01.21.12 Eagle Creek/Latourell Falls

[renegadepilgrim]

We started the day with the intention of hiking Eagle Creek trail to Tunnel Falls. I hadn't read any recent trail reports here and now I know why. We arrived at the trail head around 8:00a and found about a foot of snow around the area. Nothing too difficult to navigate and since I had just bought some Kahtoola micro spikes, I felt comfortable hiking the trail in them. My hiking partner and I both agreed to give it a go and see how far we could get.

We started on the trail and I have to say, I don't know how I lived without micro spikes before! They made such a huge difference in traction and comfort. There was probably a foot of snow around the trail head area and once on the trail it was about 6 inches deep in some places, with some bare trail as well. There was lots of ice on the trees and plants, which made for some fun pictures.

We encountered a lot of blow down (or ice down, as the case may be) but managed to get around most of it. Finally, it was a waterfall blocking the trail (just before Punchbowl Falls)which finally made us turn around. There just wasn't a good way behind or around it without getting really wet or being really dangerous.

So we turned around and went to Latourell Falls instead. We did the 2.3 mile loop and called it a day.

Complete photo album can be found here: https://plus.google.com/photos/10171477 ... 6Zzlg8O-RA


The beginning of Eagle Creek Trail


Eagle Creek


Ice on the trees


Blow down


More blowdown


More trees on the trail


A boulder

[geographics]

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[Eric Peterson]

I wonder where ForestKeeper went?

Looks like we are finding a lot for him, and others , to do!

Can't wait to get out and check on things!

[mandrake]

I was out there too yesterday to check out the waterfalls. Eagle Creek is seriously ripping currently -- if it gets much higher, the last section of road out to the trailhead (south of the fish hatchery) will be threatened. As RenegadePilgrim notes there's quite a lot of blowdown; also saw evidence of minor avalanche & rockslide activity - some ongoing - along the trail. Just past Black Bear Creek (as Chameleon calls it; next major drainage south of Tish Creek) the trail was completely blocked by a huge pile of debris (combo of dirt, ice, rocks & buried blowdown); climbing over it was a bit sketchy per a big drop below; there is no handrail in this section. Use extreme caution if you're venturing out there. Expect some icy waterfall showers along the trail and some wading.

[Thum]

I love the attitude, pilgrim That is the beauty of this time of year in so many ways, just getting out and saying, "lets see how far we get" can be the most rewarding thing.

[forestkeeper]

Thanks Renagadepilgrim and Mandrake for the info. I was up there two weeks ago on trail patrol before the freezing rain hit last week. There was just one blow down, one small rock slide, and some tweakers up there. I'll get with Edan (Columbia River Scenic Area/USFS Manager) with the info and a game plan. Most likely we will close the trail till the weather improves to get a crew up there.

[asakawa]

The snow picked up after Punchbowl Falls, this picture was taken just before High Bridge.

[Eric Peterson]

The snow picked up after Punchbowl Falls, this picture was taken just before High Bridge.

photo.JPG

Wow, I guess that's safe!

[renegadepilgrim]

thanks for the TR, looks awesome up that way! any pics of the blocking waterfall?

If you go to the google album link I posted, there is a raging waterfall, probably about 10 pics in...that's the one that blocked us from going further.

I think there is going to be A LOT of trail work to be done here come spring....

Asakawa, I am glad you guys got further than us, though it looks like we wouldn't have been able to get to Tunnel Falls if we had wanted to!!!

[forestkeeper]

I got a reply from Edan (Columbia River Scenic Area/ Recreation manager) whom told me he's sending a work crew up to the Eagle Cr. Tr. But with more snow and freezing rain forecasted for this coming week, I'm not sure how soon till it will be open.