2011 Edition
All rights reserved - may not be copied without permission
This is another Eagle Creek area hike. Information on getting to the
Trailhead
can be
found
HERE.
Cool, overcast day which is typical of Memorial Day weekend weather here...
The beginning of this hike starts at the foot of a little bridge that
goes over the Ruckel Creek Falls. Take the Old Columbia River Historic Highway trail
that runs along the Eastbound side of I-84 for about 1/2 mile or so. Alternately,
you can park at
Cascade Locks and follow that same trail West for a couple of miles. If you will be
going all the way to Whatum Lake, you're probably better off parking at Eagle Creek.
However
a NW Forest Pass is required at Eagle Creek. No pass is needed at Cascade Locks.
Here's the information on how to get to the trailhead from
Cascade Locks.
This was a very difficult hike. Not technically difficult but it is 6+ miles of
sustained elevation getting up to close to 4,000'. We did not get to Benson Plateau
today so a return trip is definitely in the future. We started getting into the fog
and decided it was time to turn back. That turned out to be a good decision since
it started raining before we got back to the trailhead. We didn't dawdle but it took
7 hours to go just this 10.5 miles.
Once you head up the trail, you will follow Ruckel Creek for a short ways. The
creek will always be to your right but you won't be able to see it again for 4 or 5
miles (although you will be able to hear the water roaring most of the time).
Not the greatest scenery but there are a few interesting scree fields and views
of the river (when it's not completely socked in as it was today).
This trail offers quite the aerobic exercise for the next 6 miles or so....
There are some nice meadows with wildflowers that Julie likes. But once you get
up to around 2,000' of elevation, the wide Ruckel Creek trail turns into more of a
goat path. It was also pretty chilly in the exposed areas. So you're sweating like
a pig due to the uphill climb *AND* cold from the temps and wind.
Didn't get that many good pictures today. And as the weather got steadily worse as the day
progressed, there were even less photo opportunities on the return trip.
You can't really tell from this picture but this landslide created quite the little
obstacle.
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