[pct-l] PCT-Eagle Creek loop update

[eric.allen at comcast.net (Eric Allen)]

Yesterday, I made a quick run up the PCT from Cascade Locks. I turned around
at Teakettle Spring, which is at 3360 ft and about 1.5 miles short of the
Benson Plateau. There was only a couple inches of snow on the trail at the
spring, and that?s a north facing slope. I?d bet the highest part of the
loop near Chinidere Mt. (~4300 ft) has a bit more snow, but it probably
wouldn?t be bad walking.

>From where I sat to have a snack, I could see St. Helens, Rainier, Adams,
Hood, Indian Heaven, and whitecaps on the Columbia -- all from the same
spot. Crisp air, stunning blue skies, and snow-capped volcanoes. Awesome.

Re: the Eagle-Benson trail, it had literally hundreds of blowdowns when I
was on it last (last July). Some spots had blowdowns stacked five high.
Unless a trail crew put in a huge effort since, it?s a real workout.

Cool moment from yesterday: the shoes a wore still were crusted with Campo
trail dirt. I hadn?t worn that pair since finishing the trail last November.
So I sprinkled a little SoCal on the trail here in OR. I hope that?s legal.

savant