Over the River and Through the Woods... - Fri., June 17, 2016

... to Falls Creek Falls we go. Nowheresville. No one told us how far away from our registration point this place was or how many potholes were in the roads as we bounced and jostled the last two miles to the trailhead. (Well, to be honest, had I read the instructions on how to get to the trailhead, I would have known it was a longer distance. It was 30 miles from our registration point!) What a drive. Four of the others in our group were late too.  Temperature at the  start of our hike: 51 degrees. Perfect hiking weather!

Carol and I started out before everyone else because we're a bit slower than the rest of this gung-ho group we walk with. About 1/4 mile in everyone caught up with us at this cute suspension bridge over a deep gorge which contained roaring Falls Creek.

Gary and Dennis hamming it up on the bridge

This trail can only be described as grueling. The walk instructions said it's a gradual climb with a short steep section. I don't know who wrote that. We went up and up and up and up on what I call a steep incline. My hiking poles had a work-out today. The saving grace was the prettiest scenery, the roar of the water, and memories of hiking here with Bob and the boys when they were about 14 and 10.

Dennis and Carol round a bend in the trail

The following photo shows an area that looks like it should have a waterfall flowing down it, but all that is there is a large field of moss-covered rocks. At some point there must be water because there's a bridge there. Or, it could be, that this is the safest way to get people across the boulder field.

Carol surveying the mossy rocks in the riverbed

As we approached the falls, we came upon a huge wall of rock. All of us were so impressed, we stopped to take photos. I was feeling the effects of all the exertion and needed some sustenance. I had left my trail mix in the car, so as not to attract bears with the scent of something good to eat. However, Dennis and Carol had persimmon and chocolate chip cookies in their pack, and they offered me some. How sweet is that? I had one piece of persimmon and one little chocolate chip cookie. Those gave me the energy boost I needed. Onward, upward and upward.

Large mossy rocks that go way high up

The wall of rocks with people added for
perspective on how big this rock is.

Carol next to the rock wall

After we did our photo shoots, a couple of us turned to continue on the trail. We hadn't gone but 25' when Dennis and Carol told us to turn around and come back because we needed to see something. I thought maybe they spotted a bear in a tree or something. Not. With all our fooling around taking photos of the rock, we missed our first sighting of Falls Creek Falls!

Falls Creek Falls - first glimpse

After a short hike, we came upon the full view of the falls. Impressive. These falls drop 335' over three tiers. Fed by an extensive network of springs and streams, Falls Creek Falls is one of the largest and most powerful in southern Washington. The waterfallsnorthwest.com website describes the falls like this:

"The upper tier veils 109 feet in a broad fan-shaped fall which skips down the initial tier of the cliff. Shortly after, the creek spreads out to a breadth of over 100-feet across a gently domed ledge and plunges 135 feet in several segments. After gathering through a cluster of large boulders which have fallen off the adjacent cliffs, the third tier leaps a final 91-feet into a narrow amphitheater gorge."

Falls Creek Falls - you can't even see
the top 109' tier from here!

Falls Creek Falls - lower two tiers

Marietta trying to capture the perfect shot

Dennis also trying to capture a great shot

Gary, Dennis, Susan, Marietta (in front), and Diana

What the trail is like

and why trekking poles really help

From Falls Creek Falls, we hiked back down the steep trail to a side trail. I had thought we were finished going up. Boy was I wrong. The side trail was very steep and our legs were treated to another free calf and thigh work out. Once we finished this little-steep-segment- of-a side-trail, we came to a larger trail and our instructions had us going uphill even more. This trail was also very steep. It kept going and going and going, making us the Energizer bunnies. Our goal was to find Fantail Falls, a short wide waterfall. The trail finally leveled out and we could walk on the level for about a mile.

Fantail Falls

At Fantail Falls, I had to put callous cushions on my feet because I knew we would be going downhill A LOT and my weight would be forward on my feet. Everyone rested and chatted before the long downhill.

Darlene, Sandy and Gary

Marietta, Carol and Dennis

This hike did me in. Elevation gain on this hike is 1,150'. Length: 10k (6.2 miles).

I immediately headed back to the Volksmarch area for the $3 hot dog lunch. My plan was to do the 5k Cascade Locks Town Walk after lunch, but decided against it. I was going to meet friends Curt and Lexi for dinner at 5:15 p.m. in Wilsonville and I wanted to go home, nap, shower and put on fresh clothes first. It was 1:50 p.m. and it was an hour to Mom's house without traffic.

