Jenelle and Jonathan spent three days last week hiking the Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge. They had been on the first 6 miles of this trail several times before, but a yearning to carry heavy things on their backs caused them to plan a trip all the way to Wahtum Lake at the end of the trail (and then back, of course — you can’t stay at Wahtum Lake forever).
They resolved to set off on this 26.6-mile journey early Thursday afternoon, but one thing let to another, and they didn’t get to the trailhead until 4:45 that evening. So, they hiked in a few miles and made camp at a site on Eagle Creek.
The next day was a very special day — Jessica’s Birthday Eve, a.k.a. Jenelle’s Birthday. Not just any birthday, but the Big Three-O. (Some of our acquaintances would find this hard to believe, since they tell Jenelle she looks so young.) They celebrated with a candle-studded carrot cake muffin. That day they hiked and hiked, passing beautiful waterfalls, steep cliffs, peaceful forests, and sunlit groves. They pondered how much more pleasant backpacking can be in good weather. Late that afternoon, they reached the end of the trail at lovely Wahtum Lake and then made camp near a creek a few miles back on the trail.
Their third and final day was uneventful, though breakfast was cut short when the stove ran out of fuel in the middle of the first pancake. (Jonathan needs to learn to conserve fuel. Or just bring more.) Afterward, they went home, cleaned their gear, and treated their blisters.
Pictures are available here. We hope you enjoy them — Jonathan has said that he isn’t taking a camera with a heavy zoom lens backpacking again.
