falls]

Horsetail falls is always a powerful flowing waterfall year-round. The combination of its powerfulness and the chilly East wind created its own little ice climate. The wind blew the water willy-nilly causing it to freeze wherever landing (ODOT was quick to lay sand/gravel on large icy patches of road).

 

[Ponytail Falls]

Our original plan was to make a short trek up to Triple Falls; however, the ice was way intense and impassable with the gear we had or didn’t have. Ponytail Falls consistently sprays water West – with the icy temps this has caused a 30 + foot section of the trail to be a thick layer of ice. Hiking up to this point we saw other hikers ‘snowshoeing up’ simply to cross this treacherous section – we laughed until we approached the same section….

The extremely thick layer of slippery ice and a slight uphill grade were enough to turn around without snowshoes or crampons – after of course at a poor attempt. Dexter and I slowly hobbled with one trekking pole up a few feet until Kristin made the executive decision of turning around. It was even more scary to go back the 10 feet. Dexter started pulling me being the catalyst for my not-needed-speed as I ice skated downhill. Luckily the combination of my trekking pole and Kristin at the bottom I was able to regain control and not die.

[Above Ponytail Falls]

After just a mere .5 mile of hiking I knew this wouldn’t suffice Dexter’s need for high mile exercise. We turned back and hiked up above Ponytail Falls. The trail is unmaintained and steep. This trail actually continues onto Rock of Ages and Bell Creek area allowing you to do a loop depending on your ambition.

[Ponytail Falls flowing downward as waterfalls do.. ]

[Creek above the falls fast-flowing and icy]

We ended up hanging out above Ponytail falls for awhile taking in the winter-wonderland. There is a solid area to chill and potentially camp if you wanted – although there are many better places to camp. Just being .5 mi from the road you can hear the traffic, trains and people. I personally enjoy the feeling of remoteness and crowd-less-ness. At any rate this 1 mile round trip is always a fun little jot and well worth it.

Multnomah Falls – Wahkeena Falls Loop 12/18/10

Garmin Interactive Map

5.45 mi

Min / Max Elevation:
51 ft / 1,578 ft

Dexter & I

Waterfalls Along hike: Wahkeena Falls, Fairy Falls, Dutchman Falls, Wiesendanger Falls, Multnomah Falls and a few others even!

The Multnomah Falls – Wahkeena Falls Loop is one of my favorites in the Columbia River Gorge. It is just a quick 35 minutes from Portland, Oregon and you see many waterfalls over the course of just 5 miles. (Check out the last time I hiked it in FEB 2010)

Multnomah Falls area is a high populated area so whenever hiking in this area I try to get an early start to beat the crowds. Dexter and I started hiking in the dark…

[Dex sporting his Ruff Wear Rain Jacket – Sweet reflectivity! ]

 

[Quick shot of Wahkeena Falls before hiking up… ]

Once we hiked above Wahkeena Falls to Lemon’s Point daylight was finally amongst us.

[Looking East – Can you spot Beacon Rock?]

[Lemon’s Point looking North at Washington]

[First tracks – I love being the first on the trail!]

[Dex loving the snow]

This hike is straight up and straight down bringing a nice burning sensation to the legs. However, with multiple waterfalls and creeks along the way it makes it worth it.

[Dexter – a blur]

[Love the snow and raging creek]

Fairy Falls reminds me of a miniature version of Ramona Falls (near Mt Hood along Timberline Loop Trail). I think it looks cool with water flowing down a rock face – It bounces off each ‘rock stair’ creating an unique waterfall.

[Fairy Falls]

[Fairy Falls]

Not far after Fairy Falls you approach a trailhead – both ways will lead and join up again. I usually choose the Vista option (left) as you get some great views of the gorge. The other way (to the right) leads you through a dense forest (has the feeling of an old growth forest) joining up later at the bottom of Devils Rest. Hiking through the dense forest is the better option if there’s been heavy rain as the Vista Trail becomes extremely muddy.

