I began my final solo vacation of the year with a visit to the Columbia River Gorge National Recreation Area and the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. My plan was based on an entry in Matt Reeder’s “PDX Hiking 365” (1st edition) guidebook.
He describes a 14-mile out and back hike to the Plateau starting at the Herman Creek Trailhead with a cumulative elevation gain of 3800′. Most of the hike passes through the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire scar using the Herman Creek, Herman Creek Bridge, and Pacific Crest Trails.
I arrived at the trailhead before sunrise due to wanting to get through Portland traffic before 6am.
There were a few important pieces of information at the trailhead signboard.
Important information included the need of a NW Forest Pass to park at the trailhead, that there is currently a campfire ban, and no fireworks are allowed (illegal use of fireworks started the Eagle Creek Fire).
I set off on the Herman Creek Trail and followed it uphill passing under a powerline corridor to a junction with the Herman Creek Bridge Trail at the 0.6-mile mark.
I forked right onto the 1.1-mile-long Herman Creek Bridge Trail which descended to the Herman Creek Bridge then climbed to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).
Herman Creek
Climbing toward the PCT. Note the red leaves on the left which is poison oak. There was a fair amount of poison oak along the lower portion of this hike. There were a couple of spots where I had to get small to squeeze between some of it, but I was able to avoid it by staying alert.
Beardtongue
More poison oak. With it turning red for the Fall most of it was easy to spot.
First pika sighting of the day. (Can you spot it?)
The Columbia River Gorge is the lowest elevation at which pikas live. These members of the rabbit family require temperatures below 78 degrees and primarily live at higher elevations with longer snowy seasons during which they live underground surviving on greens collected during summer months.
The Moon above cliffs.
The junction with the PCT. The hike up to this point had retraced part of our 2015 to Pacific Crest Falls (post).
In 2015 we had gone right to visit the waterfall, but this time I turned left on the PCT which quickly entered the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness.
From the junction it was a nearly constant 5-mile climb to Benson Plateau. There were a couple of small saddles that provided a little up and down near the plateau but otherwise it was a steady but never steep climb.
First good viewpoint across the Columbia River.
Another pika. I heard several but only spotted three or four.
The summit of Mt. Adams peaking over the ridge across the river.
Table Mountain (post) on the left and Greenleaf Peak (post) on the right.
The amount of poison oak lessened as the trail climbed giving way to friendlier greenery.
One of two large trees over the trail. This one required the removal of my pack so that I could crawl under. The other one was just enough smaller that it could be climbed over.
View along the trail.
A little more of Mt. Adams showing.
Heading into the sunlight.
Grouse on the PCT. There wound up being at least 5 or 6 grouse nearby.
Grouse in a tree.
The tree I climbed over.
There were a few overgrown sections, but fortunately they were high enough up that the poison oak was no longer an issue.
Up, up, up through the forest.
Strategic use of switchbacks helped keep the trail from being too steep.
Near the switchback above I caught a strong whiff of fire. Not smoke in the air, but the unmistakable smell of fire. It made me a little uneasy because there weren’t any nearby fires showing on the online maps I’d checked before leaving. After climbing another switchback the trail gained a ridgetop, and I discovered the source of the smell. A pair of bow hunters had set up a fire ring and built a fire right next to the trail and a tree. They had their tent, sleeping bags and gear strewn about and when they spotted me they explained they were trying to “dry out” their gear. It was obvious from their need to quickly explain why they had a fire that they knew it wasn’t okay. I didn’t feel comfortable calling them out on it so I made my way around their gear and continued on.
The ridgetop. The bow hunters were about 100 yards behind me at this point.
I continued on getting a view of Mt. St. Helens through the snags.
Another grouse. This was one of 8 to 10 that were in this area.
The cliffy Hamilton Mountain (post) on the Washington side of the gorge.
Explorer’s gentian
After another switchback the trail arrived at an open viewpoint.
The PCT continuing uphill.
Mt. Adams
Closer look at Mt. Adams
Mt. Hood partially hidden by trees.
