Finding My Way: Eagle Creek Trail

Monday, June 13, 2011

Eagle Creek Trail

Punchbowl Falls

I hiked 13 miles on the Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge on Saturday.

Oh, it was glorious! I hiked with my friend, Liberty Fort, all the way to Tunnel Falls and back.

Our husbands, Mark and Jason, hike with us to Punchbowl Falls, and then they relaxed/read books/played iPods/napped while we girls took up the challenge of making it all the way to Tunnel Falls and back.

The weather was perfect. 70-something degrees with a light breeze.

How many times have I hiked that trail? I tried to count to myself as we hiked along, but I've lost track over the years. Twenty times or more. I first hiked it in the early summer of 1989, and I've hiked it at least once almost every year since then. I can distinctly remember five different overnight backpack trips on Eagle Creek, but there may be more. My favorite overnight on this trail was the time Dorothy and I hiked in to 7-1/2 Mile Camp by ourselves in 1990. My second-favorite campout was the hike I made with Josh in 2009.

It was Liberty's first time to hike Eagle Creek, and it was fun to watch her be surprised at the beauties of the trail. I never get tired of it, but it was fun to see it again with fresh eyes. I grabbed Liberty's camera several times to take some souvenir photos for her, but for some reason, I never did snap any photos with my camera. Too busy hiking and enjoying the feel of the trail, I guess. I took lots of photos of the same hike to Tunnel Falls in 2008...but I had much better weather this year.

Final verdict: We hiked 13 miles in 6 hours, with only 3 rest stops. I was only a little bit sore afterwards, which surprised me because I am definitely not getting enough exercise lately. Was I pleased as punch that I made the hike in good time and in good shape? OF COURSE! Would I do it again? YOU BETCHA!!