[Snow covered trees]

[Bottom of Devils Rest – also where the Vista Trail / Forest Trail rejoin]

[Looking up at the climb up to Devils Rest – its brutal especially since the reward isn’t the greatest]

[Looking up at Devils Rest…. not today!]

Once you hit this section of trail it plateaus for awhile then begins to descend to the Multnomah Falls / Larch Mountain trail while paralleling the Columbia River.  Along the Multnomah Falls / Larch Mountain Trail you parallel Multnomah Creek (fed by Larch Mountain Snow Melt) there are multiple waterfalls.

[A Beaver Dam strategically placed in the calm of the creek]

 

[Multnomah Falls]

The highest point along the trail was about 1600ft – here there was 2-3 inches of snow. Descending from the top of Multnomah Falls there was little snow on the trail and then none as I hiked below 500 ft. A solid early morning hike and no better way to complete it, but with a warm cup of hot chocolate at the Multnomah Falls Visitors Center!

Table Mountain 10/26/10

Garmin Interactive Map (Garmin 405 died during this hike)

16 Miles

3350 Elevation gain

Matt, Myself

Table Mountain is a great hike with great rewards – the great rewards / views are why people hike it on a clear day. Those of us who choose to hike it on a day such as this are idiotic and just looking for a good challenge or workout.

Many people choose the shorter approach to Table Mountain – the Aldrich Butte Trail, which is 8 miles. This trailhead is located just West of the Bonneville Hot Springs Resort. Matt and I decided to mix it up with starting from the Bonneville Dam Trailhead, which is double the miles – 16miles in all.

From the Bonneville Dam Trailhead you begin hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail. I am always a fan of hiking on the PCT as it is usually well maintained, offers some of the best views, and plus of its notoriety.

About 3 miles into the hike we hit Gillette Lake. At this point the rain was a heavy constant mist making it feel like we had took a dip in the Lake.

[ Gillette Lake w/ the PCT Trail Marker]

Despite our current wet state we hiked on hoping to get above the freezing level soon in hopes of some dry snow verses the wet rain.

We hiked…. hiked… and hiked….

It rained…. rained … and rained…

[Matt being a good sport despite being wet, tired & hungry 🙂 ]

[Me – wondering where the top of table mt is! ]

[Table Mt? Please! ]

[Table Mountain – Snow at the top]

[My poor Garmin 405 – hmmm not so waterproof!]

My garmin apparently was exposed to an extreme about of rain causing it to loose its waterproof-ness. No one or thing should ever have to endure that much rain… ever! Needless to say I called up Garmin and they happily credited me and I happily upgraded to the garmin 310 (20 hr battery life vs the 405’s 8 hours).

[Garmin 310xt]

The Garmin 310 is an amazing gps watch for the avid cyclist, hiker, runner, snowshoer, etc… It gives you quick and mostly accurate stats like elevation, distance, speed, and heart rate. In addition, the watch even features a map tracking your waypoints. With the map function and easy to read data fields the computer-sized watch is justified – Although if you wear it out on the town you may look like a home school kid and be hackled until performing the quadratic formula as it is similar to the size of the infamous calculator watch.

Munra Point

July 17 2010

2643 Feet
5.7 mile Round Trip (plus Wahclella Falls 2 mi RT)
Myself, Kristin, Brian & Nina
Munra Point Hiking Photos

Munra Point Garmin Connect – Details

Brian and I were set on summiting Munra Point on a clear sunny day as our last hike up Munra Point was foggy/cloudy/windy/rainy. We recruited the girls to join us with great promises of amazing pay offs at the summit. We purposely kept the elevation gain on the dl. Only until we were approaching the trailhead did we discuss the steepness. A few miles before the exit Munra Point is visible from Interstate 84 –

I always like to park at the Wahclella Falls trailhead as there are many great hikes in the area. I usually hike Wahclella Falls as a pre/post hike to my hiking day as it is just 2 miles round trip. This time around we hiked it pre Munra Point.

