I had the notion of hiking up to Benson Plateau to see if there was still snow up there. I also thought this would give me a good workout. The Pacific Crest Trail makes up most of the elevation gain part of this hike and it is usually in good shape. This time it proved more of a challenge. There was more blow down, warn and damaged trail tread, poison oak and ticks then I have experienced before. In spite of all of that it is still a beautiful and interesting trail. By the numbers: 15.2 miles, 4220 ft. elevation gain and about 10 hours on trail.
Starting at Herman Creek Parking lot
Herman Creek Trail to Junction
A number of different hikes happen at this junction
Taking trail to the PCT
Nice filtered sun on early morning trail
New green leaves on trees
Trail passing through Spring green and blackened trunks
Herman Creek Bridge
Early morning light on Herman Creek
Nice patch of Vanilla Leaf starting to bloom
On trail to PCT
PCT will pass under towering cliffs
New signs at the start of the PCT junction
Rocky trail under cliffs
Early morning view
Lots of Poison Oak along the trail
Trail start to climb
First of many logs across trail
View through trees at first camp site
Trail climbs through burnt forest area
This spot became rest stop and first aid stop
Up high enough to find Glacier Lilies
First flat area on hike
Phlox
Red soul view spot
Looking across to Nick Eaton Ridge
Trilliums were just starting bloom at higher elevation
Teakettle Spring sign in bad shape
Just enough water coming out to fill your teakettle
At this point the log hoping began
This group camp site can only hold a couple of tents now
A 1/4 mile of log hopping
This once was such a beautiful section of trail
What this was like in 2017
The log hopping gits worse
Finally it starts to clear
The back into unburnt forest
At the end of the ridge a large group camp
An easy climb to Benson Plateau
Nice green towering trees
Trail across Benson Plateau and my turn around spot
Benson Plateau covered in forest and bear grass
My break spot before heading down
Back into the log hoping zone
New baby trees have started
Back at Teakettle Spring.
View of Nick Eaton Ridge on the way back
You can see how much was burned
Heading down the trail
View of Nick Eaton Ridge through the burnt trees
Stepping of trail at the corner would not be good
Back down to views of the Columbia River
On the Herman Creek Trail looking over to the PCT