[pct-l] Re: Eagle Creek Trail

[mkdixon1@excite.com (Mark Dixon)]

Terri,

I took my mother (63 years old) on the Eagle Creek section last fall. We got
a ride up to the Wahtum Lake Trailhead and did the one-way downhill walk. We
were surprised to find that the forest road is paved all the way up to the
trailhead. Unless your mother is really afraid of heights she should have no
problem, given that she is in condition to walk about 15 miles. The trail is
downhill the whole way though, so it doesn't really seem like 15 miles. 

The short part of the trail that traverses a rock ledge is plenty wide
enough and has a hand cable for those who need it. My mother finished the
trail unscathed, but I didn't fare so well. I had a run-in with those ground
dwelling wasps and got stung 4 times. This same thing happened during my
1998 through hike. I seemed to be the one to get most of the wasp stings.
Not much further down the trail, preoccupied with my camera, I didn't notice
water on the slick bedrock trail. I went down hard on my knees and elbows
with my camera bouncing on the rock and ending up in a shallow pool. Luckily
older Nikon MF cameras can take a lot of abuse. I finished the trail limping
with bloody knees and elbows, and with huge welts on my legs from the wasp
stings. It took 2 weeks for the pain in my right knee to go away. So much
for the tough former thru-hiker. Your mother should have no problem.

Mark Dixon
Laramie, Wyoming ----- it's -29 degrees here this morning!





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