Mt. Hood
Approximately a half mile from the illegal campfire I arrived at Teakettle Spring.
It was good to know that there was water available here as the only other source I’d passed was Herman Creek. I was carrying an extra Hydroflask full of water just in case, and after seeing the campfire I came up with another use for it. I decided that I would add that water to my pack bladder when I reached the plateau and then refill the Hydroflask from the spring on the way down to use on the fire pit if necessary.
The trail continued to climb beyond the spring before crossing two saddles along a ridge. In the second saddle the Benson Way Trail arrived on the right.
Beargrass along the trail is much better than poison oak.
Sections of the ridge burned intensely in 2017.
Near the second saddle the trail left the 2017 fire scar, although a very small section did burn in the 2024 Whiskey Creek Fire.
The Benson Way Trail on the right.
The final climb to the Benson Plateau.
The trail eventually leveled out on the plateau.
Approximately three quarters of a mile from the Benson Way junction I passed the Benson-Ruckle Trail, again on the right.
Trail signs for the Benson-Ruckle Trail.
Reeder mentioned a campsite near the junction, but I didn’t see an obvious one. I continued on looking for the campsite but after a tenth of a mile I instead spotted a short use trail to a rocky viewpoint. I decided that would make for a good spot for a break.
It wasn’t a huge view, but it was nice and the rocks made for a great spot to sit down, have a snack, add the remaining Hydroflask water to my pack, and then change into dry socks.
After the break I headed back the way I’d come. It would have been possible to use the network of trail on the plateau to make a loop around it, but 14-miles was enough for me today.
I made my way back down to Teakettle Spring and refilled the Hydroflask as planned.
The hump with radio towers behind the ridge is Mt. Defiance (post).
Not long after leaving the springs I encountered the bow hunters who were standing in the trail looking at their phone. They asked me if I knew where the spring was because they were “plumb out of water”. I informed them it was about 100 yards further up the trail and continued on now wondering if they were out of water due to dousing the campfire or if they had had enough water to do that in the first place.
Approaching the best viewpoint.
Not only was Mt. Adams a little clearer but I realized the top of Mt. Rainier was visible from the viewpoint as well.
Mt. Rainier behind Red Mountain (post).
Huckleberry leaves.
Vine maple
When I arrived at the site of the fire pit I could tell that they had at least attempt to extinguish the fire.
The fire pit. In no way is this acceptable, even if fires weren’t currently banned. If it is legal to have a fire and you feel you must please follow Leave No Trace Principles.
Even though there was no visible smoke I knew that fires can easily burn underground, sometimes for days until they reach a tree or stump at which point they can reemerge above ground causing a full-on wildfire. I felt the dirt over the fire and sure enough it was still putting off heat so I exposed some of the coals and poured the Hydroflask out over them. This produced a lot of hissing so I did a little stirring and added more water from my bladder attempting to make “campfire soup”. After doing what I could with what I was carrying I marked the location with the GPS so I could report it to the Forest Service when I had the chance which I did later.
I continued down the trail and when I neared the tree that required crawling under met a pair of backpackers heading up to the plateau. I described the fire pit to them, and they indicated that they were carrying extra water and would add some if necessary.
Other than that it was an uneventful downhill until I reached the rocky hillsides where I once again had some luck spotting pikas.
This one was more than happy to pose for me for a bit.
At the end of the day my GPS read 14.2-miles with the 3800′ of elevation gain as advertised.
Despite the issue with the illegal fire this was a nice, challenging hike. There really isn’t anything that will blow you away scenery wise, but there is enough of a mix to keep it interesting. While the upper portion of the trails can get pretty snowy from November through late April/early May this would be a great training hike while waiting for the higher elevations to become snow free. Happy Trails!
Flickr: Benson Plateau
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Map at the trailhead signboard and wilderness permit station.
Trail sign at the split of the East and West Fork trails.
Trail sign for the East Fork Wallowa Trail at a junction with a gravel road.