It's a good thing I left when I did. Traffic was gridlocked all over Portland. I was stuck in traffic everywhere I went. Because we lived in the Portland area over 30 years, I knew a lot of back roads and I tried many of them, only to be stuck in more gridlock. Apparently there was an accident on I-5 at I-205 south of town which backed up the freeways for miles! Ugh.

It ended up taking me and hour and 45 minutes to get to Mom's place. I tried to take a nap at her house, but just lay there with my eyes closed. Then I showered and headed south to Wilsonville, which usually takes about 20 minutes. I-5 was stop and go. When I got to the north Wilsonville exit, I took side roads the rest of the way to the restaurant. Curt had just arrived and Lexi wasn't there yet. She arrived a couple of minutes after me. They had been stuck in the gridlock too.

Lexi, Curt and I at The Ram in Wilsonville, Oregon

Since the evening was beautiful, we sat outside. Our meal was delightful and we talked about movies, music, and travel. I enjoy connecting with friends.

What an active couple of days I've had! Stay tuned for another hike tomorrow. Forecast is for heavy rain at 1 p.m. We'll start our 10K walk at 8 a.m. to try to avoid heavy precipitation.

Travel Bug out.

Go Take a Hike! - Thurs., June 16, 2016

The Columbia River Gorge Biennial Classic: That's what this weekend is all about...hiking over four days. I signed up for five 10k Volksmarches and one 5k Volksmarch for the weekend (starting Thursday).

Pertinent info on each walk so you can choose your
walk wisely for your level of fitness

All the walk routes are in the boxes in front
and the board behind them gives event info.

Thursday's weather forecast for the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon called for rain after 11:00 a.m. I hit the trail from Multnomah Falls to Wahkeena Falls at 8:40 a.m. under cloudy, threatening skies. The temperature was 49 degrees, perfect for a strenuous hike. 

Since this is a loop hike, we parked our cars at Wahkeena Falls which would be our finish spot. From Wahkeena Falls, we took the Return Trial to Multnomah Falls. 

No matter how many times I hike in the gorge, Multnomah Falls continues to impress with its spectacular grandeur. Multnomah is the highest waterfall (621') in Oregon.

Multnomah Falls

First stop (besides multiple rest stops) will be the viewing platform at the top of the waterfall, and then the walk continues higher and higher past other waterfalls, a spring, and then coming back down through Wahkeena Canyon, past Fairy and Wahkeena Falls. Elevation gain: 1,600'. 

After crossing the Benson Bridge (pictured above), the trail climbs up a series of 11 switchbacks and there is a sign at each one. Even though the morning was chilly, I soon had my coat and hat off because I was sweating at about switchback #4. And, yes, I was counting. 

The view of the Columbia River is awesome

Viewing platform at the top of Multnomah Falls

From here you can look down on the Columbia River,
I-84, the mountains in Washington state, and the parking lot.

Easy part of the trail...flat for a little bit

Middle Dutchmen Falls

Middle Dutchmen Falls

Dutchmen Tunnel - a natural rock overhang

All along the trail the sound of rushing water accompanies your footsteps. It is such a soothing sound. For a long time I was hiking by myself. I took my time and photographed as I went along. This is a strenuous hike, so it wasn't long before hikers starting passing me. 

Weisendanger Falls

Columbine

Weisendanger Falls from the top

Ecola Falls

Tiger lily flowers

Connector trail from Multnomah Falls to
Wahkeena Springs

Cool mossy trees look like they're dancing

From the main trail, we made a short detour to Wahkeena Springs. I had the place to myself. I found a comfortable rock to sit on with a second rock perfect for a footrest. I took off my coat and my hat and settled in to relax for a bit with my trail mix and to listen to the sound of the springs bursting forth from the earth. Five yards above Wahkeena Springs there's nothing but forest and all of a sudden, the water is gushing out from underground. Enough water to make Wahkeena Canyon, Fairy Falls and Wahkeena Falls. (You'll see those in a minute.)

Wahkeena Springs as seen from my
resting spot

Trail mix, footrest rock and hiking poles...
what more could a lady ask for?

Our Volksmarch turn-around sign

No sooner did I get comfortable on my rock, than it started raining; not just a little annoying mist, but full-blown rain. I stowed the trail mix, and put on the coat, hat and backpack. Then I made my way down the trail into Wahkeena Canyon. The canyon is only wide enough for the rushing water and a trail next to it. 

