The North Valley chapter previously adopted the section of the Pacific Crest Trail(PCT) between Joe Graham Horse Camp and Triangle Lake Horse Camp. This section covered 26 miles of the PCT and we have met PCT through hikers on the trail and I am amaze me by their resolve. Becky Wolf a honorary OET member, had managed this project for 20 years. Our goal was to clear the logs from the trail, by first part of July. During that time we maybe see one or two through hikers, it is a bit early for them coming up from California.
A few years back we decided to go back up and spend some time riding on our section of the PCT later in the summer. We set up camp at Clackamas Lake Campground.
While setting up we noticed a single backpacker walking through camp, we stopped to talk to her and found out she was indeed a through hiker. Learning she had just walked through our section of the PCT, wow I thought, we told her where she could set up camp for the night, and invited her to dinner. At dinner It was indeed a pleasure talking to her about the PCT experiences encountered, she had been walking for more than 4 months. After dinner we wished here good luck for her remaining travels, heading for Timberline Lodge, 25 miles away. we never heard for sure if she made it all the way that year. We saddled our horses to headed out for our ride on the PCT, over the next two days we encountered a number of through hikers on the trail, stopping to talk briefly each time just to get gain some knowledge of their experience on the PCT. During the weekend camp trip we had the pleasure of talking to more than a dozen through hikers that year. We have been riding this area of the PCT here in Oregon for over 10 years now,
It is a medium dense forest of tall firs and pines. You will see more pines and less firs as you head south from Clackamas Lake C. G. into the Warmsprings Indian Reservation. In the middle of this section, about eight miles south, you come to the Warmsprings River. The crossing being about 20 feet wide has a one rail foot bridge and along side a place for horses and mules to cross. As you cross your are very close to the headwaters of the river, from here, a few miles upstream is where the river starts on the East side of the Cascades Mountains, between Mt. Jefferson and Timothy Lake. Seven miles south of the river brings you to one of the few places with a view,at the base of the South Pinhead. Here as you travel up the large rock outcropping, looking back North you see the hilly forested section you just passed through and Mt.Hood off in the distance.
As you head North from Clackamas Lake C. G., by Joe Graham Horse Camp, you will pass through more tall firs. Here the PCT passes along the edge of Timothy Lake for close to five miles.
As you travel the PCT you will first come to a high overlook giving you your first glimpse of the lake, but for best view you must leave the PCT and travel on the lake shore trail to the middle of the south lake side to get a full view of the lake with Mt. Hood in the background. For the through hiker it is a bit out of your way, sorry. This section offers many different views of Timothy Lake, but just as you leave the lake on the PCT you come to Little Crater Lake. Little Crater, named after the larger Crater Lake in Oregon to the South is a 100 foot wide, 30 feet deep blue pool among the forested green and adjacent golden meadow, is considered a geological oddity. The immediate area around Little Crater is closed to Equestrians, but hitching rails next to the PCT offers a place to tie up so you can walk the short distance to see Little Crater. I have ridden this section many times and find it to be one of my favorite sections on the PCT.
Hannah
Hello, I am a New Zealander with some riding experience. And as a child used to volunteer at the Riding school. I’d love to do some on the crest on horse back. And this popped up and looks amazing! Are you still in need of volunteers and what time of year 2018? Thanks