Wahclella Falls is located just a mile in a small gorge. The high basalt walls, beautiful flowing creek and powerful waterfall make this place a photography hot spot. While we were there 3 vans full of photographers pulled up and started setting up at multiple points near the falls.

The water was definitely cold – much colder than Oneonta Gorge! I walked into the water to snap a few shots of the falls and could only withstand the frigid water temperature for less than a minute.

[Wahclella Falls]

After our quick Wahclella Falls outing we started our “real hike.” The trail was extremely overgrown and looked like it hasn’t seen much trail traffic (i imagine most approach Munra Point from the West). Brian and I cleared the way for the girls chopping down overgrown weeds/brushes utilizing our multipurpose trekking poles.

The approach from the East entails hiking on Gorge Trail #400 for nearly 1.4 miles until the “up” begins. The cut off trail up to Munra Point can become overgrown and difficult to locate sometimes, however, people are good about placing markers along the trail. These markers are great to locate the trail and to keep people on the actual trail to prevent further erosion. Munra Point is an unmaintained trail – Please keep to the trail to prevent more erosion!

From miles 1.5 to 3 things are pretty steep. You start at about 250ft and end atop at mile 3 at 1,870ft. The key is to take your time and find good rest spots. There are a few great rest spots that allow you to sit down and relax for a couple of minutes to rejuvenate.

[Picture taken in May – the first time we hiked it – Great rest spot that shelters you from wind/rain. Located in the midst of the steep climbing in the forested area next to the exposed basalt rock wall.]

[Rest stop 2 just above 2nd rock scramble area… great views]

[views… Looking West towards Multnomah Falls area]

.

[Towards the top the trail turns vertical – Brian reaching the top of Munra Point]

[LEFT: Nina, Kristin & Daisy atop Munra Point RIGHT: Mt Adams, Bonneville Dam, Columbia River]

We hung out at the top of Munra Point for about 30 minutes or so. Looking out on the Columbia River we could see white caps on the river and could definitely feel a strong breeze atop Munra Point from time to time. It was comfortable on the top with a decently flat area to rest as we ate lunch and soaked in some sun. The views are spectacular – Beacon Rock, Mt Adams, Mt Rainer, Bonneville Dam, Bridge of the Gods, St Peters Dome, & Columbia River.

The trek down always seems to be much more difficult. Not only are you fatigued mentally and physically, but with the rocky unstable trail you are more prone to slipping requiring much more concentration and slower movements (equaling muscle burning!). I enjoy taking it slow to have a chance to divert my eyes from my feet and gaze off to enjoy the scenery.

[Taking it easy hiking off of Munra Point]

Oneonta Gorge

July 9 2010

0 Feet
1 mile Round Trip
Myself, Kristin
Oneonta Gorge Hiking Photos
Hiker Trail Info

Oneonta Gorge is by far one of my favorite spots to go to cool off on a hot summer day. It is also many other people’s favorite spot as well – get there early and expect to move slow especially on hot weekend days.

Oneonta Gorge is located just 45 minutes East of Portland, Oregon. It is most easily accessed by traveling East on Interstate 84 to exit 35. Exit 35 will put you on the Columbia River Gorge Historic Highway – Travel West for about 3.5 miles (just beyond Horsetail Falls) and there is parking on both sides of the gorge.

In 1996 the Portland Region experienced some of the most severe weather it has ever seen. It all started in January 96’ with a heavy rains. The rain completely saturated the ground causing river levels to rise and ground to loosen. Late in January the region received a heavy snow storm (areas at low elevations even saw lots of snow!) followed by an artic blast. This turned everything to ice for a little over one week. In early February temperatures rose quickly melting the ice layers and then it began to rain. The combination of rising temperatures and large amounts of rain was the catalyst for the flooding and many landslides.

[Video footage shot in downtown Portland during the 1996 flooding – it was pretty cool how the community all came together to sand-bag the flood-threatened areas!]

