eagle creek

You know what I love about seeing other runners on the trail?

They are always smiling. The grit it out, get it done face is absent among the mountains and the creeks. Runners are friendly, wanting to chat and share trail conditions, routes and favorite spots.

And when we get to run trails like these, it's impossible to not be grinning like a child.

The Eagle Creek trail is a technical, scenic, popular trail in the Gorge. If you could only do one trail here, this might be my pick. While not the best choice for a solid training run, it's delightful for the sheer density of trail awesomeness.

Lower Punch Bowl Falls

Loowit Falls

High Bridge.

The view from High Bridge.

We were treated to tricks of light all day long.

You might have to be part goat to run these trails really fast. Or at least an Ironman. We met a guy on the trail who was running this trail so fast, we could hardly wrap our mind around it.

We also met a guy with the park service who was telling us the best time to come up the trail is during the winter. Yeah, he said, you might have freezing rain the size of golf balls so that these rocky trails are covered in ice, but that's just in the morning, he assured us. It melts off by the afternoon. Gulp.

Tunnel Falls

The tunnel behind Tunnel Falls. It is actually blasted from the rock.

Twister Falls.

Right near our turn-around point.

 It really was a spectacular fall day. Every turn of the trail elicited squeals of delight.

Punch Bowl Falls. Argh - I need a filter for these sunny days.

 

Hike information: http://www.nwhiker.com/CGNSAHike37.html

larch mountain

Damn, I am a lucky girl. Er, woman. This is what I got to do today:

Multnomah Falls is usually so crowded that I've never taken the time to check out the view from the first bridge. This morning, the lot was empty. Turns out, it is quite pretty from there.

A familiar sight, now in brilliant color.

I did not remember seeing this creek on Sunday when we came down from Franklin Ridge. No matter how many times you run the trails, there are always new things to see. Especially if you are senile.

A foxglove blooms late in to the season.

We chose to run up to Larch Mountain from the bottom of the Gorge. If you drive to the top, this is the hardest part you'll face.

In case you weren't sure how high you had climbed, the nice folks who built the viewing ramp reminded you how far you had come.

The Columbia River basin, far below.

On the left, St Helens, in the middle, Rainier, and on the right, Adams. 

Mt Adams in the distance.

And a shot of Mt Hood.

We finished off the adventure with a quick trip to Oneonta Gorge. Our flip-flops weren't the best choice to try and scramble over the logjam, so we'll leave that for another day. 

franklin ridge, columbia gorge

Conquered a sweet little 15 mile loop in the Gorge.

Taking off from Multnomah Falls, you cut over to the Oneota trail, climb and climb and climb to Franklin Ridge, bust your behind across the ridge, and then drop back down to Multnomah Falls and Wahkeena Falls for the finish. Quiet trails, babbling creeks, ridge views, autumn leaves...what better way to spend a Sunday?

Appropriately named Triple Falls.

Did I mention we climbed a bit? About 5,000 feet in a little less than 15 miles.

 

I am a sucker for photos of rock cliffs. Whatever.

The route details: Franklin Ridge loop
We added on mileage by heading towards Wahkeena Falls to get back down to Multnomah, rather than battling the crowds on the switchbacks down.