Backpacker Light Oregon Trip

BPL 2002

BackpackingLight Hike - Oregon 2002

A Walk in the Snow

	Back row: Don Ladigan, Ken Maddox, Leader Gordon, Marge Prothman (the old gal) Front row: Carolyn Eddy, Leila Snow, Carol Crooker, Mike Aken

	Group picture showing all of our light weight backpacks.

	Carolyn and Bob (the dog) who is a certified backcountry dog and the best dog I have ever met!

This was an interesting hike, we all met at the Motel, by the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks, Oregon. There were eight of us from from various States; Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Arizona. We were suppose to make a loop, hiking up the PCT trail by the Bridge of the Gods and come out on the Eagle Creek Trail and to see all the marvelous water falls coming back down.

Our plans were to hike in on the Herman Creek trail, go up and over a ridge and down the other side to Wahtum Lake, there we would meet up with Carolyn and her dog Bob (no goats on this hike, as they are not allowed on the Eagle Creek Trail). Well those were the plans, but here is what we really did.

The first day we hiked up the Herman Creek trail approximately five miles or so, and we came to a Dry campsite. The map showed a remote campsite, which was located about a mile down a very steep hill by the creek. We went down to this campsite and the creek turned out to be a 'roaring' creek, we did camp here and everyone found a good place for their tent or hammock.

Next morning we hiked back up the hill and continued to follow the trail, which incidentally had several fords of creeks. Some of us had wet feet to hike in, some had other shoes to use crossing these creeks which had water about calf high. We are hiking in May and there is plenty of snow melt still coming down into the creeks. We eventually do run into snow but we continue to hike, some of the guys went ahead to find some resemblance of the trail. This was very hard at times as I think we were hiking with a dead reckoning mode of navigation. <:)

At four p.m. the snow was starting to really firm up and we were on some steep side hills, the decision was made to return and hike back to a campsite we had passed on the way up. This meant fording one of the deeper creeks and the 'Swamp Creek' campsite was just on the other side. We did this and then settled in for the night.

Next morning we hiked out to the Herman Creek trail head and a couple of the guys either walked or hitched a ride over to the Eagle Creek Trailhead to bring our cars back. After all this activity it was decided that Lunch in the Motel restaurant would be a great idea, so we did that.

After lunch we started up the Eagle Creek Trail hoping to reach the cut off that goes over to Wahtum Lake. I thought we had missed Carolyn altogether, so Mike and I elected to stay at a small campground between two bridges. The others went on and at another campground about 3/4 of a mile up the trail they did find Carolyn who was wondering what had happened to us. As it turned out the cut off trail to Whatum Lake was closed due to snow.

Next day we all walked out to the Eagle Creek Trailhead, had lunch in Cascade Locks and then each one made their way home. It was a fun trip, there was a variety of shelters, some had Hammocks, some small Silnylon tents and Mike had a regular tent.

I think he would have won the prize for the heaviest pack, and maybe not, he does not carry a stove.

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