The Columbia River Gorge winters are serve enough, but with the added severity (wind, snow, ice, rain, quickly rising temps) it was a disaster zone. There were many landslides that occurred in the Western Columbia River Gorge Corridor. The two main slides that are still evident to this very day is the Dodson and Oneonta Gorge slides.

The Dodson Slide is visible just East of exit 35. The evidence is mind-blowing. I once took a geology field trip to this slide zone and was able to see and learn about the extreme force brought through this area. There is a white house located right off the Columbia River Historic Highway (East of exit 35), which sits close to the road. This older couple once lived much closer (South) to the great basalt cliffs prior to the slide. Their old house was picked up by all of the debris – foundation intact and all – and slid down the hillside. Over the years the area around the landslide house has been overgrown with vegetation making it difficult to spot from the road.

[white house – everyone in the area was evacuated well before the slide occurred]

The Oneonta Gorge slide occurred similar as the Dodson Slide; however, the slide used Oneonta Creek as the catalyst for moving debris down the hillside. Over the years most of the debris has been cleared from the gorge – that is except for the huge log jam. About 100 yards into Oneonta Gorge the gorge walls narrow.  Here sits large boulders and a stack of logs strategically placed like Lincoln Logs by the man upstairs himself.

[left – North/front side of log jam; right – South/back side of log jam]

This log/boulder jam is one of the things that make this hike so unique. I thoroughly enjoy climbing up and over the jam. However, it also can be extremely dangerous. The logs are weathered with most of the bark (traction) stripped away making it for a slick journey up and over. It scares the hell out of my when I see unattended children crossing this section alone as I’ve seen so many times. As a regular summer hiker through this gorge luckily I have only personally witnessed one person falling. A 7 year old boy was much ahead (or the mother was behind) climbing by himself. He stepped onto an extremely slick surface and lost his footing falling 5-6 feet in between a few logs hitting his head. I was able to get to him fairly quick helping him out of the log crevasse. He was definitely in shock and his mother still no where to be seen. Others who witnessed the boy falling relayed the message to the mother. Once the boy saw his mom he began to cry. Luckily in this case things were not much worse than a few bumps and bruises. As this log jam can be dangerous let it not deter you from enjoying this little gem. It can get crowded at the log jam and some may feel rushed – Just take your time (go at a speed that is comfortable for you) and use common sense – if it doesn’t feel right ITS NOT!

Beyond the log jam enjoy cooling off by walking through the creek for about another .25 mile. There is a series of two deeper sections. The second section is the deepest – about 4 ft (depending on time of year/water levels). For those who are a little more adventurous and have the climbing skills – climbing the basalt sidewalls is definitely doable and makes for good practice for deep sea soloing.

[Left – 2nd wading section (the deepest); Center – Me at towards end of deep section; Right – Oneonta Falls]

[Climbing/ jumping into the falls]

The absolute best time to hike Oneonta Gorge is on a hot summer day at 12 noon when the sun is shinning hot into the gorge. When the sun isn’t shinning into the gorge it tends to be a little cooler than most like. Either way its a great time and a great way to cool off.

Eagle Creek – Punch Bowl Falls – Tunnel Falls – Wahtum Lake

MAY 7 2010

5,310 Feet
30.02 miles Round Trip
Myself, David, Drew
Eagle Creek Hiking Photos

Route Replay
Hiker Trail Info

Eagle Creek is an extremely popular trail due to the multiple waterfalls, swim areas, and its relatively flat. The trail starts about a half mile or so from the Camp Host area (right of Interstate 84). If you plan on doing a multi-day trip it is wise to park here and tack on the extra mileage because it will give you some peace of mind that your car is relatively safe in this more highly trafficked area.

The trail parallels Eagle Creek most of the way providing you with some great views of the creek, waterfalls, and high cliffs. Eagle Creek flows through a small gorge with high cliffs on either side. Much of the trail was cut into the hillside – hence its unstableness during the winter months.

