Larch Mountain

14 miles of hiking • 4000' elevation gain •

Hiked from Multnomah Falls to Larch Mountain. Almost 8 hours - what a day! I only did the bottom and the top of this hike before, so it was good to finally do it all.

The hike started with the usual mob scene at Multnomah Lodge, and the crowds didn't thin out much until the junction with a trail to Wahkeena. While I made a brief stop to take Ecola Falls picture, I was passed by at least 3 groups hiking in flip-flops. Once past the junction, the percentage of "real" hikers increased dramatically.

First patches of snow started at 2,800' and the trail was pretty much covered by 3,000', less than 2 miles to the summit. There were fresh tracks all the way to the summit and the snow was firm. I brought the snowshoes but didn't have to use them today (snowshoes slow me down considerably so I only use them when necessary). Skiing poles were very helpful. That last 2 miles in snow, rain, and fog seemed to last forever. The "winter trail" follows blue-and-orange signs on the trees; at first it was clear that it was following "summer" trail (which has melted out in spots), but then the tracks began descending steeply on top of the ridge where trail hasn't been in the summer, then ascending again. I expected to go through parking area before the summit and was surprised to find myself right below Sherrard Point. The summit was enveloped in clouds but I've seen the view several times anyway. I packed an empty beer bottle and headed back - it was 5:20 pm ('cause I got a 12:45pm start) and it was still a long way down. Going back, had all trail to myself (saw only a couple of hikers near Multnomah). Got to the parking lot at 8:40 pm and almost dark.

Highlights of the hike:

1) The last hiker I met on the way up, at the beginning of "snow zone" (hiking in shorts and obviously cold) tried to talk me out of getting further: "Don't go there! Two feet of snow!" I promised to turn back a little further.

2) I lost my driver's license there, pretty sure about it. It's probably at the last 2 miles of the hike; I found an energy bar wrapping on the way back, which I dropped on the way up. It was in the same pocket with my license but nothing crossed my mind. So it you're there and find Roman's Washington license there please let me know...

View the resource page used for this triphttp://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Larch_Mountain_Hike