5.5 miles of hiking • 500' elevation gain •
Time to walk-off the turkey! Unfortunately, or otherwise, Portland received 5% of its annual rainfall on Thanksgiving, which meant the creeks were raging this day. There were impromptu waterfalls on both sides of the canyon, spilling down over the trail on our side, and just looking wonderful across from us. The clouds were still hanging heavy in the hills, and were simply delightful.
But the rains had done their damage. A 100-foot gash, that ranged from 10- to 20-feet deep, opened up above the Metlako Falls viewpoint. Many large trees were either leaning into the valley, or had fallen entirely. It appears a landslide is imminent, and it just may take the viewpoint with it. Best hurry if you'd like to see the "before" conditions!
Also, the crossing at Tish Creek was just untenable this day. Would've had to wade through knee-deep whitewater, then crawl out a collapsing and muddy bank on the far side, hoping all the while not to be whisked down stream and over a rather roaring waterfall. No fun. We decided to call it a hike at this point, and revert to Plan B.
On our way back down the trail, there was one point near the petrified stump where a new little landslide had brought down another tree across the trail that wasn't there on our way up! Just not the best day to be in the Eagle Creek canyon, all in all.