On hot summer days the general public usually hikes up just 2 miles to Punch Bowl Falls. This is a beautiful waterfall that has become a hot spot for adrenaline seekers. For others it is simply a popular swimming hole. However, in May it seemed as though nobody was willing to test out the mountain cold water.

[Thrill Seekers jumping off of Punch Bowl Falls]

The High Bridge that crosses over Eagle Creek is at about mile 3 and is another popular out and back day hike. Just another 3 miles down the trail is Tunnel Falls (6miles in). Tunnel Falls is a man made tunnel that moles through the cliff side behind a waterfall. The tunnel was blasted and built back in the 1910s as another attraction along the Historic Columbia River Highway. This is an awesome waterfall that is extremely powerful! This video walk-through does not do it justice, but gives you a glimpse –

[Dave filming Drew and I walking through Tunnel Falls]

For day hikers the journey typical ends here at Tunnel Falls. I always recommend to family and friends to walk another .2 miles up trail to enjoy yet again more waterfalls. Twisty Falls is a cool falls and just above it there is a great lunch spot along the creek.

[Twisty Falls]

Twisty Falls was the furthest I had hiked up until this trip. I have 2 beefs with the Eagle Creek Trail – How crowded it gets and how rocky the trail is. When it is really crowded on this trail it can definitely ruin your hiking experience. Many sections of this trail are along cliffs with not-so-wide trail, which makes it difficult pass by others. The other small annoyance is how rocky the trail is. It may sound petty, but when you log some decent mileage on this trail your feet will definitely let you know!

We left on a Friday afternoon and avoided most of the crowds. Beyond Tunnel Falls we saw just 5 people (over the course of 6 miles). The section after Tunnel Falls is absolutely amazing with many more waterfalls. As you start to gain elevation the trail improves from sharp rock to soft undergrowth – making things much easier on the feet and knees.

Our start time was 1:16pm. Our plan was to make it up to Wahtum Lake and camp there. Then the following day based on weather conditions we would hopefully do a loop up to Chinidere Point – Benson Plateau – and down Ruckel Creek. I was well aware that snow levels were low and that our trip could be altered, but I was excited to just get out on the trail and was cool with playing things by ear.

Passing people early on we were asked about our trip. This older guy told us a few stories about “when he was younger” and how him and his buddies hiked all over the area. Then he proceeded to tell us that it would be a long shot for us to make it up to Wahtum Lake that night. This nonetheless motivate the hell out of us. I knew it might be close, but was definitely optimistic with how we were holding up so far pace wise.

From Twisty Falls the trail continues to follow the creek for just another mile or so then shoots up into the dense forest gaining some decent elevation. At about 2100ft (Inspiration Point) you get a decent glimpse of how vast the Columbia River Gorge Forest is. Beyond Inspiration Point we were welcomed with small sections of snow. At first it was kind of fun – then it became annoying – then we were completely done with it and never wanted to see it again.

[Dave and Drew at Inspiration Point looking onward]

[Dave struggling in the soft deep snow – Drew plotting a much smarter route to avoid being eaten up by the deep cold snow]

Despite the deep snow and us probably being somewhat ill-equipped for such conditions we pushed on and finally made it to Wahtum Lake. However, this was the scene when we arrived…

[Me taking a break from the snow in a mud puddle – also contemplating this as a camping spot]

[Wahtum Lake snow covered in all]

Once we arrived to Wahtum Lake we achieved are goal, but definitely needed a place to eat, get warm, and sleep and Wahtum Lake was definitely not it! After strategizing about possible alternative routes – we finally came to our senses after starring off into the obis and seeing snow everywhere. It was decided to turn around and head back down below the snow level. We plowed through the snow in a quarter of the time it took us to hike up. We quickly hiked down and could feel the temperature increase as we dropped in elevation. It got dark fast in the trees so we had to bust out our headlamps to find camp.

Hiking up we saw many great camping spots. This trail is highly used by boy scout groups and is well-maintained with good signage and plentiful campsites near the trail.  We pulled off at the first decent looking camp spot. Time was of the essence as the little day light we did have was fading fast. We quickly unpacked and started setting up the tent, cooking dinner, and gathering firewood.

