MOUNT JEFFERSON WILDERNESS

MOUNT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST

WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST

Activity: Backpacking

41 miles, 7,014 elevation gain, 21 hours moving time, rated Moderate to Hard

Date: 8/25-30/25

Day 2: Park Ridge to Pamelia Lake

We survived the horrendous thunderstorm the night of ‘Mount Jefferson Wilderness, Day 1, that surprised us in the middle of the night on top of the Park Ridge. The rain came down in buckets with lightning bolts all around.

It was the dawning of a new day and there was that magnificent sight, Mount Jefferson, entrancing and bewitching us once again with it’s incredible beauty.

I decided since I was the one that was struggling with the demons of a heavy pack, not enough food and not enough nutrition, according to my trail mates, that I would set out early on my own. My own feelings of self doubt weighing heavy on my mind. Did I train hard enough? What is my frick’n problem? Why am I so slow compared to the others? Why am I struggling? We aren’t even at a high altitude for goodness sake. But of course I was headed downhill now so there was not the same strain and effort. So this day certainly felt better and less of an endeavor than the previous day. Plus the area was absolutely breathtaking from the marvelous views of Mount Jefferson to the thick lush forest that I was now traveling through. The others would not catch me on this part of the trek as I made my way down at a brisk clip enjoying nature and all her bounty.

I passed different PCT Through Hikers coming from the opposite direction and chatted with them regarding the big storm of the night before. The first hiker recanted his experience regarding the extra miles he decided to push for. By the way these guys put in an heroic amount of miles each and everyday. This person said that he decided to continue to hike into the night. When he finally stopped he was exhausted and decided he would “Cowboy” it, meaning sleep out in the open without pitching his tent. In the middle of the night he started seeing glimpses of light and wondered who the Devil is flashing a flashlight to and fro? Then he realized that a big storm was a brewing. He hurriedly pitched his tent and got in just as the rain started pouring down. The funny thing is much later I came a couple of women PCT Hikers and they said that they heard thunder off in the distance, but experienced no rain at all. Obviously we are all in roughly the same area, but it seemed odd that the rain dumped on us up on the ridge, but these young women didn’t receive any precipitation down in the Park, weird. That just reinforces the thought that in the mountains all bets are off when it comes to weather. The mountains make their own weather, so always expect the unexpected. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

I made my way downhill through the forest and along a couple of alpine meadow open areas to our meet up spot far down below at Russell Lake.

I was glad to take off the heavy pack, enjoy the mountain and the wonderful little lake. While I was waiting for my friends to arrive I started chowing on wild blue berries and huckleberries. Oh my gosh, they were so good I could not stop!

The lake and the mountain were superb. After everyone arrived we had a snack break and then hit the trail through the beautiful Mt. Jefferson Park, which was just incredible.

Mount Jefferson Park is a comparatively level garden of streams, subalpine meadows and little lakes with dazzling views at the base of epic Mount Jefferson, the second highest peak in the state of Oregon.

We crossed over a stream that seemed to be flowing with milk and honey. The aptly named “Whitewater Creek”. The chalky color is actually a fine silt mixed into the water coming down the mountain from the glacier. Not the place to be filtering water so it is important to plan accordingly.

The next portion of the hike we did not really capture images of as it was just so disappointing. That segment was simply unbelievable devastation. The wildfire took out everything as far as the eye could see and we could see a longways from this sad vantage point. Every hill, every mountain, every valley, everything… just scarred dead timber.

There were two water crossings of note. The first was Russell Creek. This stream section had fast moving water and was too wide to find boulders to hop across. We decided since this would be a significant event that we should all cross together. Anthony and Katie arrived first and a short time later I arrived.

We surveyed the situation and there was no easy way across. There were a three options. The first choice was near where we were resting, as we waited for team members Peggy and Dale, who were bringing up the rear. The first option had a thin log across a portion of the flow then transferred to a boulder and then onto another thin log, none of which seemed very secure. The next option was down stream a bit to maneuver a bundle of branches across the waterway that were soaked, partially in the water and wobbly. The group did not like either of those two choices of action.

Anthony despite being a 2xPCT accomplished hiker does not like heights, slippery surfaces on a slope such as snow or ice nor does he like fast moving water crossings. He will do them if he has to otherwise not to keen on the whole idea.

Sister Peggy is not to fond of water crossings either and was even considering not going further as most of that area was devastation anyway. She was privately thinking maybe just go back to beautiful Mt Jefferson Park.

