Stabler to Cascade Locks

Well, I'm finally back on the PCT! After a nice day in Cascade Locks and dinner in Stevenson my wonderful wife dropped me off in Stabler at the start of a 30 mile southbound adventure back to Cascade Locks and hopefully, my fully intact car.

It started out as a nice walk through the woods, lots of big trees and very quiet. The climb up to Sedum Ridge was long but not exhausting. It could've been a little cooler but it wasn't bad as it was in the trees most of the way. Had one really nice viewpoint about halfway up that looked over the Wind River and Trout Creek Valley. There was even a little glimpse of the top of Mount Adams peeking over a distant ridge. When I made it up to the ridge proper the going got a lot easier. Went up to the top of a meadowed knoll that had an excellent view in multiple directions. There was cell service too, so I was able to call my sweet Brenda. 

Eventually the trail dropped off the ridge and traversed several stream canyons. All the creeks were beautiful. The first one had a series of very nice waterfalls all of which were unreachable from the trail . It was very pleasant walking with no shortage of water. The last creek crossing was one of the prettiest and that was Rock Creek. The campsites weren't great and it was only 4 PM so I reluctantly pressed on. The climb out of there was getting quite warm and I was not feeling it but I could not find a decent campsite that wasn't dark and depressing. I'm camped on a minor ridgetop just off trail and about 200 yards above a road crossing with a trailhead for Three corner rock.

Except for a couple that I talked to at the very first viewpoint I haven't seen anyone until I was setting up camp here. That's like seven hours on the PCT on a Saturday with no people. Weird. I guess that stretch I just hiked is not that popular. I'm only a mile and a half from the turn off to three corner rock but it's still 1000 feet up.

Didn't have the energy to make it up there today but I'll be up there early tomorrow. If my body is feeling good this might be a one nighter, but we'll see.