Ghost pipe
Entering into the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
Chief Joseph Mountain and Wallowa Lake
I never saw any but I heard a number of pikas in the rock fields.
Switchback
Rock clematis seed heads.
Bridge at the upper end of the access road that I had passed earlier.
The lower section of the waterfall from the bridge.
The access road bridge from the switchback.
East Fork Wallowa River Forebay
Interpretive sign at the forebay.
Aster
The trail entering the 
Elderberry and baneberry
Zoomed in photo.
Small meadow along the trail.
Aneroid Mountain in the distance.
Mountain larkspur
Pika underneath some raspberries.
Pika
A few lupine were still blooming along the trail.
Doe in a small meadow along the trail.
Tall mountain bluebells
The damaged footbridge.
East Fork Wallowa River
The inbound and outbound forks rejoining.
East Fork Wallowa River flowing through a meadow along the trail.
Goldenrod
Unnamed creek crossing.
American sawort
Another doe in a meadow.
A hazy view of Aneroid Mountain.
Pearly everlasting along the trail.
East Peak (
A closer look at East Peak.
The benches.
Groundsel along the trail.
A boat docked on the lakeshore in the distance.
An inlet creek to the lake near the boat dock.
East Peak from Aneroid Lake.
Signs for Camp Halton at the actual junction with the East Fork Wallowa Trail.
Hammond’s flycatcher
East Peak
Lewis monkeyflower
Aneroid Mountain
Pollinator on a flower.
The split trail.
The outbound trail dropped quite steeply before meeting back up with the inbound trail.
The damaged bridge from the other side.
Fritillary butterfly
A comma butterfly
Golden-mantled ground squirrel
Mount Howard
Coneflower
Wallowa Lake
Quaking aspen
Arriving back at the trailhead.
The trail passes through the Shady Campground.
Lostine River
Unnamed creek crossing.
Thimbleberry
One of the switchbacks.
Climbing into the sunlight.
Possibly a Cassin’s vireo.
Another switchback.
Fireweed
Monkshood
Twisted stalk
Eagle Cap (
Looking down from the trail.
Paintbrush
Chipmunk
The trail turning uphill ahead to start the steep climb.
Meadow along a brief section of reasonably graded trail.
Nuttal’s linanthus
The pass in view.
Twin Peaks to the left over the shoulder of the ridge.
The trail down to Maxwell Lake.
Ground squirrel on alert.
Maxwell Lake
Aster along the outlet creek.
Gentians
Island in Maxwell Lake.
The view from the granite outcrop.
Looking back at the pass from the outcrop.
Last of the snow at Maxwell Lake.
Trail along Maxwell Lake.
Trail to Jackson Lake.
Jackson Lake
False hellebore
Pika raising a warning call. Interestingly the pikas in the Wallowas make a sound that we don’t recall hearing from pikas in other areas. It was almost as if they had their own regional dialect.
Passing back over the granite outcrop.
Maxwell Lake’s outlet creek.
Trout in the outlet stream.
One last look at Maxwell Lake.
The view from the pass on the way back.
Heading down the steep section.
The afternoon lighting on the ridge across the Lostine River really brought out the colors.
Eagle Cap way up the valley.
Heather counted at least seven significant drops on a creek cascading down the far hillside.
Fritillary
Canada jay
Police car moth
Back at the bridge over the Lostine River.
Lostine River
The Maxwell Lake Trailhead in the afternoon.
This pointer refers to trail 1880 as “Pine Creek” but other signs and the Forest Service website refer to it as “Pine Lakes”.
This one says Pine Lakes.
Sign for the Packstation.
Squirrel with breakfast at the packstation.
Old footbridge over a dry creek bed. It didn’t look particularly safe so I stuck to the road.
The dry creek bed crossing.
Black cows on the trail ahead.
Coneflower
Snowberry
West Fork Pine Creek
Formation on the hillside.
Western clematis
Paintbrush
Fireweed
The bridge felt stable despite being slanted at a 45-degree angle.
View from the trail.
The second bridge.