Lucky for us it was rather warm once we hiked down below the snow level. We had a few solid attempts at building a fire with water-logged wood, but in the end it was a failure. However, it was definitely entertaining to see who could get the fire to sustain itself the longest.

[Dave’s 2 man tent ended up having to fit 3 men – it all worked out okay in the end..]

We awoke to a cold morning. With our subpar fire starting skills and the wet wood we decided to get on the trail right away. We hiked a few miles down to another great camping spot and cooked up some piping hot oatmeal – delicious!

[Love oatmeal in the morning!]

[Nearby creek – used it to clean our dishes]

After breakfast the sun started to come out a bit warming up the densely cool forest. With doing an out and back hike instead of our planned loop things were a bit more relaxing. We didn’t have to worry about time and were able to take in the sights a bit more as our pace was much less rigorous going down. We came across a few early risers who had similar plans as ours. We shared our experience and talked out some possible alternative routes due to snow levels.

We reenergized at one of my favorite spots on the way back – Twisty Falls. Took the boots off, ate some food, and took in some vitamin d.

The sun and blue skies brought out the crowds. Once we turned the corner to Tunnel Falls we started to see more and more people. It was nice as all of the traffic was headed up trail.

We took a couple more short breaks just off the trail to give the feet a break from the sharp rocky trail. I finally learned how to use the ‘macro’ feature on my camera.

[testing out my camera features]

This was a solid backpacking trip. I would recommend it most especially to the beginner backpacker (in ideal conditions) as it is relatively flat, just 30 miles and has amazing views (waterfalls, riverside hiking, valley views, etc). If you wanted to cut down on the mileage you also could drive up to Wahtum Lake and hike down through Eagle Creek.

Munra Point

1,700 Feet
6.25 miles Round Trip
Myself, Brian and Daisy the dog
Munra Point Hiking Photos
NW Hiker Trail Info

Munra Point is located in an area of the Columbia River Gorge (Eastern Part) where I haven’t completely explored as much. Prior to hiking this one I did a bunch of research and reading about. I came across Dennis Stilwell’s website http://www.nwhiker.com about his Heart Attack story on this very hike. It is pretty intense to actually have done this hike now and to imagine how it may have felt to be in such a dangerous health situation stranded atop Munra Point. You can read about Dennis’s Heart Attack story here – NWhiker – and even listen to a podcast (highly recommend) of Dennis giving the full story – PodCast_HikeYeah (34-35).

Munra Point isn’t a hike of any amateurs. It climbs intensely 1700 ft in about 2.5 miles. It involves a little rock climbing, which stimulates the common adrenaline junky alike. Atop Munra Point offers one of the best vantage points in the entire Columbia River Gorge. Elevated high above the Columbia River you are dazzled with amazing 360 degree views – mountains, waterfalls, geological landscapes, and beautiful panorama of the Gorge. To say this under the conditions we hiked it is very impressive….

It was the weekend and I had my eyes set on hiking Munra Point. We are in the Pacific Northwest so of course it was raining in May. Despite the subpar weather conditions Brian, Daisy the dog, and I went for it. We started from the Wahclella Falls trailhead with rain. The trail was wet and muddy – we were prepared wearing our heavy duty hiking boots.

The first mile is deceiving as it is relatively flat with a short steep stint hiking up a muddy trail then back to a access road. The real climbing starts when you veer off the access road onto the hiking trail (sometimes hard to find – can become overgrown). There are a few different trails up in this area – just remember to head UP and you’ll make it to Munra Point.

You climb pretty steeply through a heavily forested area for about .25 miles when you are first greeted with views. Despite the rain, fog, and low cloud cover it was still pretty amazing.

[Brian hiking up some steep terrain 4×4 style – West Facing]

[West facing pic of Columbia River Gorge]

Just beyond this viewpoint the rock climbing began. Keep in mind that we had a dog with us so we had to carry her or get her a nice running start. She was timid at first then became a rock climbing pro.

