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| Wallowas 08   | 
| Page Type: Trip Report Location: Oregon, United States, North America Date Climbed/Hiked: Aug 5, 2008 Activities: Hiking Season: Summer | Page By: twoshuzz Created/Edited: Sep 23, 2008 / Dec 1, 2008 Object ID: 445999 Hits: 231 Loading... Page Score: 0% - 0 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Eagle creek
I set out in late July in search of good quality granite here in Oregon.I hit the N.E. corner as this is the best and most accesible source within the state. After a week of hiking and climbing around Anthony Lake, I headed for the Wallowas in hopes of finding some decent walls for future consideration. I spent the first night in the "Two Colors" camp on the W. Fork of Eagle Creek. My plan was to hit the trail on the Eagle Creek - West Eagle Loop. There are many peaks and ridges along this 35 mile loop so my hopes were high in finding some appreciable walls.After setting camp and organizing gear, I decided to hit the creek and check out the local residents. I was somewhat suprised at the size of the native bows the creek gave up.Dinner was caught in minutes and I spent a great deal of the evening releasing many fish caught over a 200 yard stretch of water. After stuffing my belly with three fat bows and some rice, I layed back and fell into a deep sleep in anticipation of the next four days. Eagle Meadow
I hit the Main Eagle TH early in the AM so I could avoid the 90 deg heat of the day. I was only doing 4 1/2 miles on day one so I planned on taking my time and enjoying the trail along with taking many pics.The trail climbed mostly at a gentle pace with only a few short switchbacks as it meandered through lush Jack pine following the creek. A couple of small waterfalls along the way made for a pleasant viewing but not really pic worthy. As the trail continued to climb, I found myself in some very tall brush on a very narrow path ( almost closter phobic ) for a good mile or so. After about three miles, I came out into the open of a somewhat small meadow and a quaint little bridge over the creek. I stopped for a quick pic or two and met another hiker on his way out from Looking Glass,Culver and Bear lakes. We chewed the fat for a few minutes and said our goodbyes. About 1/2 hour later I crested the top of a small rise and came to the foot of Eagle Meadow. Still draining the snowfields above, the meadow was full of tiny creeklets feeding the lush grass and swaths of wildflowers. Surrounded by granite peaks with the creek running the length of its southern border, it is a breathtaking place. I quickly found my spot and set up camp for the night. I spent the afternoon catching and releasing plump Bull Trout in the tiny creek while taking in the peaks and connecting ridges. Many to hike, but not what I was looking for. But what a beautiful place. Cached Lake
Again on the trail by 8:00 Am, I had hoped to avoid the heat. Not a problem as the day was suprisingly overcast. I was only moving about three miles today so I expected to make it a short one on the trail. The climb to Cached was at a higher gradient than to Eagle Meadow and at a much more consistant pace as well. For what ever reason, I was feeling it. I hit a large drainage after about 2 miles and began to climb in earnest. This portion of the trail lacks switchbacks so it was a head on climb for about a mile. Then I came to some relatively long swithcbacks which brought me to the Eagle Lake junction. I decided to forgoe the trip to Eagle Lake as the sight of the Rock Dam was not to my taste. A little over a mile beyond the junction, I climbed out of the tress and entered a small basin and Cached Lake. A pretty little jewel set in a sub glacial basin surrounded at one end by a meadow containing its outlet which feeds great patches of wildflowers, and a small avi chute at the other end leading up into a small rocky basin and a path toward an un-named pass above. After setting camp in a lone patch of trees within the meadow, a small pack train of three horses, three mules and three gentlemen in the saddle came in and set up camp at the other end of the lake. In the early evening as the wind died down, I decided to give dinner a shot. Just as I approached the lake, the surface came alive with rising Brook trout. I love Brookies in the high lakes. They are so carnivorous, they will hit darn neer anything you throw at them. A size 16 Olive Elkhair Caddis and a few minutes was all it took for dinner to hit the pan. One of the gentleman came out to join me in fishing. After watching him attempt to throw a fly rod with no success, I sheepishly asked him if I could give him a little guidance. After a few suggestions and a few minutes, he was getting some line on the water. I gave him a couple of Elkhairs and sat back and watched this man of close to 70 years trun into a little kid again as the fish would not leave him alone. I spent 2 nights at Cached Lake with these folks and enjoyed every minute of their company. Very nice local people whom I hope to see again next year. Paradise  Un-named pass above Cached Lake at about 8200 '
