[pct-l] trip report for McKenzie to Cascade Locks

[Judson]

I'm gonna get the whole story up on trailjournals soon, but just the conditions for now.  The trip was from 7/31 to 8/9. All water sources mentioned by the book had water, with exceptions mentioned below.

McKenzie to Santiam: lotsa blowdowns, but apparently they've been taken care of since then. Burned area stretches from just past Little Belknap up to near Washington Ponds, which I was unable to find, but I didn't look very hard. Coldwater Spring was a 2' deep basin of mud. Water happily offered at Big Lake youth camp. After you leave the PCT to go there, you will see 2 unsigned junctions to the left; ignore them and continue straight. As soon as you get there, the faucet is uphill to the right near a horse corral. If you're going to hang out for a bit, go check in at their headquarters (large, 2 story building). Being a youth camp, they like to know who they have hanging around.  Some slightly confusing junctions from here to Santiam. Just pay attention. The small lake trailside on this stretch is your first trailside water source, and really wasn't that bad. I found a nice shady spot to take a nap and found it an enjoyable spot. The burned forest kicks in about 1/2 mi. before Santiam Pass at Hwy. 20/126. I did not check Douthit Spring, so I don't know it's status.

Santiam to North Cinder Peak: Most of the trail in this stretch is burned; probably 60-75%, I would estimate. Expect rough, eroded tread and little shade. Thankfully, Rockpile Lake was spared and is still green and fluffy. Only water before Rockpile: a stagnant pond about 1.3 mi. N of Santiam pass, just before jct. to Santiam Lake. Also, numerous ponds/lakes just before Minto Pass. I filtered from the largest and least "manky" of these since I didn't have enough to get to Rockpile. The only blowdowns came between S. Cinder Peak and N. Cinder Peak, and only in burned areas. Some of them were a little tricky to get around. 

N. Cinder Peak to Jefferson Park: worst section for blowdowns. More than 50, several of them quite large and difficult to pass. One approaching Shale Lake was a pile of 2 trees topping out about 7-8' feet above the ground, and over them was the only way to go.  Milk Cr. crossing has deteriorated since the forest service made it passable to hikers, understandably, since the banks are just piles of gravel and boulders. I found an easy crossing of the creek itself, but the descent to it was tricky. About 12', close to vertical. Some other hikers were there, and offered to lower my pack with a rope. Otherwise, I probably would've tied a couple of jackets together to accomplish the same thing. Could lead to an unpleasant tumble if done carelessly.  Russell Creek had and easier approach. I got there at about 11:30 am, and waded. Knee deep and powerful, but not really scary or all that tough if you've done much fording. After PCT joined Jefferson Park Trail, trail conditions were outstanding.

Jefferson Park to Hwy 26: 3 or 4 snow patches on N side of Park Ridge, had to stop and look around a couple of times to find the trail, but not difficult at all. Don't bother visiting Breitenbush Lake or it's campground; they're about 5 min. off-trail, and the nasty looking water at the road 4220 crossing is better than what the lake has to offer. >From this road crossing all the way to Wapinitia Pass, the trail is really in beautiful shape. The Oregon Mule Skinners deserve a lot of praise, as does anyone else responsible for the maintenance of this section. Be aware that Olallie Lake Resort does not have a faucet. All the water sources from Trooper Springs on were clear, cold, and delicious, including Warm Springs River and the springs trailside just before reaching Timothy Lake. One point: the part of the trail within the Warm Spring Indian Reservation has a lot of discrepancies with the guidebook maps; I counted 5 roads not shown on the maps. I saw no Chinkapin Viewpoint, and the viewpoint on N. Pinhead is unsigned, but there is a signed junction on the saddle between South and North. Shrug.  If you camp at Warm Springs River, be prepared for agressive deer and rodents (and yes, I keep a very clean camp).

Hwy. 26 to Lolo Pass: Climb up to Timberline not nearly as bad as people have said. Spring in gully running heartily.  I found the Ramshead Bar's food offerings overpriced and mediocre. Perhaps the Cascade Dining Hall downstairs is better. Trail in excellent shape all the way to Sandy. Crossing here easy- the river is in 2 branches, the 1st an easy step-across, but I had to wade the second. Couldn't find a rock hop, but it was only calf deep and very easy.  The entire route across the bottom of this valley is brand new; all the old trail has been obliterated. The new route is very easy to follow.  Signs indicate that the old PCT route (around Yocum Ridge, crossing Muddy Fork at about 4100 feet) is in worse shape than ever and is very difficult to get through. I took the "official" PCT to the lower Muddy Fork Crossing. There is an easy wade (horse ford) right at the junction with the trail from Ramona Falls, but there is a hiker bridge upstream; just follow the signs. From the Ramona Falls junction, it is a 4-minute walk to this bridge. 

Lolo Pass to Cascade Locks: pretty brushy in places along the ridge to Wahtum Lake, but not bad. Jawdropping views and excellent trail on the traverse along the west side of Indian Mtn. From Wahtum Lake, I took the Eagle Cr. Trail rather than the official PCT. Just after leaving Wahtum Lake, there is a cutoff trail that crosses the outlet creek and heads north to the PCT by Chinidere Mtn., making a great shortcut for those sticking to the official route. It's been there for years; I'm not sure why the guidebook maps still don't show it. From the lake to 7.5 Mile Camp, trail 440 is basically unmaintained. Be prepared for heavy brush, collapsed tread on steep slopes, and about 50 blowdowns in these 6 miles. It's not like that the whole way; some sections were just fine, but overall, I was very surprised that such a heavily used trail was in such condition. I did have one hawk dive at me on this section, shortly after the crossing of the creek from Indian Springs, so keep an eye out. No problems other than crowds on the creekside portion of the Eagle Creek Trail. Only Tenas Camp was signed; 7.5 Mile and others named in the guidebook were not. Once you get to the trailhead, the guidebook description of the route to Cascade Locks via the Gorge Trail leaves much to be desired. When you reach the trailhead, you will have to walk about 0.5 mile along the access road, at which point you will see a large suspension bridge crossing Eagle Cr. on your left. From here, follow a paved road angling uphill to the right. It soon joins another paved road going left and right, and you should see a large "Gorge Trail" sign nearby. You follow tread for perhaps another 0.5 mile, at which point you meet a paved bike path. Although the signs say nothing about the Gorge Trail, follow the bike path to your right. After about a mile, and just before the bikepath heads under the freeway, the Gorge Trail tread appears again, heading uphill to the right. From here it's tread all the way to the junction with the official PCT.

Yay! I'm done with Oregon! If you have any questions about this section that I haven't addressed above, drop me a line.

Judson
Ashland