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Mount Hood from the ridge above Shining Lake (Trip 50)

Introduction

As a child, I often dreamed of embarking on great backcountry adventures designed to test my outdoor skills in a remote wilderness setting. I would spend hours poring over maps of those increasingly rare but always enticing areas without any roads, planning out huge 100-mile-plus hikes to explore the imagined wonders within those boundaries. Invariably my visions included plenty of wildlife, outstanding scenery, and opportunities for both quiet introspection and grand adventure. In my youthful imagination these trips would last for several days or even weeks, a time span that, I thought, would allow me to fully immerse myself in the solitude and grandeur of the wilderness. In later years, I was lucky enough to take many such long adventures and even to write guidebooks describing some of my favorite long hikes.

I still take my share of long backpacking trips, but now that I am barreling headlong into middle age, nursing two long-suffering knees, and have a life that includes myriad other commitments, I am forced to put limits on my youthful ambitions. And I am not alone. Many of my fellow baby boomers no longer have the time, the energy, or the inclination to take the kinds of long backcountry adventures that they tackled in their youth. Instead, we seek out short mini-vacations (usually on weekends) to places where we can escape the rat race for a night or two, refresh our spirits, and then return to our busy lives with enough fond memories to sustain us until our next wilderness foray—always, so we fervently hope, not too far in the future.

Most of us are parents now, determined to drag our children away from the pervasive influence of video games and inane television fiction into the outdoors where they can experience the beautiful “real” world of nature. We do not, however, want that introduction to be so grueling that it will cause tired young legs to reject backpacking for the rest of their lives. Once again, short one-night hikes are what we seek, the kinds of relatively easy trips that get the kids excited about the outdoors, but don’t cause too many sore muscles or painful blisters.

This book is designed with you in mind. The bookstore shelves are already filled with numerous dayhiking guides. I wrote one or two, and a few of the others are pretty good. But these volumes do not address the unique needs of the backpacker. Hikers looking for overnight adventures are forced to wade through dozens of trips that are unsuitable for backpacking in order to find the few that meet their needs. In addition, these guidebooks rarely provide the kind of information that is most useful to backpackers, such as specifically where to find the best campsites, the location of the nearest water source, or what overnight permits are required. All of these concerns are addressed here.

Since this book includes only the Portland area’s best short backpacking options, it is not a comprehensive guide to all of the region’s hundreds of overnight hiking possibilities. (See Appendix A, for a more thorough listing.) It does, however, present a wide selection of outings, including a range of scenery and difficulty levels, so hikers of all abilities and interests will find plenty of trips to meet their needs.

Tips on Backpacking in the Pacific Northwest

Although this is more of a “where to go” book than a “how to” guide, it may be helpful, especially for those who are new to our area, to cover a few basic tips and ideas specific to backcountry travel in the Pacific Northwest.

GET THE RIGHT PERMITS: Most national forests in our region require that a Northwest Forest Pass be displayed in the windows of all vehicles parked within 0.25 mile of any major, developed trailhead. Isolated trailheads with minimal or no facilities are generally exempt. In 2008 daily permits were $5 and an annual pass was $30. The passes are available at ranger stations and at many local sporting goods stores, or they can be purchased online at www.naturenw.org/store-passes.htm.

CHECK THE SNOWPACK: The winter snowpack has a significant effect, not only on when a trail opens, but also on wildflower blooming times, peak stream flows, and how long seasonal water sources will be available. It is a good idea to check the snowpack on or about April 1 (the usual seasonal maximum), and make a note of how it compares to normal.

This information is available online at www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/ for Washington state and www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/ for Oregon. If the snowpack is significantly above or below average, adjust the trip’s seasonal recommendations accordingly.

WATCH OUT FOR LOGGING TRUCKS: When driving on forest roads in our area, keep a wary eye out for log trucks, especially on weekdays. These scary behemoths often barrel along with little regard for those annoying speed bumps known as passenger cars.

CHECK TRAIL CONDITIONS: The Northwest’s frequently severe winter storms create annual problems for trail crews. Occasionally trails are washed out for years, but at a minimum, early-season hikers should expect to crawl over deadfall and search for routes around slides and flooded riverside trails. Depending on current funding and the trail’s popularity, maintenance may not be completed until several weeks after a trail is snow-free and officially “open.” Unfortunately, this means that trail maintenance is often done well after the optimal time to visit. On the positive side, trails are usually less crowded before the maintenance has been completed.

