August 19, Day 122: 2115.1-2128.6, Eagle Creek ALT
Miles Hiked: 26.0
Gratitude of the Day: I’m thankful for the trail maintenance crews who tend and care for the PCT.
The trail magic party continued past hiker midnight, 9pm, but I had crawled in bed early so I could get up and start hiking early in the morning knowing I was going to get to hike through one of my favorite hikes in the northwest, Eagle Creek Trail. So at 6am I was the only hiker stirring I walked out of camp. The morning consisted of walking a ridge line that kept giving me constant views of Mt Hood and the burned trees of the 2017 Eagle Creek fire. I reached the junction for Eagle Creek and then took the steep decent into the slot canyon. Ali is meeting me with her puppies along Eagle Creek today, but the trail was super cruisey and I was ahead of schedule, so I messaged her so she’d know I was making good time. I reached the Eagle Creek Trail and found that even though the fire ravaged the area, the trail was still beautiful. Everything was exactly as I remember, Twister Falls, the iconic Tunnel Falls, all the bridges you cross. I stopped and took a dip by the first bridge to cool off, the water felt so nice. Then continued down the trail making it to Punch Bowl Falls. I took the side trail down and oh my in 4 years the scene had changed. To creek had made a new path and a ton of rock had fallen in from the cliffs above. You can now make your way along a very interesting path in the punch bowl of the falls. So I took another dip there waiting for Ali and the dogs to show. I made my way back across the rock scramble to find Ali waiting for me with a beer in hand. We sat enjoying the scenery and talking about how so much of this trail had changed. Then it was just a 2 mile jaunt to the trailhead and I was soon whisked away to Portland and Ali’s house.
No comments:
Post a Comment