22.5 miles of hiking • 4250' elevation gain •
The forecast said it was supposed to stop raining at 8am. HA! 10 hours later, it really hadn't let up at all, but we'd wandered pretty considerably. The initial plan was to tackle Ruckel Ridge, cross the plateau, and return via the PCT. However, right around 1000' elevation, we started running into 1" thick ice on the rocky 45°+ trail. If there wasn't another 2000' of climbing ahead, spikes would've probably gotten through this initial obstacle, but the thought of bailing from even higher wasn't very appealing, so it was time to come up with a Plan Z. (We'd had trouble all week arriving at this one!)
Ended up driving over to the Bridge of the Gods, and wandering up the PCT from there. Finally made it to Dry Creek Falls, which was pretty cool, and much bigger than it's always looked in pictures. Much of the trail was covered in storm debris, ice, and snow, but nothing horribly obstructive. There was a mighty washout just a short ways before the Pinnacles, however, that seemed still quite active. In fact, while we were at the Pinnacles, we heard two incredibly loud rock slides from above. Thinking they were probably coming down the gully we'd just crossed, a plan Z2 was now in order.
The thought of following the PCT all the way to Benson was considered, but daylight was already running short, so instead we wandered over to Herman Creek, and then up as far as Casey Creek Camp, before deciding daylight was nearly gone and it was time to turn around. The final bail was going straight to the Herman Creek TH, and walking back into town from there, rather than return on the PCT in the dark. Just too much storm damage to mess with.
Two very kind folks offered us rides, but the exercise was feeling good so we just walked on. All in all, a pretty good loop, and a really fine day in the rainy gorge!
Comments
Karl
December 6, 2015
Thanks! Yeah, we exchanged uncounted emails, and still had to improvise on the fly as one option after another became questionable. Fun day outside, anyway! :-)
Woodswalker
December 5, 2015
Excellent pics, as always! Ha, I'm glad it's not just me who is having difficulty coming up with hiking plans right now. Short days, storm damage, washouts, ice. I guess it's winter.