nick eaton ridge loop

You know how some trail runs are magical, and you find yourself marveling at how awesome nature is and how wonderful it is to be alive?

This was not one of those runs.

On paper, it looked like it would be a challenging loop, similar to the Beacon Rock loop, with perhaps a bit more climbing.

On paper.

In reality, it was a bush-wacking, spider avoiding, poison oak dodging, relentless climbing, punishing downhill super challenging day on the trails. One of the ones you call character building.

An early shot of the trail. Doesn't look too bad, does it? Everyone must start turning around near here, because it was about to get ugly.

A peak-a-boo view of Mt St Helens, I think.

Hwy 84 and our car is way down below...

Megan was a machine on the trails. She just kept running and running. Me, not so much.

Awesome view of the gorge spreading to the east.

A huge field of boulders and scree. At this point, I wondered how high up Mt Hood we were getting. Also, where do all of these come from?

Mt Adams through the haze.

Could not properly capture this waterfall as at this point, I was having a bit of an asthma attack and was really struggling. However, I did hop right in to it like a shower, and it was the most amazing feeling ever.