Dale an outdoorsman all of his life took the initiative and carefully made his way through the rushing water securing each step as he went and using his trekking poles to brace himself. Once across he gave instructions to the others. Anthony made a couple of attempts, but really did not like it so he was still deciding how he wanted to cross plus he wanted to make sure that Katie would be okay on the crossing. Dale anchoring himself by sitting down on a boulder partially in the water to give assistance with directions. Katie was next. Dale showed her the best spot and where to place her feet, informing her that the rocks were slippery. It was a little sketchy, but Dale reached out his hand and she was able to make a lunge at it and all went well. The others followed suit.

I hate to get my feet wet and will do just about anything to keep that from happening including taking on a little more risk. To many times I have suffered painful blisters from hiking in wet boots. I went back to the first option. The only one above the water. I took it one easy step at a time, sort of like a tight rope walker, the thin logs moved a bit as I went. A fall could mean possible injury and being swept by the water, certainly soaked along with everything in my pack. The pack makes such an endeavor all the more difficult by throwing off the balance a bit. It was a little nerve wracking, but I was successful. All just part of the adventure and I was the only one with dry feet.

The trek continued on through the scarred apocalyptic land of ruin. As usual our band of merry backpackers spread out due to age, fitness level, quest for solitude and so on. Anthony in the lead getting his Zen on, the youngster of the group Katie doing her best to stay in his same zip code. Peggy and Dale hiked with me for a good part of the day, but I finally told them to move along as I wanted to go at my own pace.

The last water crossing of any note, Milk Creek, cut through the forest, running down off of the mountain, but it was not that big of a deal and with a little rock hopping I was across. Yes, we were back to live, green, lush forest as we wrapped around toward the backside of Mount Jefferson.

There was a junction where I found Peggy anxiously awaiting my arrival to not only check on me. She also wanted to ensure that I was well aware that we were now leaving the Pacific Crest Trail for Hunts Creek Trail which would bring us to our destination for the night Pamelia Lake. It was a rather insignificant trail that branched off and since I was fatigued it was quite handy that she was there, to be sure I was paying attention.

How pleasant the hike became at that point as we were in the sort of environment that PNW forests are known for big, bountiful and beautiful fir trees. We made our way to Pamelia Lake where we saw some other folks enjoying camping by a lovely alpine lake. We knew that Anthony would be searching for just the right spot. We made our way through the thick woodland along the banks of the pretty lake. On our side of the lake was thick forest the same for the other side other than that backdrop was steep mountainside leading up Grizzly Peak.

We discovered our friends busy as beavers. They found some wonderful camp spots for us. We then did all of the usual things pitched our tents, filtered water, washed up a bit in the lake, cooked up some grub and just enjoyed each other and our splendid surroundings.

One thing that I remember about this spot was having to pee in the middle of the night. The forest canopy was so thick that the night was a black as coal. Usually when camping you can exit your tent and it would be much lighter, there would be moonlight, starlight and just atmospheric light, but the thick trees made it just pitch black forest. You could barely see the hand in front of your face. Luckily I found my tent, climbed into my sleeping bag and slumbered off into dream land, which was exactly where we were- a land of dreams.

Anthony, Katie, Peggy, Dale, and I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to be ‘Pursing Balance Through Adventure’ with us in the MOUNT JEFFERSON WILDERNESS. One of the most beautiful and at the same time one of the saddest places to be. Immense natural beauty coupled with massive wildfire destruction and ugliness. The huge thunderstorm passed and we awoke to the dawning of a new day in a place so beautiful it was almost unimaginable. The mountain called to us, captivated us. Colossal, phenomenal, outstanding all seem pale as descriptive words to recount what we experienced. After we moved through the incredible area known as Mount Jefferson Park it wasn’t long before we were back to scarred land. It was more difficult to withstand on this day because unlike the day before where at least we had some refuge in sections of forest untouched by the devastation, it was just relentless on this day. As far as the eye could see what was once remarkable was no more. This was not the Balance that I was seeking where beauty was balanced with ugly, good was balanced with evil, but this was the way… Natures way, lightning caused the wildfire that wiped out virgin forest, now it must literally rise from the ashes. It’s natures way of renewal, but it is brutal. Once we closed in on Pamelia Lake, our destination for the night, we were back to forest big beautiful healthy forest. Good with the Bad… There is much more to share of our Mount Jefferson Wilderness Adventure. (Here is Day 3) Stay with us for more mountain trekking all you have to do is: LIKE, COMMENT, FOLLOW and SHARE.  Don’t forget to visit my Online SHOP APPAREL for top quality adventure wear that carries the mantra, the banner, the message, the logo: ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’. Profound Experiences in Nature is what we seek to Balance home/work life with peace and harmony. The menu showcases the many locations that PBTA travels. Each location is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently.

Happy Trails-

Roger Jenkins

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure