Oregon: Eagle Creek to Santiam Pass

It’s good to be home. The two and a half weeks we spent off trail were full of friends, family, food and two weddings. Congratulations to the newlyweds Evan & Caitlin and Mike & Lekadia! We are so happy we were able to celebrate with you and your families. Time off trail was very restorative, but getting back into the groove of hiking 20 miles a day was no easy task. One thing we have both learned about each other on this trip is that we enjoy hard work. At the end of a long, hard day ramen soup and hot chocolate taste that much better. And now back to the PCT…

Midday on August 9th we got a ride to Eagle Creek trailhead and headed southbound into our backyard. We had never ventured as far as Tunnel Falls, what an incredible start to this section. The Cascade Mountain range was a dramatic change from the Sierra Nevada’s. Granite domes were replaced with basalt columns, the air thickened with moisture and edible berries abound around every corner. I’m talking wild blueberries, huckleberries, salmonberries and thimbleberries all in prime picking condition. Definitely marking this location for next harvest season.

Rounding the western side of Mt. Hood, we dropped into the Sandy river basin where trees became stunted and summer heat filled the air. That night was the height of the Perseid meteor shower. We awoke early and caught a glimpse of this natural spectacle. A few hours later we sat in Timberline Lodge, bellies full from an incredible breakfast buffet, as we stared south towards our future. Mt. Jefferson and the Three Sisters, here we come.

As we made our way south we passed through shady forests full of life. It is easy to lose track of time and space while under a forest canopy. Near Timothy Lake hundreds of Yew trees dominated the understory; by far the largest grouping of this species I have ever seen. Later that afternoon, we met my Mom at Little Crater Lake later for our first resupply. Prior to her arrival we met a couple who were staying at the campground that night. After a few beers my Mom shows up and to our surprise she and our one of our trail angels work together! Sometimes the world is a small place, filled with wonderful people.

Onward we marched through the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. This forest seemed to have a wide range of land management practices that have resulted in a diverse, healthy landscape filled with endless blueberry patches. The earth began to transition to a more volcanic and rugged nature as we neared Mt Jefferson. That day at Ollalie Lake store we had our first reunion with a NoBo (Northbound) hiker who we had previously met in Southern California. Many more run-ins with NoBo’s have occurred, all of which brought a new sense of clarity and depth to the experience.

Climbing the northern flanks of Mt. Jefferson we look back north to a view of Mt. Hood and the past few days. Down the hill we cruise into Jefferson Park and the end of the summer wildflowers; briefly transported back to the high sierra meadows. The western side of Mt. Jefferson has a few steep, heavily eroded valleys flowing with milky glacial runoff. Such raw power from this sleeping giant. That night we settle on the southern side of the mountain with a breathtaking view of the night sky.

Next up was Three Fingered Jack, one of my favorite peaks in Oregon. Last Fourth of July we spent a weekend backpacking in this area and were happy to return to familiar ground. We took a break at a pond near Koko Lake in the middle of a burn area. To my surprise this small body of water is full of aquatic life. Most of them I didn’t know by name, except for the small, tenacious looking Sculpin. An up close and personal view of Three fingered Jack revealed an astounding red fault line running through it’s heart. This chapter came to an end with our arrival at Highway 20 and Santiam Pass. Waiting in the parking lot was my childhood friend Evan’s grandma Meredith and her partner Al. They whisked us away to Black Butte for an epic dinner and our first bed in nine days.