Saturday, October 1st, 2022
Start/End: Eagle Creek trailhead
Miles: 32.48
Elevation gain/loss: 5646′
After a very late night and a long day yesterday, I was awake at 5:45am and on the trail running by headlamp around 6:30am. I only needed extra light for half an hour until the sun rose and the sky lightened. Eagle Creek ravine was beautiful – the water was rushing and there were many waterfalls, despite it being fall. It was magical to walk behind Tunnel Falls through a wet rock tunnel! But Seven Mile Falls, Twister Falls, Wy’East Falls, Skoonichuk Falls, Punch Bowl Falls, and Metlako Falls were all gorgeous as well! The incline was very gradual, and I found myself running for many portions of the trail until it began the climb up towards Wahtum Lake. The trail was very smooth and I could have pushed it even harder on the uphill if it was a shorter effort, but I kept myself to a steady pace. I discovered after the fact that I’d set an FKT for the Eagle Creek Tunnel Falls route, and added my time to the board.
By the lake, Eagle Creek trail met the PCT and then I traveled the PCT all the way down to Cascade Locks and Bridge of the Gods. The trail was relatively smooth, and I was able to hit 12-minute miles on most of the descent. Once I made it to town, I quickly found a cross-walk and connected my loop by using the Columbia River Highway State Trail to get back towards Eagle Creek Campground and then run the road back to the Eagle Creek Trailhead! I finished right around 4pm, changed clothes, and then headed into Cascade Locks for dinner with a PCT trail friend!
