As part of the Mt Hood SE side ramble, the last day’s hike from Elk Meadows to Newton Creek and then up to Timberline trail was the best hike of the week.
I started before 5:00 from the trailhead with headlamp on. The Newton Creek is not far and I checked out the stream crossing (a single log to scoot across and not for feint of heart), but not needed to get to Timberline along Newton Creek. Once up along the creek, the views of Mt Hood and the creek’s gorge were teases for what followed.
The trail conditions were perfect, expect for a couple of spots were the ridge is collapsing. Caution required.
The best part was Timberline trail. I went first down to the Newton Creek crossing and there were about 6 tents of people getting ready to cross – the crossing looked challenging imho. I went the other way back up on Timberline clockwise toward Clark Creek. I met another hiker who was hiking full circle in 1 day (40+ miles) and had done it regularly. He told me about Clark Creek and that I had to go see it – he’d never seen this before.
Coming down the sand / scree ridge to Clark Creek, the optics were amazing!
Yep, where the stream should be was nothing but a HUGE river of ice. Over 20 feet of ice? I walked across the ice – the easiest Mt Hood stream crossing ever! But, once on the ice, it was even weirder with all these dirt cones. And looking up the ice to Mt Hood was a favorite view.
I continued on over the meadows until the waterfall had too much ice remaining to cross without damaging the creek’s side. I did not need to cross and avoided further damage.
The snow hung on the ridge and the meadows were just so, so green.
Another amazing thing happened along the way down. I saw this cloud of steam / dust (who knows) rise from the creek. I have seen this before when either a huge ice piece or rock breaks free.
Always something new it seems. What will this area be like in a few years? Hope Eugene has cooled off some. Heard today 12 people have died in the Portland area from heat related issues.