West Fork Pine Creek
Heather caught this cool cloud from her currently cow free hike. (She would run into them later where they’d ducked off the trail in front of me.)
Looking back down at the campsite.
The use trail straight ahead at the switchback.
The base of Chute Falls.
Looking back down the valley.
View up the valley.
Wilderness sign on the tree marking the boundary.
The Pine Lakes are back up there somewhere.
Somewhere on the other side of the peaks on the left is the Schneider Cabin where we’d hiked the day before.
Cliffs above the trail.
I spy mountain goats!
A zoomed in photo of the mountain goats.
I believe that is Cornucopia Peak on the left.
Going up.
Fireweed above the trail.
Paintbrush along the trail.
The forest on the other side of the pass.
West Fork Pine Creek
There was a large waterfall flowing down from the outlet of the Pine Lakes. (Not West Fork Pine Creek whose headwaters were beyond the meadowed basin.
West Fork Pine Creek begins somewhere above the basin at the far end.
Rock formations along the cliffs.
Arnica and pearly everlasting
I tried to get a clearer look at the large waterfall but couldn’t find a clear line of sight.
Gentians along the trail.
Evidence of an avalanche at the far end of this meadow. It took a lot of trail maintenance to clear the snapped trees from the trail.
Wildflowers lining the trail.
A doe that turned out to be on the trail above me. There was a switchback just ahead of where I was.
The forest in the basin.
The Pine Lakes are in the basin ahead.
Arnica and aster?
Monkshood
Seep along the trail.
Grass of parnassus
American sawort
Something had been bedded down in this little bowl below the trail.
Goldenrod
The valley I’d come up to the right.
Nearly 5-miles from Chute Falls I arrived at the dam at the outlet of Lower Pine Lake. A number of lakes in the Wallows were dammed to control water flow to the surrounding communities.
Lower Pine Lake
Lower Pine Lake
Lower Pine Lake from between the two lakes.
Upper Pine Lake from the same spot.
Upper Pine Lake.
The view from my break spot.
Shrubby cinquefoil
White mariposa lily, the only one I spotted, and I’d missed it on the way up.
Yellow columbine, I also missed this on the first pass.
Dusky flycacther
A meadow and the forest in the lower basin.
Fritillary on pearly everlasting
Trail maintenance in the avalanche section.
Loved the rock colors in the area.
I’m guessing some sort of wren.
Caterpillers
Herding the cattle back past the damaged bridge.
West Fork Pine Creek.
The footbridge across the East Fork Pine Creek ahead. We’d left the cows behind here and made our way back to the trailhead.
Harvester ants – 5/29/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
Ant on penstemon – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Crab spider on a California harebell – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District
Bee – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District
Bees – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest
Sweat bee? and a beetle on a prickly pear cactus – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Beetle – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Beetle – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Beetle on a white mariposa lily – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Beetle and another bug on spirea – 7/4/23, Rocky Top Trail, Santiam State Forest
Beetles on thistle – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Ladybug on a daisy – 7/4/23, Natural Arch Trail, Santiam State Forest
Common pill-bug – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District
Beetle – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Beetle and a butterfly on buckwheat – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Grasshopper – 9/3/23, P Ranch, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Cricket – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Caterpillar – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Caterpillar – 7/1/23, Hummocks Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA
Caterpillar – 8/16/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Millipede – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Millipedes – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Eight-spotted Forester-Alypia octomaculata – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest
Fireweed Clearwing Moth (Albuna pyramidalis) – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest
Moth – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest
Moths – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA
Moth – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA
Moth – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA
Moth – 6/16/23, Trail 1890, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Moth – 7/4/23, Rocky Top Trail, North Santiam State Park
Moth – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District
Moth – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
Moth – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest
Sphinx moth – 8/17/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Fly and butterfly – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Boisduval’s blues? – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA
Acmon blue? – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Eastern tailed blue? – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville
Butterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 5/2/23, Sterling Mind Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District
Butterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Butterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Butterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 6/13/23, Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, Joseph
Echo azures? – 5/4/23, Forest Road 011, Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest
Butterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA
Butterflies in the Lycaenidae family – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest
Gray hairstreak – 6/11/23, Lewis & Clark Trail, Hermiston
Thicket hairstreak? – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest
A hairstreak – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA
Various butterflies – 6/16/23, Deep Creek Stairway Trail, Payette National Forest, ID
Lorquin’s admiral – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Red admiral – 7/23/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest
