My first hike in my new home took place on possibly the last beautiful, summer day of the year--sunny and high 70s.
After a recent turn of events, the local hiking scene has apparently changed completely. Almost one one year ago to the day, a 15-year-old boy hurled fireworks into a parched canyon, igniting a massive wildfire that raged through the spectacular Columbia River Gorge. The Eagle Ridge fire burned for over two months, spreading to more than 48,000 acres and wreaking havoc on nearby recreation area, highways, and homes. As a result, many beloved hiking trails in the Gorge remain closed with no timeline for opening.
Nevertheless, Aunt Judy managed to provide excellent recommendations for a pair of safe trails that have been recently restored. On Sunday morning, I headed eastbound on I-84, exiting at Cascade Locks in order to cross the Columbia River into Washington via the Bridge of the Gods. The toll bridge is an additional cost to most trailhead fees (likely to invest in a pass). Picking up WA Hwy 14 on the other side, Red and I passed through the town of Stevenson before reaching the easily-accessed trailhead. The hour-long scenic drive was a breeze compared to the mountain passes I was accustomed to climbing. Also gone are the days of leaving my apartment at 2am in fear of dangerous storms and overbearing crowds.
A lower viewpoint offers a stunning view of the Columbia River and the Oregon side of the Gorge. From here, the trail gets even steeper, but a glimpse of the summit meadows through the trees kept me going. In late spring, this area rumored to be covered in yellow balsamroot.
The main trail continues to the left, towards an open meadow that is constantly pummeled by high winds. Half a mile later, a signed junction connects to the Summit Loop Trail.
Many hikers return the same way or via the Augspurger Trail, but I continued southeast on the Summit Loop Trail into the woods to meet the main trail back at Puppy Dog Lookout. This alternate route is less scenic but more sheltered if hiking in poor weather.
I started the hike at 8:45am and finished by 12:15pm, making for a solid 3.5-hour trek. Despite the low elevation, I still felt challenged by the steep climb. Still, it was great to dust off my boots and trekking poles!
I was ready to call it a day, but Aunt Judy convinced me to knock out a short trail on the way back. Wind Mountain is a-2.5 mile out-and-back trail. The moderately-rated trail gains 1,171'.
Just a short piece down the road from Dog Mountain, the trailhead was easy to spot on the side of a dirt road turnout. The trail turns east as it gains elevation steadily for a quarter mile or so. At an unsigned junction, the main trail again climbs steeply for the next mile. Long sweeping switchbacks cross a talus slope, eventually leveling out to a forest with a high canopy. Close to the summit, a large sign describes the cultural and historical significance of the mountain as a spirit quest site. This archaeological site is extremely fragile; visitors must stay within designated areas shown on the map.
The summit does not have a 360-degree view, but the viewing areas afford excellent views of the Columbia River, Dog Mountain, Mt. Defiance, and even Mt. St. Helens to the northwest.
This short and sweet hike was a worthy addition to my morning hike--1.5 hours round trip (12:45pm-2:15pm). The first hikes are in the books!
