Columbia River Gorge (Portland)

After scoping out the Cascade Crest 100 course I drove town to Portland for more business meetings and more adventures on the Pacific Crest Trail. Fellow IBMer and Bighorn pacer extraodinaire, Darin Swanson, sent me some great info on running in the Portland area including this little gem, Herman Creek...

Darrin says, "Out on Highway 84 towards Mt Hood is the Columbia River Gorge which is snaked with trails and hills. Herman Creek / PCT which is some real hills. About 1 hour from town.
We park at Herman Creek Campground and the start of the Herman Creek Trail http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/trails/trail_406.htm

• Drive up to the Herman Creek Campground and stay right to get to the trail parking.
• You start at the Herman Creek trail which is right at the parking lot by the campground
• This will climb a little to a power line easement.
• Go through the easement and continue on the trail.
• The next junction has a trail going up to the left and one to the right.
• Take the one "down" to the right.
• This will take you down to the creek and over a bridge.
• Continue up the next side till you come to a 'T' with the Pacific Crest Trail (we call it Pain Junction :-) )
• Taking a left you will climb.
• At around 1.5 miles you will see a sign for the Hatfield Wilderness Boundary on a tree (old wooden sign)
• At about another 1.5 miles you would reach Tea Kettle Spring (should have a sign as well)"

This was a great hill workout and the mossy, ferny Pacific Crest Trail here just can't be beat.