19 miles of hiking • 5250' elevation gain •
Dry day with an inversion in the Gorge as well as strong east winds. Took advantage of the low snow pack and attempted Tanner Butte. Eagle Creek trail to 4.5 Mile Bridge. Off trailed to cross Tenas Creek and ascend the ridge separating it and Opal Creek. Beautiful scrambly knife ridge on the lower stretches that actually requires route finding. From 2500 ft up it is a classic forested cross country ridge with minimal bushwacking. Great rare views of Tanner's imposing east face along talus field openings. Topped out a mile or two north of Tanner Butte and hit the summit. Great views above the inversion and minimal wind. Spent 40 minutes on the summit before hoofing it back down Tanner Ridge. Took the Wauna Cutoff down for a more interesting descent than the trail and through the inversion down to Road 777.
