MOUNT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST

Activity: Multi Day Backpacking Trip

42 miles, 10,630’ elevation gain, 4 days out, rated HARD

Date: 6/7-10/22

Day 4

11 Miles with 3993’ Elevation Gain

After a restful night, lulled to sleep by the sound of the tumbling water cascading down the face of Romona Falls, I packed up my tent and stuffed it into my backpack for the last time on this journey. I spent some time, before we set out on our final day of this spectacular trek around Mt Hood, sitting next to the glorious falls letting it’s magic envelop me.

I had an important task to complete, doctoring the blisters that I had undoubtedly received from miles of hiking in wet boots when we waded through the frigid water at Elliott Glacier Stream.

It would be a long hard day with the elevation gain being almost double that of any of the other days. There would be a long slog out of windy, dusty, canyons. We would experience more water crossings, one of which I decided that my best bet across the Zig Zag River was to do the standing broad jump from a rock to the shore with my heavy pack- and hooray, I stayed dry! There was more smoke in the sky from the nearby wildfires. But there were thick green forests to enjoy and handfuls of huckleberries to consume.

We maneuvered through a portion of forest with downed timber that we had to clamber over, under or around, and up a steep switch back trail. One spot seemed particularly treacherous with massive logs precariously perched above being held in place by saplings. It was quite unnerving to come around the bend and find trail all but wiped out by such a tree coming down the mountainside.

It was tiring, it was hard, it was glorious! Finally late in the afternoon I spied a most welcome sight, that of the roof of the Timberline Lodge which signified the end of the fantastic journey.

What a wonderful four days that Anthony and I spend with Mother Nature on arguably the Best Hike in America, Timberline Trail.

Thanks for accompanying my Through Hiker friend Anthony and I on this multi day backpacking extravaganza. Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 When you work hard toward a goal, but the reward of each step is profound beauty than it is not hard, it is soul nurturing. This my friends is what ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ is all about. Such a trek brings so much balance into the grind that can be everyday life. The circumnavigation of Mount Hood is a grind, but such a beautiful grind and I invite you to stay with PBTA because there is alway more. It is not the destination, but the journey that brings that balance. Stay tuned by completing these easy tasks: LIKE, COMMENT, FOLLOW and SHARE. We all need to seek out more journeys. As an aid to your discovering your own expedition I invite you to go the menu above where I have categorized outings mostly by location. Each location is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently. You will find Adventure Wear with the prized PBTA logo and mantra at SHOP APPAREL.

Happy Trails-

Roger Jenkins

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure