Snuffy’s 2014 Pacific Crest Trail Journal-Oregon Day 4

I woke up early again and was hiking by 5:15am. I didn’t sleep as well last night as the others, kept hearing things go bump in the night. Yes, I could have put in ear plugs but for some reason I wasn’t using them on this trip.  Wearing an eye mask does help when the sun starts to come up, but when you wake up by 4 you just lay there thinking about how you might as well be hiking. I also tend to have the most energy and feel less stiff in these wee hours.

It was just a quick hill up and I was on the Benson Plateau. One of the reasons I stopped last night was because I wasn’t sure what the vegetation would look like up on the plateau, I didn’t want to be too exposed. It was actually quite pretty and shaded. There were tall skinny trees and spider like green grasses. The trail runs along the edge and it was possible to have glimpses of the sun coming up over the hills to the east. There were several trails that run across the plateau to camps to the left and then down the
other side.

The trail comes out to a red rock ridge with views of the Columbia and Mt. Adams and you quickly begin your decent down to the I-84 corridor and Cascade Locks. After a relatively flat trail for the past few days, my knees were completely unhappy with me. Moan, groan and creak; moan, groan and creak. I must have stopped a bunch of times.

The Cascade Locks Ale House is a rustic little pub with a local feel. Most of the tables were full when I got there, so I sat at the bar. The waitress behind the bar looked like she was worried I would actually order and it wasn’t long before she explained it was her very first day (as a waitress, period). Ohhh, been there! I was nice, but of course I always have to modify my order (yes, I’m one of those) so I put her to the test and was rewarded several times with, “I’ll check”. Needless to say, I had a delicious burger (The Crowne Point) on a salad with a blackberry hard cider. Not sure why, but when the other waitress suggested it, I couldn’t help but say yes. It was divine and hit the spot.

I headed home and arrived around 6:30pm. Took my son out to dinner, then promptly came home and went to bed. Home again, home again, jiggity jig.

I have hiked in this area since this trip, mainly a couple visits to Dry Creek Falls.  If you want a little taste of the Pacific Crest Trail while in the Cascade Locks area this hike will fit the bill.  The Gorges Beer Co restaurant is also in Cascade Locks and makes another great spot for a bit to eat with views out over the marina.  I also now know that the “spider grass”  I mention above is actually bear grass so if you are looking for some on the Columbia Gorge, Benson Plateau is a great spot!

For the continuation of this journey, visit Snuffy’s 2014 Pacific Crest Trail Journal-Oregon Zeros Part 1

To start at the beginning, head over to Snuffy’s 2014 Pacific Crest Trail Journal-Oregon Day 1

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