September 27 day 125 stayed mile 2155.1 Cascade Locks hiked 31.7 miles today.
It was a cool misty morning walking towards the junction with the PCT alternate route along Eagle Creek. The first portion of the route was an incredibly steep descent along the Indian Spring trail. Eventually the trail mellows out and started following Eagle Creek along a trail carved into the the side of the creek. Unfortunately the rain started full force again as I walked a long this fantastic trail. At one point the trail went thru a tunnel behind a waterfall appropriately named tunnel falls. There were many beautiful water falls along this popular trail. At the bottom of creek I saw beat up salmon on their spawning run. I headed up the Columbia river to Cascade Locks. I met a cycle tourist and former PCT hiker Alex and we split a room at the Cascade Motel. Later we went out for a well deserved burger and beer at the Cascade Locks Ale House.
September 28 day 126 stayed mile 2155.1 Cascade Locks zero miles today.
It was another rainy day. I had a wonderful breakfast of chicken fried steak with sausage gravy and a cup of coffee at the East Wind drive in. After a wander around town and picking up some resupply food I headed back to the Ale House for a beer. I ran into the local Rocky for the second time today. I returned to the motel to clean and organize so that would be able to hit the road tomorrow.
September 29 day 127 camped mile 2174 Rock Creek hiked 21.1 miles today.
I had a slow start today. It was still raining so I wasn’t too excited to get going. Stopped by the East Wind drive in for another chicken fried steak with sausage gravy and coffee for the road. I ended up meeting Rocky once again and ask him to mail a few things for me as the PO hadn’t been opened for the last few days. Got a high five from the Bridge of the Gods attendant after I told her I was a PCT hiker. It was a drenching slog today. I was greeted by numerous newts along the trail. It was apparently perfect weather for them. I camped right near the raging Rock Creek. Before I camped for the night I checked whether the bridge was still intact. Had a wet cold night. Slept with earplugs to drown out the roaring river and heavy rain drumming on the tent.
September 30 day 128 stayed mile 2155.4 Stevenson WA hiked 23.8 miles today.
It was a disappointing day. It was still raining as I got up. I ate a large breakfast as I figured that it might be a long wet day. I had only gone 0.4 mile when I got to the raging torrent of Snag Creek. The bridge over the creek was either under the water or had been swept away. I didn’t see any possible place to cross either up or down river. The stream course was so steep that I would need a natural bridge like a tree fallen over the river to have any possibility to cross. I knew that there were several other river crossings that I would be encountering today and was concerned that I might get trapped between impassable fords. Thus ended my forward progress on the PCT. I retraced my steps but decided to stay on the Washington side of the river and ended up at the Roadway Inn in Stevenson, a 2.7 mile highway walk.