At 4,959', Mt. Defiance is the highest point in the Columbia River Gorge. The 12.8-mile difficult loop climbs 4,970' and has become a popular training course for mountaineers and trail runners. Aunt Judy and I gave it another go on Sunday after being rained out on our first joint attempt. We encountered several friendly hikers along our journey!
The Mt. Defiance Trail begins at Starvation Creek State Park along I-84 on the Columbia River. In spring, wildflowers bloom profusely alongside the paved surface. Hole in the Wall Falls and Lancaster Falls can be viewed early on in the hike.
From here, the trail continues west through the brushy power-line corridor, where poison oak abounds, before beginning to switchback steeply up the side of the Gorge. The relentless ascent gains over 3,000' in elevation over three miles! Much of the terrain was scorched in last year's Eagle Creek Fire, but the trail served as a firebreak in this particular area--one side of the trail was visibly burned while the other was left untouched. It is difficult to imagine how it all looked before the fire...
Bearing right at the Mt. Defiance-Mitchell Point Trail Junction leads to an expansive talus slope with a vista over the Washington side of the Gorge and on to Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Adams.
Climbing up the talus slope, the radio tower marks the summit. On a clear day, hikers are rewarded with a magnificent view of Mt. Hood to the south and the Hood River Valley to the east.
The return journey follows the Mt. Defiance Cutoff Trail. A steep drop down a talus slope is marked by several large cairns.
The trail enters a shady Douglas-fir forest and passes above the shore of beautiful Warren Lake.
Below the lake, the Starvation Ridge Trail descends down the spine of a narrow ridge. Splendid views open up on the steep grassy slopes above the river after exiting the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. The summit of Mt. Defiance is seemingly so far away.
A long series of switchbacks pass through meadows and groves, and under power-line pylons, one of which is home to an osprey nest. Views of Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens were obscured by clouds, but Dog and Wind mountains were easy to decipher.
At the Starvation Ridge-Starvation Ridge Cutoff Trail Junction, the cutoff trail has been closed due to a dangerous slide, which increases the round trip length. Needless to say, our dogs were barking by the time we reached the trailhead; the hike was an all-day event (though doable in about seven hours). Still, I was excited by our accomplishment, and eager to use this trek to train for future excursions. Though not at elevation, hikes here tend to be much longer in length than in Colorado--yet another adjustment!