California sister – 10/8/23, Forest Road 041, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Painted lady – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
California tortoiseshell – 9/16/23, Fish Lake Trail, Mt. Hood National Forest
Milbert’s tortoiseshell – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Hoary comma – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest
Mourning cloak – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Common wood nymph – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Ochre ringlet – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Checkerspot – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Checkerspot – 7/1/23, Boundary Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA
Snowberry checkerspot – 7/1/23, Boundary Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA
Edith’s checkerspot – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest
Mylitta crescent – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
A crescent? – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville
Fritillary butterflies – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
A fritillary – 7/4/23, Rocky Top Trail, Santiam State Forest
A fritillary – 7/15/23, Forest Road 4610, Mt. Hood National Forest
Indra swallowtail – 5/4/23, Kerby Flat Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Oregon swallowtail? with ladybug – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Swallowtail – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA
Western swallowtails – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Swallowtail – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
A sulphur – 9/9/23, Alta Lake Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Large marble – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Becker’s white – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Male margined white? – 8/29/23, Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park, Oregon City
Mountain parnassian – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Clodius parnassian – 7/29/23, Pumice Flat Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Silver-spotted Skipper – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
A skipper – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
A skipper – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
A skipper – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
A skipper – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District
Skipper on a sagebrush mariposa lily – 7/23/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest
A skipper – 9/3/23, P Ranch, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Duskywing? – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
Duskywing – 5/3/23, Waters Creek Interpretive Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Dreamy duskywing – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Dragonfly – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
Dragonfly – 7/1/23, Hummocks Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA
Dragonfly – 7/15/23, Plaza Lake, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
Dragonfly – 7/31/23, Godfrey Glen Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Dragonfly – 9/2/23, Idlewild Loop Trail, Malheur National Forest
Slug – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff Nature Park, Oregon City
Snail – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley Trail, Siuslaw National Forest
Rough skinned newt – 4/15/23, Cape Mountain, Siuslaw National Forest
Tadpoles – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Western toads – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Full grown western toad – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Cascade frog – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Pacific treefrog – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District
Northern red-legged frog – 8/26/23, Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Cloverdale
Bullfrog (invasive) – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany
Western pond turtles – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany
Southern alligator lizard – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
Western fence lizard – 5/3/23, Waters Creek Interpretive Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Sagebrush lizard – 7/22/23, Shut-In Trail, Deschutes National Forest
Pygmy short-horned lizard – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest
Gopher snake – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District
Garter snake – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany
Rubber boa? – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Nutria (invasive) – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
Beaver – 5/29/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
Yellow-bellied marmot – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Gray squirrel – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany
Douglas’ squirrel – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany
Eastern fox squirrel? – 4/29/23, Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park, Oregon City
Columbian ground squirrel – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Golden-mantled ground squirrel – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Chipmunk – 8/5/23, McNeil Point scramble trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness
Pika – 8/5/23, McNeil Point Trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness
Rabbit – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
Mountain cottontail – 5/29/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
Fawns – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Doe – 5/20/23, Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA
Buck – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Elk – 6/15/23, Buckhorn Road (FR 46), Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Horses – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District
Bat -5/2/23, Sterling Mine Ditch Tunnel, BLM Medford District
Seals – 11/18/23, Siletz Bay, Lincoln City
Shell with inhabitant – 11/18/23, Nelscott Beach, Lincoln City
Starfish – 10/28/23, Short Beach, Oceanside
Trout – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Fish – 6/16/23, Hells Canyon Reservoir, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
The path from camp meeting the West Eagle Trail.
It was a little before 6:30am when I started.
Switchbacks would be a theme for these last two days.
