I spent a couple nights up at Dublin Lake (http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org ... _Lake_Hike)
After this weekend conditions there will be totally different, it may be snow covered until next spring.
Dublin Lake is 7.5 miles and 3500 feet of elevation gain from the trailhead, so there aren't too many people up there. I've been there several times and have never seen anyone else.
My only complain about this hike, is that there aren't a lot of views except Bonneville Dam right at the beginning:
Nice little waterfalls right at the beginning of the Tanner Butte Trail:
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The trail was in pretty good shape, even though it's at the bottom of the priority list because so few people use it. About 10 trees across the trail between the Wauna Point Trail and the Dublin Lake Trail, but you could get around them pretty easy.
The last 1/4 mile or so, got into some snow, but hardly any on the trail. Of course, after this weekend conditions will be totally different:
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A couple nice campsites at Dublin Lake. A little snow in the trees but nothing on the ground. The temperature never got below freezing in the two nights I was there:
Dublin Lake was frozen over when I got there:
The next day I tried to get up to Tanner Butte. The last mile, at 4100 feet, the trail is open to the sky so there was a bit of snow on the trail. I didn't feel like getting my boots soaked, so I turned around at that point. Some day I'll make it all the way to Tanner Butte. Supposed to be great views:
Deer tracks on the trail. Nice that they use these trails that we provide. Makes up for some of the habitat degradation:
A lot of down wood for a fire, kind of wet though:
Foggy on the way bacl to the trailhead:
Back home:
Dublin Lake 12/10/2008
Re: Dublin Lake 12/10/2008
Do you take the kitties hiking?
Charley
Charley
Believe it or not, I barely ever ride a mountain bike.
- retired jerry
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Re: Dublin Lake 12/10/2008
It would be fun to take kitties hiking, but they would become coyote food
We used to let our kitties loose when we were camping, but that doesn't seem like the best thing for wild critters, and it's hard to get the kitties to come back.
We used to let our kitties loose when we were camping, but that doesn't seem like the best thing for wild critters, and it's hard to get the kitties to come back.
Re: Dublin Lake 12/10/2008
what kind of tent is that.. I am impressed
Ufoureah
Ufoureah
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Re: Dublin Lake 12/10/2008
I made it
9 foot square, 62 inch high, single wall silnylon, no floor, about 1.5 pounds including pole and stakes
It's great when it's raining, plenty of room for my sleeping bag, pack, and me. Room to run my propane stove.
I've seen similar tents, like the Black Diamond Mega Light, or one by Go-Lite
9 foot square, 62 inch high, single wall silnylon, no floor, about 1.5 pounds including pole and stakes
It's great when it's raining, plenty of room for my sleeping bag, pack, and me. Room to run my propane stove.
I've seen similar tents, like the Black Diamond Mega Light, or one by Go-Lite
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Re: Dublin Lake 12/10/2008
I love the foggy forest shot! Lovely!
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Re: Dublin Lake 12/10/2008
I second Cheryl's comment... your foggy forest trail shot is terrific!
Greg
Greg
Re: Dublin Lake 12/10/2008
I love your tent - ingenious. I hope you do get up Tanner Butte sometime. It is a very beautiful place. A couple of years ago I made it to the top at sunset, and it was terrific - great views in all directions, and an especially beautiful view of Hood. It's also a good place to just look at surrounding canyons, ridges, etc... and wonder what it would be like to be on/in them! Give yourself plenty of time though or plan to camp nearby. I made the mistake of thinking it would be an easy hike in the dark to Big Cedar camp that night...and nearly got lost before I finally made it there around midnight. (It was July and my first time on the Tanner/Eagle loop) It would probably be a fun 3 day trip to camp at Dublin, hike to the top of Tanner the next evening, and return to Dublin that night - heading out the next day. Thanks for sharing this great trip!
-Zach
-Zach
- Beer Town Bill
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Dublin - Tanner Loop
Dublin Lake has been one of my favorite trips for a number of years. I have done it both as a day trip and as an overnight trip. It is a great swimming lake and also has some fishing (but I will not reveal the magic lure or where in the lake the fish are!!).
This year I decided to do an overnight loop trip this past July. It was a very hot and muggy weekend. I started at the Eagle Creek parking lot, hiked the Gorge trail over to the Tanner Road, and then proceeded in normal fashion to Dublin. Arrived there before noon. Spent the afternoon swimming and fishing. After an early dinner, I left the lake at around 5:00 PM and headed out to Tanner Butte. After reaching the summit, I hung out until the sun had nearly set. For the serious photographer, this would be a great time/place for pictures.