[Brian and Daisy approaching next climbing spot. Not up the rock face rather to the left up the gully – still climbing & steep]

[Brian and Daisy near top of Munra Point – West facing]

Once we reached the top the wind started to really pickup as did the rain so we didn’t stick around long. It was decided that we would definitely have to hike this one again when its dry and sunny out to truly appreciate it. The way back was much more difficult then going up. The slick rock made things a bit more tricky and slowed our progress. Most of the climbing spots we simply down-climbed as poor Daisy had to go head first down. I have never seen a dog’s paws so spread out – she needed all the traction she could get.

We saw just two other brave souls out there as we were heading down. We exchanged a bit of hiking beta to one another and continued on down. We were completely drenched and cold from the rain and wind so we decided to pull off for some lunch and change to some dry layers. This sweet rock cropping provided us with some great shelter and a break from the wind and rain.

[Brian and Daisy surveying the area for a good sitting spot]

On the way down the muddy spots were much more muddier. This gave us the opportunity to truly test the durability of our heavy duty hiking boots. My Danner Boots held up great keeping my feet dry and warm.

Towards the end of the hike we walked along the old highway and explored the area a bit (hence our extra mileage). Not completely exhausted from Munra Point we decided to hike up to Wahclella Falls (2 miles RT). A great day of hiking – the rain and wind just kept the trails empty, which was nice to have these beautiful places to ourselves for the day.

Hamilton Mountain

2,480 Feet
9.4 miles Round Trip
Andrew and myself
Hamilton Mountain Hiking Photos
NW Hiker Trail Info

Andrew and I adventured off late in the day in “THE VAN” into the great Columbia River Gorge to pursue and conquer Hamilton Mountain. I had hiked Hamilton Mountain just a few weeks earlier, but decided to hike it again because Andrew had hiked most trails in the Western Gorge except for this one.

Our adventure started off with driving along the Scenic Washington Highway 14 – mostly just to avoid having to fork out the $1 (each way) it costs to cross The Bridge of the Gods. The drive is nice (of course once you pass the Camas Mill). The road is rolling and curvy in parts offering great views of the Columbia River Gorge from the perspective on the Washington side.

As we approached the turn off for Hamilton Mountain (just Northwest of Beacon Rock off of Highway 14) we decided to pull off at Beacon Rock first. While in the parking lot I learned that Andrew had not been to the top of Beacon either – completely astonished I geared up and prepared for the heavy winds that were going to welcome us at the top.

After our short little walk up Beacon Rock based on time our original plan was to run up to the Pool of the Winds Waterfall – hang out for a bit, do lunch up there and head back.

[the pool – lots of unexpected water for this time of year!]

After taking a few minutes to check out the falls Andrew made the executive decision to hike to the top of Hamilton Mountain. Like every other time I’ve hiked this trail we started with the “more difficult” trail then looping back down on the more gradual trail.

On the way up to the summit we moved quickly stopping occasionally for just a few moments to drink water and alternate carrying our one pack. Once atop Hamilton Mountain we wolfed down a couple of sandwiches to rejuvenate us for the trek down. We didn’t stay long at the summit as the winds were still just as blustery as they were atop Beacon Rock. For how crazy the weather was I was still able to snap a few good shots of my surroundings –

[Mt Adams from the top of Hamilton Mt looking East]

[Atop Hamilton Mt look directly South at snow-covered Mt Hood]

[Looking East in the Columbia River Gorge with the Dam beneath]

After our short break at the top we hiked North along the ridge to start our looping descent. With the combination of the colder weather, time deadlines, and beautiful downhill trail – the hike quickly turned into an all out trail run. We would run about a half mile or so then slow er’ down for a few letting our fragile knees take a short break for the intense pounding then continue down. Needless to say, we got down in a hurry!

For more info and a detailed write up on Hamilton Mountain you can read up on the first time I hiked it this year – Hamilton Mountain.