Snuffy’s 2014 Pacific Crest Trail Journal-Oregon Day 1

I have been following a few PCT hikers this year (2023) and as one of them has been posting from Oregon it has me thinking about my own time on the Pacific Crest Trail so I decided to finally get these posts from that time out of my drafts. I hope you enjoy them!

July 2, 2014

I arrived at the Eagle Creek Trailhead at 8am. This is a very popular Portland area spot and I was glad to be able to get there on a Wednesday in the hopes it would be less crowded. I was expecting to see a few folks today, being close to the holiday weekend though. I had read on the forums that this area has break ins being so close to the highway, so following advice I parked in the lower lot by the restrooms and camp host and walked less than .5 miles up to the trailhead. This trailhead is not technically the Eagle Creek Trail yet, but a connecting trail.

Where I got on the Pacific Crest Trail is considered the “Eagle Creek Alternate” on Halfmiles’ maps, about 3 miles from Cascade Locks. It rambles on a rather flat pace along the river gorge for about 9 miles until is meets up with the Indian Springs Trail. I learned that the “Eagle Creek Alternate” is not one trail but several trails and a road walk when all is said and done.

Stepping onto the trail, I was reminded of the smells outside of Stehekin along the Agnes Creek Trail. This section brought back some of memories of the hiking we did in the canyons in Arizona two years ago, only greener. And wetter. The trail has cables in the walls in several places but I didn’t feel the trail was anymore precarious than other parts of the PCT, like Goat Rocks. I’m guessing it is because the trail is so popular and often people have to pass each other.

Being that it was early in the morning and the middle of the week, I did not end up seeing a lot of other hikers. There are quite a few large campsites on the trail and most folks were still sleeping when I passed by.

Tunnel Falls did not disappoint, very fun and refreshing! There were several other waterfalls and I can see why most PCT hikers take this route. The only downside I can see would be if you were coming through on a weekend, there would be tons of other hikers once you got to Tunnel Falls and north.

The Eagle Creek Trail has many junctions, so I had to pay attention to the turns on Halfmile’s maps to make sure I was taking the right one. After remaining fairly level, turning on the Indian Spring Trail was a brutal climb, practically straight up to the Pacific Crest Trail! But I can’t complain, I enjoyed a nice breeze for most of the day that kept me cool and most of the bugs at bay.

There is the promised spring at the junction of PCT, MP 2138, and then you come out onto a lovely ridge with views of all three mountains in lower Washington. This is where I stopped seeing hikers for the day.

It is also were I ran into my first snake of the PCT and the biggest one I have run into out in the wild. We were luckily able to work out a deal where I let him have his sunning spot and I took a wide berth around the trail on the side. It is funny how you will imagine hearing a rattle even when the snake doesn’t have one!

From the Indian Springs junction to mile 2132 it was fairly flat, I can see why folks move pretty fast through this area. The trail also runs along the water management shed for the Portland area here so it had very few places you were allowed to stop (lots of warning signs). I noticed a ton of elk prints, they must know they will be safe from hunters. I stopped and made camp just shy of mile 2132.

I switched to a Gossamer Gear pack for this trip and because of the loss of weight, I decided to bring a luxury item, sandals. It was SO nice to be able to put those on when I got to camp. Unfortunately, this happiness was counterbalanced by the fact that my Steripen stopped working. I had put in new batteries, but I guess they weren’t as new as I thought (I pulled them out of the freezer). Not a tragedy, I did bring iodine pills and most of the water sources were springs on this trip. I was just upset I was going to be lugging the weight of that darn thing while I was out.

I was set up at camp by 7pm and it felt so good to settle into my tent. I had missed the comforting routine of long distance hiking from last year. Being so close to Portland, I had reception to send off messages to loved ones before I drifted off to sleep. Can’t wait for more adventure tomorrow!