The trail junction on the ridge ahead.
The West Eagle Creek crossing.
There was a large waterfall on West Eagle Creek flowing from Echo Lake’s basin on the right.
Echo Lake Falls
There was a waterfall ahead at the end of the switchback here, but it was mostly obscured by vegitation.
It was fairly smokey looking ESE in the morning.
Wildflowers along the trail.
Several switchbacks were along this tributary of West Eagle Creek. This particular spot would provide me with much needed water on my descent.
It looked like there might be a bit of a waterfall along this stream as well.
Looking up the stream at another cascade.
The upper portion entered an old fire scar and sunlight which heated things up quickly.
Northern flicker
Every time I thought I was at the basin the trail would switchback to find more hillside.
Mountain bluebird
Surely that is the crest.
It was not, up I go.
Smoke to the South.
Echo Lake across the valley.
Finally done with the switchbacks I could see the next climb in the distance ahead, but for now I had a bit of a reprieve.
Lousewort
Gentians, one of my favorite wildflowers.
The larger meadow ahead.
Their camp was uphill to the left. The stream here was lined with wildflowers.
Lewis monkeyflower, aster (or fleabane), and fringed grass of parnassus.
The trail all but disappeared on the far side of the stream, but small cairns helped mark the way.
Cairns along the trail through the meadow.
Yellow Wallowa Indian paintbrush
Heading up again.
Larkspur
White mariposa lily
Looking back down into the basin.
False hellebore
Coiled lousewort
View of the basin headwall.
View back down the valley.
Phlox
Chipmunk
Golden-mantled ground squirrel
Arriving at the pass.
Smokey view from the pass.
Tombstone Butte, Swabb Mountain, with Granite Butte behind in between, and China Cap to the right.
The pass at nearly 8200′.
Tombstone Lake below.
Sturgill Peak
Tombstone Lake is a series of connected bodies of water.
A phacelia.
Rosy paintbrush
Finally at the lake.
Gentian along the lakeshore.
Swamp onion along the shore of one of the smaller bodies of water.
Pika!
The Tombstone Lake Trail from the gap.
Eagle Cap in the middle and Needle Point in the distance to the right.
Eagle Cap (
The East Fork Elk Creek valley below.
Starting the switchbacks down.
Hawk
Sphinx moth visiting some Lewis monkeyflower
Some nice paintbrush
Clumps of gentians
Gentians
Swamp onion
Leaving the basins to start the giant set of switchbacks down.
This little cascade was perfect for filling the bladder.
Echo Lake Falls straight ahead.
Recrossing West Eagle Creek.
One last look up at where I’d come from.
Small unnamed waterfall on an unnamed creek.
Sphinx moth at camp.
While we don’t intentionally feed the wildlife this green comma seemed to like the sweaty socks.
Registration box and signboard at the Mt. Hood Wilderness boundary.
There were a few downed trees but nothing too difficult to navigate.
The brush was mostly huckleberry bushes.
Trail side snacks.
McGee Creek Trail junction with the Timberline Trail.
Blowdown from the September 2020 storms that also flamed the destructive wildfires across the state. For more information on the storms impact on Mt. Hood check out this Wy’East Blog 
Looking through the trees at one of the areas that suffered severe blowdown.
It was a cloudy day. We got sprinkled on briefly a couple of times.
Fireweed
Pinedrop
Avalanche lilies
Paintbrush
Valerian, spirea, and paintbrush
Gentians
Yellow monkeyflower
A tributary of McGee Creek.
Spirea along the Timberline Trail.
Shooting star
Pink monkeyflower
Fleabane
Beargrass
False hellebore
Partridge foot
Lupine
Lewis monkeyflower along a tributary of McGee Creek.
Beardstongue
Lousewort
Dry pond surrounded by beargrass.
The idiots camped in the meadow. There is even an arrow on the “Do not camp in meadow” sign pointing at the meadow. Please DON’T be these people.
The second pond still had some water in it.
Junction with the Mazama Trail (
The butterflies weren’t out today but the bees were.
