It’s that time of year again where predicting the weather is
somewhere between an art-form and a crap-shoot. This week, it’s been upwards of 65 degrees and
sunny alternating with 45 degrees and pouring. Ah, the Pacific Northwest. It’s
the time of year where you need your entire wardrobe to be immediately
accessible, because you can literally go through spring/summer/fall/winter over
the course of a few days (sometimes, if you’re really lucky, all in the same
day.)
Hunting down the promise of sun and warmth and spring, J.B.,
the dogs and I found a narrow, beautiful window for hiking in the gorge, heading
up on the
Ruckle
Creek Trail.
We started the day decked out in jackets and hats and gloves
and ended in T-shirts and shorts…somewhere between the
my-thighs-are-now-J-E-L-L-O stairmaster climb and the hanging meadows basking
in glorious, almost-forgotten-what-that-feels-like sunshine, temps had climbed
into the happiness zone.
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| blue sky + sun + warmth = happiness |
It’s been almost three years since I last hiked the Ruckle
Creek Trail…I remembered the beauty of it, but clearly forgot the exertion part
involved in the climb (I’ve been feeling less than stellar this week yet for
some strange reason still decided to tackle this particular trail). From the
Eagle Creek campground, the first half mile is deceptively rolling and gentle,
utilizing portions of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail to access
the true trailhead. Once there, it’s all up, gaining close to 2000’ in less
than two miles up to the first real viewpoint. True to form, it’s a beautiful
and classic Gorge ridge trail, going through all the zones of life as you gain elevation
and lose lung power. Closer to the creek and the Columbia River, the trail has
a rainforest quality. Beyond 2000’, the trail briefly semi-levels out,
traversing some incredible mossy, hanging gardens dispersed between groves of
oak trees.
 |
| the rainforest appearance of the Gorge at Ruckle Creek |
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| mossy, basalt cliffs near the Indian Pits |
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| a good view of what "up" looks like |
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| the Gorge can make you feel small |
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| I'm not tired, why are you tired? |
This is the part of the trail that I remember fondly, and
J.B. and I found a sunlit, breezy meadow to hang out, eat, and soak in some
Vitamin D. Further down near a bend in the trail, a deer appeared, bounding a
near vertical path up the hillside without any difficulty. We spent a long
while in these meadows, watching the pups goof around and just remembering what
it feels like to have sun on our skin (yes, when you live in Portland, the
first couple of days of sun are both a coveted surprise and somehow make you
feel like a vampire, all at the same time).
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| golden, mossy oaks |
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| hanging meadows |
It was one of those days, where I could have lingered for a
long while, but evening obligations sent us hoofing it back down the down the
trail, to the displeasure of our toes and quads. I have yet to make it all the
way to the Benson Plateau on this trail, but eventually…maybe…
 |
| heading home in the sunlight |
Overall, a great day.
RUCKLE CREEK TRAIL
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon
~8ish miles?