I believe this shot is of Benson Plateau. My plan was to camp at Tanner Springs Camp. I quickly abandoned that idea when I discovered that there was still snow, puddles, and lots of mosquitos in the area - and I was not carrying a tent. I changed my goal to Big Cedar Springs, but ran out of daylight. Eagle-Tanner Trail #433 isn't really a trail, I would classify it as a path that requires some serious wayfinding. Good place for a GPS to mark your path in case you have to back out. The trail seemed to disappear completely just as it was getting dark, and I was forced to camp in the trail. The place I chose turned out to be a major ant freeway and I heard them under my ground sheet all night long.
I arose at the crack of dawn the next morning to try and find the trail. It wasn't difficult - a tree had fallen right at a switchback, hiding the change in direction of the trail. I was soon underway, but became lost again in a short distance at a large rock field. A stone cairn made me feel as though I was on the right path, but that was not the case. After about 60 minutes, I decided to turn around and head home the way I came. Of course, I soon discovered that I had headed down a side path that had been blocked off by a few sticks. I spent some time blocking the trail with more branches and was back on my way.
The rest of the trip was fairly uneventful. Big Cedar Springs looked like a nice place to camp (maybe next time). Eagle Creek was spectacular as usual, but because it was so muggy and I was so tired, I only took a few pictures.
I had hoped to find a couple of geocahes along Eagle Creek, but I was too tired too look. It was very hot and muggy. I reached the car at about 3:00 pm completely spent.
Postscipt. I did this same trip later in the summer in a single day. I skipped the sidetrips to Dublin and Tanner. Despite the milage (24 miles) it wasn't a bad one day trip because this time I knew where I was going!!
This year I decided to do an overnight loop trip this past July. It was a very hot and muggy weekend. I started at the Eagle Creek parking lot, hiked the Gorge trail over to the Tanner Road, and then proceeded in normal fashion to Dublin. Arrived there before noon. Spent the afternoon swimming and fishing. After an early dinner, I left the lake at around 5:00 PM and headed out to Tanner Butte. After reaching the summit, I hung out until the sun had nearly set. For the serious photographer, this would be a great time/place for pictures.
I believe this shot is of Benson Plateau. My plan was to camp at Tanner Springs Camp. I quickly abandoned that idea when I discovered that there was still snow, puddles, and lots of mosquitos in the area - and I was not carrying a tent. I changed my goal to Big Cedar Springs, but ran out of daylight. Eagle-Tanner Trail #433 isn't really a trail, I would classify it as a path that requires some serious wayfinding. Good place for a GPS to mark your path in case you have to back out. The trail seemed to disappear completely just as it was getting dark, and I was forced to camp in the trail. The place I chose turned out to be a major ant freeway and I heard them under my ground sheet all night long.
I arose at the crack of dawn the next morning to try and find the trail. It wasn't difficult - a tree had fallen right at a switchback, hiding the change in direction of the trail. I was soon underway, but became lost again in a short distance at a large rock field. A stone cairn made me feel as though I was on the right path, but that was not the case. After about 60 minutes, I decided to turn around and head home the way I came. Of course, I soon discovered that I had headed down a side path that had been blocked off by a few sticks. I spent some time blocking the trail with more branches and was back on my way.
The rest of the trip was fairly uneventful. Big Cedar Springs looked like a nice place to camp (maybe next time). Eagle Creek was spectacular as usual, but because it was so muggy and I was so tired, I only took a few pictures.
I had hoped to find a couple of geocahes along Eagle Creek, but I was too tired too look. It was very hot and muggy. I reached the car at about 3:00 pm completely spent.
Postscipt. I did this same trip later in the summer in a single day. I skipped the sidetrips to Dublin and Tanner. Despite the milage (24 miles) it wasn't a bad one day trip because this time I knew where I was going!!
Last edited by Beer Town Bill on January 3rd, 2009, 12:39 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- Splintercat
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Re: Dublin Lake 12/10/2008
24 miles in a day..? That's a BIG trip, PDX -- not counting 4,500 feet of elevation gain! Yowsa! Thanks for the recon on the Tanner-Eagle connector. This might make a good candidate for a TKO-sponsored project at some point.
I think that's Indian Mountain and Indian Ridge in your third photo - though I haven't been to the top of Tanner for quite awhile.
Fishing AND swimming in Dublin Lake..? Who knew! I had always written that off as a shallow, muddy pond... but it sounds like it's neither.
Nice report!
-Tom
I think that's Indian Mountain and Indian Ridge in your third photo - though I haven't been to the top of Tanner for quite awhile.
Fishing AND swimming in Dublin Lake..? Who knew! I had always written that off as a shallow, muddy pond... but it sounds like it's neither.
Nice report!
-Tom