The clouds just wouldn’t quite raise enough.
Mountain heather
Lupine and paintbrush
Beargrass along the Timberline Trail.
Paintbrush, partridge foot and lupine
Signpost for the McNeil Point Trail.
We’d never seen a paint colored like this before.
Western pasque flower
Lupine and two types of monkeyflower
Pikas spend the Summer gathering greens for the rest of the year when they remain in their homes under the snows.
Mountain heather and paintbrush.
Saxifrage
A variety of flowers.
Avalanche lilies
Sub-alpine fleabane
Western pasque flowers
Doe that was as surprised as we were when we spotted each other.
Lewis monkeyflower
The righthand fork.
View from the plateau.
Some low clouds to the East.
Dwarf lupine
A hiker on the righthand fork headed for the McNeil Point Shelter.
Caves below the Sandy Glacier.
Bluebells of Scotland
The shelter below to the right.
Muddy Fork
Goldenrod
With the clouds the view wouldn’t have been great from the ridge on this day.
Patches of blowdown along Bald Mountain Ridge.
Columbine
Valerian
Paintbrush and bistort
Aster
Meadow near the Timberline Trail.
Arriving back at the Timberline Trail.
Every once in awhile the trail was clear of other users.
We’re always drawn to this rock fin above the Muddy Fork.
Canada jay
McGee Creek Trail junction.
Bunchberry
Is that sunlight?
While the clouds never lifted from Mt. Hood we did experience a window of blue sky near the end of our hike.
Ants dropping sawdust from a log along the Catherine Creek Trail. We sat and watched these busy ants for quite a while. They had created a good-sized pile on the ground below.
We see a lot of beetles but usually not all at once like these lady bugs on Observation Peak.
Lady bug – Upper Table Rock
Yellow & black beetle – Mule Mountain
Redish brown beetle – Siskiyou Wilderness
Green beetle – Siskiyou Wilderness
Hitchhiker – Mt. Ireland
Blueish green beetle – Catherine Creek Meadows
Small beetle – Catherine Creek Meadows
Green beetle on a geranium – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Green beetle on a wallflower – Silver Star Mountain
Stripped beetle – Spring Valley Greenway
Water skippers – Big Twin Lake
Spider on thimbleberry – Siskiyou Wilderness
Crab spider – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Another crab spider – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Cricket – Pacific Crest Trail
We are often literally struck by grasshoppers as we hike. Sometimes they stick when they hit us such as this one along the PCT.
Bee on phacelia – Mule Mountain
Wet bee on lupine – Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge
Bumble bee – Hemlock Creek Trail
Lots of pollen – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Bee landing on a marsh marigold along the PCT
Bee approaching penstemon – Siskiyou Wilderness
Bee and a tiny ant in a bindweed – Siskiyou Wilderness
Insects on thistle – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Wasp? – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Some sort of wasp – Silver Star Mountain
Insect along Bear Creek – Eagle Cap Wilderness
My brother and I used to call these “weird things”; I have no idea what it actually is – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Damsel fly – Denman Wildlife Area
Damsel fly – Hemlock Lake
Dragon fly – Goat Marsh Lake
Dragon fly – Siskiyou Wilderness
Dragon fly – Siskiyou Wilderness
Dragon fly – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Dragon fly along the Wallowa River – Wallowa Homeland
Dragon fly – E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Dragon fly – Hemlock Lake
Dragon fly – Sky Lakes Wilderness
Snail – Rock Creek Trail
Snail – Applegate Lake
Snail – North Siouxon Trail
Snail – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge
Snail – Siskiyou Wilderness
Snail – Cascade Head
Slug – Larch Mountain Trail
Slug (and a fly) – Susan Creek Trail
Slug – Fish Lake
Slug on lupine – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Slug and an unfortunate earth worm – Rock Creek Trail
Worms – Chehalem Ridge Nature Park
Millipede – North Siouxon Trail
Millipede – Rock Creek Trail
Millipede – Illahee Rock
Millipede – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Wet caterpillar – Yakona Nature Preserve
Dry version – Larch Mountain Trail
Caterpillar – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Caterpillar – Siskiyou Wilderness
Caterpillar – Siskiyou Wilderness
Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail
Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail
Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail
Moth – Klickitat Trail
