For our seventh wedding anniversary we decide to spend a few days hiking in the Mt. Hood Wilderness. Ever since we backpacked the entire 41 mile Timberline Trail around Mt. Hood last August, I’ve been wanting to return.
We get an early start from the Ramona Falls Trailhead on Friday morning with our packs on. After about a mile, we cross the Sandy River easily on some logs. After about 3.5 miles and under an hour and a half, we arrive at Ramona Falls and find a nice secluded site a minute walk from the falls. This will be our basecamp for the next two days. We set up camp quickly and pack our day packs.
Ramona Falls to Yocum Ridge (close to 12 miles, 3,000 ft gain)
We hop on the Timberline Trail at Ramona Falls and head towards the Yocum Ridge Trail. We encounter a number of blow downs but crossing them isn’t very difficult. Just beyond where we are, though, the trail is impassable. A windstorm in early September 2020 (the same one that fueled our devastating wildfires elsewhere in the state) ripped through this area causing massive devastation. According to reports, it looks like a bomb went off. As a result, there is a re-route of the Timberline Trail from Yocum Ridge to Muddy Fork because the trail is destroyed.
After about .8 miles we reach the Yocum Ridge Trail and begin a sustained climb. We are alone in the forest - one of the benefits of hiking on a weekday. Around 3.5 miles from Ramona Falls we stop to filter water at a creek and get attacked by biting flies! This is our last chance for water so on a hot day we make sure to fill up.
After a few more miles, the trail opens up and we are greeted with lovely views - Mt. Jefferson to the south and eventually reach some delightful meadows painted with wildflowers before the ridge.
We reach a wide open meadow with spectacular views of Wy’east, the Sandy River Canyon, the impressive Reid Glacier, Illumination Rock, and a few waterfalls on the Paradise Branch of the Sandy.
The trail now turns left and begins switchbacking up to views of the Muddy Fork Canyon.
After a bit more climbing, we reach a small snowfield and lose the trail. Rather than try to continue towards the end of the trail, we decide to stop and eat lunch. It’s hard to imagine the views improving any more and we don’t want to hike up snow.
As we start hiking down, I hear a loud rumbling in the distance. A plume of dust rises from a pretty large rockfall (pictured below, to the right).
After close to 12 miles and a little over 5 hours, we arrive back at our campsite at Ramona Falls to enjoy the rest of the day being attacked by flies. ;) Thankfully, they aren’t too bad in the shade near the falls so we enjoy a quiet dinner at the falls.
After a long day of close to 16 miles of hiking, we’re in the tent and asleep before dark. Tomorrow, we’ll hike the Paradise Park Loop from Ramona Falls before packing up and hiking out to the trailhead. A fabulous way to celebrate seven years of marriage to my best friend!