After spending 2 days with my new friends, it was time to move on. We hit the trail at the same time in the morning. We were traveling in the same direction ... Up and to the north. Them for the day. Me to continue the loop.We wound our way up the swithcbacks and came to the upper basin above Cached Lake. A beautiful Glacial cirque which did offer some appreciable walls. But I had a 1200' climb ahead, followed by a 2300' descent so I did not stop to spot routes or take pictures. I thought I could get some good pics from above, but this was not the case as the trail pushed farther west than I had anticipated which took me away from the basin. Once above the upper basin, the trail turned to dust and cinder. An iteresting intrusion of volcanic rock formation and scree appeared out of nowhere amongst the granite. Any geologists out there ?. After coming out of the trees and into the open, I spotted my friends on their horses only about an eighth of a mile ahead. I was feeling good and strong and had kept a good pace up to " Cached Pass." Once on top, I dropped the pack and had a drink and something to eat. I took in the stunning views and took some pics which made me feel a little better at missing the photo ops in the upper basin. I then began the long 4 mile drop down to Trail Creek.Winding my way down, I finally bottomed out at the creek. I re-filled the bottles and made the short half mile or so climb back up into Paradise Meadow. Yet another meadow draining the snowfields above me and below Wonker Pass. What a sight. Again, surrounded by granite peaks and their connecting ridges holding some potential for climbing. Certainly some traverses are very real. One Wall that looks a bit interesting as well. Now, roughtly 16 1/2 miles in, I set camp and got some good pics. I hit the small creek and bone chilling water for some relief from the dust and the stink I was taking on. Refreshed, and energized, I snapped some more pics and worked my way up the talus for a closer look for potential routes on the small wall. Needless to say, this ain't yosemite.The granite here is much more broken/shattered.Clean crack systems do not seem to exist. Large flakes seem to be at a minimum. This is very blocky, chunky granite that is severely broken. No clean faces. Not what I had hoped for. But none the less, I was here and I did spot some potential. So as the evening wore down, I kicked back thinking about the 2400 foot climb over Wonker Pass in front of me. I spotted the logical breech where I thought the pass would be. I would find out the next day that I was oh so wrong. Wonker and Echo Lake.  Looking east from atop Wonker Pass  Looking back down on Paradise from atop Wonker Pass  Another Shot of Traverse lake below Wonker Pass  Traverse lake below Wonker Pass
Hitting the trail early the next morning, I was looking forward to a night at Traverse Lake. Traverse Peak looked to have some real potential for climbing from all the pics I had seen. About a mile or so out of camp, I jumped a small herd of elk while cresting a spine. Always amazes me at how these animals can move so quickly through the trees. Once out of the trees, the work began. The climb was dusty and since the canyon has an eastern exposure, the sun was hitting me hot and early.Once about half way up the canyon, I began to hit small snowfields which got a little pitchy and hid the trail well. More often than not, it was much safer to cut the switchbacks than cross the snow. The higher I got,I discovered that the route would not pass through the area which looked logical from over 2000' feet below. It pushed more to the south through a small cleft in the cliffside which was not readily apparent from down below. Once I was over the top, I stopped for a drink and some gel, took some pics and took a good look at Traverse Peak to my left ( south ). Again, broken and shattered rock. Blocky, chunky with no clean faces. Bummer. I headed down to the other side of Wonker and arrived some 1000' or so below at beautiful Traverse Lake. What a gem. I decided to head for the lower end to camp but the trail took me farther north and away from the lake. I had missed the spot I was most looking forward to for the entire trip !!!. No pics. Blew right by it. So another 500' or so down and over to Echo Lake. Echo Lake
Echo Lake is another beautiful spot in the Eagle Cap. A very long and sustained ridge system flanks its southern shore. Definately some potential for a long traverse. This would be my last night of the trip and was becoming more apparent as a few parties were now coming up from the western aspect along the West Eagle Trail. I took the opportunity to take many pics of Echo and was able to capture Traverse Peak in the distance. As I ate dinner that night, I weighed the virtues of one more night on the trail versus the 1500' feet down and 1600' back up along the Fake creek trail with the final 1600' descent to the TH. Once I got going in the AM, I began the initial descent of 50 some odd switchbacks leading down the canyon wall and onto the valley floor. About four miles later I reached the Fake Creek Trail and turned east for the next climb. Up through the dusty and unmaintained trail I climbed. Upon finding a place to camp around the 30 mile mark, I decided to keep going and head on out. I finished the trip on a roughly twelve mile day with half on a trail that had not been maintained for who knows how long. All in all, it was a great trip that I will return for as long as I am able over the next several years. But did I find the type of granite I set out looking for?. Not even close. The rock in this part of Oregon is nothing close to Yose or even NCNP, or anything in between. What I saw that holds potential is a good ways into the bc. A lot of work to get enough gear and camp equipment in for a few days. And all for what I would call sub-standard granite. I'll keep looking though. If nothing else, it makes for a wonderfull bp trip that is more than worth the effort many times over. Images
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