A few weekends ago we had a break from the dreary rainy weather. The clouds parted, in fact, totally disappeared, the sun came out, and it warmed up to a balmy 62 degrees. Time for our first hike of the season!
We decided to try the Cape Horn trail in the Columbia Gorge. It was a quick 20 minute drive down Highway 14 till we found the trailhead located across the street from a park n' ride lot (who knew the buses came clear out here?). With the dogs in tow, and water and snacks (for both human and dog) in the backpack we set out on our what the guidebook described as a "moderate" hike.
The first part of the trail meandered gently through a hardwood forest. The wildflowers were starting to bloom and I was excited to see so many trillum's along the path.
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Trillum...isn't it pretty?
As the hike progressed, it grew more and more steep. With every turn and new hill before us, our pug Peanut kept looking at us like, "No..really? We're climbing that?", while our bichon Liberty was racing ahead, looking back at us every once in awhile with a smile and high speed wag as if to say, "Hurry up! This is fun!".
We came to a point on the trail where it forked. We weren't exactly sure which path to take so we veered left. This is where the trail went from moderate to yikes! The trail became very rocky and loose and almost straight up. The incline was so steep we had to grab onto tree branches along side the trail in order to keep from sliding back down.
We finally made it to the top, where the trail leveled off and curved towards the left. We turned the corner and this is what we saw.
Amazing, uh? What a view! What a scary view. The viewpoint is on an outcropping of rock that dropped off severely. No guard rail. No keep back sign. No nothing....just you a view and very, very, long drop down.
We hiked on a little more and found another viewpoint. We stopped here to rest and have a snack. The rock outcropping here was even more prominent, and I couldn't resist sitting as close to the edge as I dared. Sitting there, looking out, with no trees directly below me, and none to either side of me, I felt as if I was suspended in the air. The wind ruffled my hair and as a falcon glided on air currents right in front of me, I felt like the falcon must feel when he's floating above the earth. I was in awe, and humbled at God's glory laid out below me. I was lost in the beauty of the scenery. Eric, being the natural protector that he his, scolded me for getting too close to the edge (I wasn't that close) and insisted I scoot back. I did. He felt better.
I'm not as close to the edge as this picture looks.
After enjoying the view for quite awhile, we hiked the trail a little further until it started going back down the other side of the cliff we had just climbed. So at that point, we decided to head back down the way we came.
So, on a scale of 1 to 10 of great hikes, I'd give this one a solid 9. It was a little strenuous, but not too bad, and the view at the end of the uphill climb, more than made up for my sore thighs. However, I would never, ever, ever, (did I say ever?) bring a child on this hike...I wouldn't even bring an unpredictable teenager or a not-so-sure-footed adult. Oh, and also, don't bring anyone with you who stands to inherit a lot of money if you accidentally trip on an untied shoelace.
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