Opening Photo—Newton Creek Spring (Yellow swash mid ground of photo).
The spring at Newton Creek sits off trail 4/5 of a mile upstream from the TT 600 Newton Creek crossing. I had spotted it on an earlier trip to Gnarl Ridge and marveled at its wild look. I imagined a lush oasis visited by wildlife, a wonderful font of life in an apparent sand desert. I had to visit!
IMG_9814Quest’s beginning: Spring from Gnarl Ridge on Oct 1, 2014.
Gmap4 map centered on spring location 45.358520,-121.656790
Mt. Hood from Bennett Pass, Oct 24, 2014 8:15 AM
The forecast was rain after 11 AM, courtesy of an approaching warm front. The cloud deck was above Mt Hood’s summit as I crossed Bennett Pass, so a fast half-day hike in the mountain’s rain shadow side looked doable. My route: Elk Meadows Trail from Elk Meadows TH to Newton Clark Trail to TT 600 Trail to first switchback, then cross country to the spring—no stream crossings!!
IMG_7119Newton Creek Trail Sign at Elk Meadows Trail
The trail has been maintained and, as noted elsewhere on this board, trees are being blazed again. I spotted one fresh blaze on a tree blazed on the opposite side many years ago.
IMG_7120New Blaze.
IMG_7121 Mountain View—trail being undercut by creek.
I soon hit the TT 600, turned right, and at the first switchback, pushed thru the trees to this view:
IMG_7128 Having Figgie with me, I opted to travel side slope above the islands of trees. Footing was loose and sandy, so a better option might be on the shelf just above the creek. More brush and trees to push thru there, but consolidated footing. Many deer and some elk tracks as I followed game trails across a spur ridge from which I could see the spring, marked by the swath of foliage in center of photo:
IMG_7129 
IMG_7133Almost there!
IMG_7135Starts as a trickle.
IMG_7138 Water boiling from under two big rocks.
IMG_7144 Stark contrast of vegetation and sand.
IMG_7149No animal or people tracks.
IMG_7137 One off note—a mylar balloon.
IMG_7155 Grasses.
IMG_7156 Head of the matter.
IMG_7152 Looking further up canyon.
IMG_7165 Willow patches where soil & moisture permit.
IMG_7148 View back towards home. I’m going to head for boulder visible on skyline.
IMG_7145 Figgie, having polished off her snack, waits for me to share mine.
IMG_7167 Parting Shot of spring & environs.
IMG_7171 Passing by Lamberson Butte. Cloud deck now to Lamberson Butte. How soon rain?
I stayed high and hit the TT 600 above the Newton Trail intersection.
IMG_7173 Scene at big slideout on Newton Trail. Leaning tree looks like a gnarwhal tusk.
IMG_7174 Ivory.
IMG_7176 Fall Color. Brighter yellow = black cottonwood. Lighter yellow = larch.
IMG_7187 Black Cottonwood.
IMG_7178 Trailside mushroom—ID?
IMG_7183 Bolete.
IMG_7185 ID?
IMG_7186 Coral Mushroom—fresh.
IMG_7123 Golden Chanterelles.
A wonderful hike! No cars at TH when I arrived, 5 when I left. Saw one person—a trail runner—just before I hit the TT 600. Some signs of mushroom collecting—rejects left at TH.
This could be a great Spring hike for wild flowers. It certainly was a great hike for fall—very dramatic with snow on the ridges just above the spring. Would imagine that even on busiest day you would have solitude once you left TT 600.
Many small trees popping up along Newton Creek, so forest may eventually claim this slope.
Happy on and off trail to you!