Moth -Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – Twin Lakes
Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – Wolf Creek Falls Trail
Moth – Cascade Head
Propertius duskywing (Erynnis propertius) – Klickitat Trail
Duskywing – Siskiyou Wilderness
Northern Cloudywing? – Siskiyou Wilderness
Silver-spotted skipper – Siskiyou Wilderness
Skipper – Grizzly Peak
Skipper – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness
Skipper – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Hairstreak (bramble?) – Siskiyou Mountains
Cedar hairstreak – Siskiyou Wilderness
Hairstreak (possibly thicket) – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Ochre ringlet – Jack Ash Trail
Butterfly – Siskiyou Wilderness
Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Butterfly – Upper Table Rock
Butterfly – Mule Mountain
Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Butterfly – Mt. Ireland
Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain
Butterfly – Russian Wilderness
Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Sara’s orangetip – Klickitat Trail
Common woodnymph – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Another woodnymph – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness
Orange sulphur – Siskiyou Wilderness
Mountain parnassian – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Clodius parnassian – Hemlock Lake
Western white? – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Western white – Trinty Alps Wilderness
Pine white – Russian Wilderness
Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Butterfly – Russian Wilderness
Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Butterfly – Mule Mountain
Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain
Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain
Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain
Western meadow fritillary? – Silver Star Mountain
A fritillary – Silver Star Mountain
A fritillary – Trinity Alps Wilderness
A fritillary -Russian Wilderness
A fritillary – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness
Mourning cloak – Klickitat Trail
California tortoiseshell – Siskiyou Wilderness
Milbert’s tortoiseshell – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Lorquin’s admiral – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Common buckeye – Mt. Shasta Wilderness
Hoary comma – Sky Lakes Wilderness
Green comma? – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Klickitat Trail
Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge
Eagle Cap Wilderness
Tadpoles – Russian Wilderness
Tadpole transforming – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Frog – Russian Wilderness
Frog – Goat Marsh Lake
Tree frog – Siskiyou Wilderness
Frog – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Toad – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Toad – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness
Fish – Siphon Lake
Rough skinned newt – Yakona Nature Preserve
Western painted turtle – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge
Baby snake – Miller Woods
Garter snake – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge
Lizard – Mule Mountain
Lizard – Upper Table Rock
Lizard – Russian Wilderness
Lizard – Siskiyou Wilderness
Lizard – Klickitat Trail
Lizard – Upper Table Rock
Alligator lizard – Mule Mountain
Chipmunk – Observation Peak
Ground squirrel – Russian Wilderness
Ground squirrel – Klickitat Trail
Ground squirrel – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Ground squirrel – Upper Table Rock
Squirrel – Rock Creek Trail
Squirrel – Twin Lakes
Squirrel – Larch Mountain Trail
Marmot – Wallowa Homeland
Jack rabbit – Denman Wildlife Area
Rabbit – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Pika – Silver Star Mountain
Muskrat – Julia Butler Hansen – Wildlife Refuge
Otter – Killin Wetlands
Sea lion – Hart’s Cove
Deer – Memaloose Hills
Doe – Miller Woods
Mamma – Roxy Ann Peak
Fawn – Roxy Ann Peak
Columbian white-tailed buck – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Doe & fawn – Donomore Meadows
Three bucks – Siskiyou Wilderness
Buck – Siskiyou Wilderness
Buck – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Doe & fawn – Russian Wilderness
Buck and does – Russian Wilderness
Two bucks – Crater Lake National Park
Elk – Yakona Nature Preserve
Bull elk – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Mountain goat below the Mt. Ireland Lookout – Mt. Ireland
Domestic goat – Near the Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Black bear – Siskiyou Wilderness
The same black bear making eye contact the day before.
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