Wahkeena Canyon

Wahkeena Canyon

The trail went steeply down and down. I had glorious sounds, forest scents, and scenes each step of the way. Wait a few minutes and the rain is gone, replaced by a sunny day!

Fairy Falls

Never underestimate the power of water. These Douglas fir trees are 70-100' tall, yet look what the flowing water did; it undercut the roots and bye-bye tree.

What the trail looks like

Lemmons Viewpoint of the Columbia River
(notice how nice the weather is now?)

Upon rounding a corner and taking a few steps down, Wahkeena Falls comes into view. You'll get spray from this waterfall as you pass by.

This bridge is 1/2 mile from my car!

Wahkeena Falls from the parking lot.

Wow! When I returned to the parking lot it was filled to overflowing with people waiting for spots. I took my time and changed from my hiking boots into my Skecher Airs for walking and comfort.

I was really hungry after 6.2 miles of heavy-duty hiking. Back at the Port of Cascade Locks, the HQ for our Gorge Hiking Weekend, they offer a $3 lunch of a fresh-grilled hot dog, chips, Famous Amos Cookies and a drink. I got there as fast as I could.

As I was waiting in line for my lunch, I was right behind Carol and Dennis, the secretary and treasurer of the Menehune Marchers Volksmarch Club which I used to belong to when we lived in Hawaii. Small world! We had lunch together and they introduced me to other friends of theirs. Before I knew it, I had four new friends. They invited me to do the 10K Starvation Creek Falls walk after lunch. This walk was rated easy which was much needed after the morning hike.

Columbia River Gorge

I rode with Dennis and Carol to the walk start point. From where we parked the cars, it was a one-mile walk, on a mostly level, wide paved path, to Starvation Creek Falls. The sun was glistening on the falls and we were all in awe of how pretty it was.

Starvation Creek Falls

 Everyone photographing and appreciating Starvation Creek Falls.

Starvation Creek Falls

Columbia River Gorge

We then returned on the same trail and were heading into a campground. An official-looking gentleman pulled up in his truck, got out and said, "I have something for all of you." OK, bring it on. Turns out his name is Kevin Price and he's the Region Manager for Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. He gave each of us a commemorative pin of the Columbia Gorge State Parks with a picture of the Vista House on it. We were all delighted. Volksmarchers like to collect souvenir pins, in addition to the pins and badges we earn by walking.

Before he drove off, I told him he picked a good group to stop because we were from all over. Diana is from Canberra, Australia; Marietta is from Alabama; Dennis and Carol are from Hawaii and I'm from Texas. He was so happy.

Diana, Gary, me, Kevin, Dennis and Carol

Our group was so thrilled, that Dennis ran back to the car and got a little clip-on koala from Australia to give to him.

Kevin with his clip-on koala on his pocket

Diana, Marietta, Kevin, Dennis, Carol

We then walked through a campground to a very small waterfall which was another turn-around point. From there they had us walk through someone's camp site. We had to explain to the people that they would probably be having a number of people visit them throughout the weekend. They were good-humored about it. They said, "Do any of them cook and clean?"

Very small waterfall (more like rapids!)

Our next destination on the walk was Viento State Park Campground. We walked on the roads through the campground out to the Columbia River.

Columbia River looking west

and looking east

We saw this little rental trailer that they're touting
as a tiny home.

From the campground, we walked back to the car. Dennis and Carol dropped me off at my car and we all continued back to our respective lodgings for the night. Tomorrow morning we will all meet at the Falls Creek Falls trailhead.

On the way home, I ran into massive traffic jams, but still made it back to mom's at 5:32 p.m. I had told her I thought I'd be home at 5:30. Pretty darned close with all that traffic to contend with.

Mom and Jan had made baked potatoes which we cut up and served with chili. We also had a tomato and cucumber salad with Italian dressing. I was so full I couldn't eat it all so I saved some for lunch another day. And then they had raspberry shortcake for dessert. I had to wait a while before I could eat that. Instead of shortcake or a biscuit, they serve the berries on a heated blueberry-walnut muffin. Mmmmmmm! Thank you Mom and Jan for a delicious dinner.

Are you tired yet? I am, and this was only Day 1 of a four-day hiking weekend!

Tomorrow Falls Creek Falls and Fantail Falls. Must. Get. Sleep!