I walked the almost mile up the Devil's Fork to the Elk Creek Campground and then up beautiful Elk Creek to the temporary sign indicating three miles to the Loop Road. Well, first you have to ford both the West Fork Elk Creek and Elk Creek itself to begin this section of the trail.
Moved not as in a normal river rock wobble, but shot between my legs lashing out with its tail in a frenzy of malicious subterfuge – I raised one leg, my pole got lifted up by the current and – as my life flashed before my eyes and I realized I had been taken advantage of by one of the infamous attack-salmon renowned in these parts – sat heavily in the spate up to my waist. I took time bringing down imprecations upon the attack-salmon’s every ancestor and checking nervously up at the Elk Creek Trail to make sure none of the illustrious hikers I had met at the Meet ‘n Deet had witnessed my ignominy. Eventually, as all of my lower extremities became numb, I realized my camera was also taking a bath and splashed back to the trail junction – noting that the attack-salmon had paused in a shallow pool and was eyeing me malevolently. The last photograph my camera took as Elk Creek seeped into its pores was of that creature. Shortly thereafter, my DSLR blinked rapidly and went blank.
Beware the Oncorhynchus impetus -
The jaws that grip, the tails that slash –
When fording brooks on the Devil’s Fork,
Or they’ll take you down with a chastening splash!
- Idiotville legend
A couple of days later, I figured I didn’t really have to go into work and decided that mastering the Elk Creek Crossing was key to my sense of self-worth. Back at the scene of my humiliation, I became a good Boy Scout: socks stuffed in boots, boots tied together around my neck; camera placed safely in backpack; two poles and, more importantly, two free hands, for stability; backpack unbuckled in case of another collision with nature.
This time, the ford was uneventful and it only took about ten minutes for my feet to thaw out on the other side. I stashed my sodden watershoes under a sword fern and headed up the trail. First you come to a junction. The trail leading right goes to where I think they plan to put in a bridge if they ever find the money. I traversed up the hillside and began the first of many switchbacks under Douglas-firs and hemlocks among huge, fire-scarred stumps dating to the Tillamook Burn. Elk Creek runs down to the left, but soon you’re traversing and switchbacking up a steep slope: this is easily the most difficult section of the Wilson River Trail and compares to some Gorge trails in elevation gain/mile. Both the bottom section of the trail and the top section have seen some recent reworking of the bench. I scooped debris off the tread as I ascended, but this is a well-graded climb to Idiot Creek Loop Road. There are only a couple of opportunities for views: one is off a switchback, where from a mossy clifftop, you can see down the Wilson River Valley.
P.S. If anyone has a GPS track of this section of the Wilson River Trail, I’d be interested in seeing it.
thanks for the report on what seems like a lovely winter hike!
)
Awesome TR! With your proper use of English prose, you entice your readers to your every move, eagerly anticipating your next action. Nice photos! Hopefully the attack salmon didn't bruise your ego. 
