Thank goodness for salt tablets.
Trailhead: Eagle Creek
Trails Taken: Eagle Creek Trail (#440) to Wahtum Lake to Pacific Crest Trail North to Benson Scenic Way #405B to Benson Scenic Way #405C to Ruckel Creek Trail (#405) and back via paved road adjacent to Highway.
Total Distance: 26.7 miles
Total Time: 6 hours, 5 minutes
Elevation Gain: 5,680 Feet
Jordan and I decided to get up and go far today. We packed up the car and took off early to the Eagle Creek Trailhead in an attempt to beat the heat. We packed up our bags and started running at 08:49AM. It was cool and there were surprisingly few people on the trail. We encountered many pleasant hikers along the way and the trail was in beautiful shape all the way up to the Tanner Trail (#433) which appears to be quite overgrown at the entrance.
Jordan on the initial section of the Eagle Creek Trail (#440)
Jordan coming up from Tunnel Falls
After hanging left at the junction with the Tanner Trail, we continued up and up until we arrived at Wahtum Lake (at mile 13.5, just like the sign says). The trail was in awesome shape with just a few areas with plants that obviously don’t want to be eaten.
After arriving at the lake we ran around the lake counterclockwise (past the PCT Short Cut) on the Pacific Crest Trail and took a quick PB&J and iodine water break (after bushwacking thru the woods down to the lake on the North Side as we thought we may be on the wrong trail). We checked out the Short Cut Trail and other than a mildly sketchy log pile you need to cross to get across the East Fork of Eagle Creek at the western outlet of the lake, it was in great condition all of the way up to its intersection with the PCT.
Jordan and the Lake
Jordan and the Lake 2
We subsequently climbed the PCT cutoff trail and hooked up with the PCT and took it past the Chinidere Mountain Trail (#445) and past the Eagle Benson Cutoff (#434) (which I don’t recommend currently as I descended it a few weeks ago and it is impressively overgrown) and took a left on the Benson Scenic Way (#405B) . The PCT is well maintained and pretty dry.
Tyler (me) on the PCT
Jordan on the PCT
Jordan on the PCT2 - best part of the PCT, view is stellar and you can see Mt. Adam's popping her little head out on the right.
Benson Scenic Trail (#405C)
To cross Benson Plateau, we first ran Trail #405B and then hooked a right on #405C until we arrived at Hunter’s Camp at the junction with the Ruckel Creek Trail (where there is plenty of water still flowing in the creek if you need it). The Benson trails are in great condition with only a few downed small trees intermittently which can be easily climbed over. After this we subsequently descended the Ruckel Creek Trail (#405) to its connection with the paved road at the bottom and ran back to the car. The Ruckel Creek trail is getting a bit eroded on the off camber sections, however other sections were well maintained with no new fallen timber across the path. After arriving at the car and popping as many blisters on our feet as we could find we drove to a nearby gas station in Cascade Locks and bought some tasty Gatorades. All-in-all it was a beautiful day and was fun to finally make it to Wahtum Lake.
View from the Ruckel Creek Trail
Almost Done…
Eagle Creek To Wahtum Lake Loop Day Run 8/9/2015
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Eagle Creek To Wahtum Lake Loop Day Run 8/9/2015
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Re: Eagle Creek To Wahtum Lake Loop Day Run 8/9/2015
Thanks, Tyler -- nice report and photos! (and water details!)
Tom
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Re: Eagle Creek To Wahtum Lake Loop Day Run 8/9/2015
What an intense trail run!!! Thank you for sharing!
Re: Eagle Creek To Wahtum Lake Loop Day Run 8/9/2015
Great pictures and a very impressive time! Thank you for sharing.
Some people are really fit at eighty; thankfully I still have many years to get into shape…