LEAF IT, DON’T LEAVE IT: For environmentally conscious backpackers, one good solution to the old problem of how to dispose of toilet paper is to find a natural alternative. Two excellent options are the large, soft leaves of thimbleberry at lower elevations, and the light-green lichen that hangs from trees at higher elevations. They’re not exactly Charmin soft, but they get the job done.

WARN HUNTERS YOU’RE NOT A DEER: General deer-hunting season in Oregon and Washington runs from the second or third weekend of October to early November. For safety, anyone planning to travel on national or state forest land during these periods (particularly those doing any cross-country travel) should carry and wear a bright red or orange cap, vest, pack, or other conspicuous article of clothing. Hunting is not allowed in state or national parks, so this precaution does not apply to those areas.

YOU’RE NOT AN ELK, EITHER: Along the same line as the above, elk-hunting season is generally held in late October or early November. The exact season varies in different parts of each state.

BE CAREFUL WITH FUNGI: Mushrooms are a Northwest backcountry delicacy. Although our damp climate makes it possible to find mushrooms in any season, late August through November is usually best. Where and when the mushrooms can be found varies with elevation, precipitation, and other factors. Unfortunately, mushroom collecting has become a big and very competitive business in our region, and a few people have even been murdered in recent years in disputes over prize locations. Make sure any commercial collectors you meet are aware that you are only gathering a few mushrooms for personal use. Also make absolutely sure that you know your fungi. There are several poisonous species of mushrooms in our forests, and every year people become ill or even die when they make a mistake in identification.

BRING THE BEATER: Car break-ins and vandalism, sadly, are regular occurrences at trailheads. This is especially true at popular trailheads and is a particular problem for backpackers who leave their vehicles unattended overnight. Thus, hikers need to take reasonable precautions. Do not encourage the criminals by providing unnecessary temptation. Preferably, leave the new car at home and drive to the trailhead in an older, beat-up vehicle. Even more importantly, leave nothing of value inside, especially in plain sight. My car has been broken into three times over the years. The last two times all the thieves managed to take home were some ratty old tennis shoes, to which they were welcome. If all trailhead vehicles held only items of similar value, the criminals would soon give up and seek out more lucrative targets.

North Lake, Columbia River Gorge (Trip 34)

The 10 Essentials

Except when hiking on gentle trails in city parks, hikers should always carry a pack with certain essential items. The standard “10 Essentials” have evolved from a list of individual items to functional systems that will help to keep you alive and reasonably comfortable in emergency situations:

1.	Navigation: topographic map and a compass or GPS device.
2.	Sun protection: sunglasses and sunscreen, especially in the mountains.
3.	Insulation: extra clothing that is both waterproof and warm.
4.	Illumination: a flashlight or headlamp.
5.	First-aid supplies.
6.	Fire: a candle or other firestarter and matches in a waterproof container.
7.	Repair kit: particularly a knife for starting fires, first aid, and countless other uses.
8.	Nutrition: enough extra food so you return with a little left over.
9.	Hydration: extra water and a means to purify more on longer trips.
10.	Emergency shelter: a tent, bivy sack, or emergency blanket.

I strongly advise adding a small plastic signaling whistle and a warm knit cap to this list.

Just carrying these items, however, does not make you “prepared.” Unless you know things like how to apply basic first aid, how to build an emergency fire, and how to read a topographic map or use a compass, then carrying these items does you no good at all. These skills are all fairly simple to learn and at least one member of your group should be familiar with each of them.

More important to your safety and enjoyment than any piece of equipment or clothing is exercising common sense. When you are far from civilization, a simple injury can be life-threatening. Don’t take unnecessary chances. Never, for example, jump onto slippery rocks or logs or crawl out onto dangerously steep slopes in the hope of getting a better view. Fortunately, the vast majority of wilderness injuries are easily avoidable.

Mount Hood from Zigzag Mountain (Trip 39)

Advice for the First-Time Backpacker

This book is not a “how-to” manual for new backpackers. Entire books have been written on this subject, many of which are very good and well worth reading. (For recommendations, please turn to Appendix B.) However, since every year thousands of people go backpacking for the first time, it is important to cover a few basics about making the transition from dayhiking to backpacking.

First and foremost, welcome! There is something enormously liberating about spending a night in the wilderness. Many of the Pacific Northwest’s most spectacular attractions are beyond the reach of a comfortable dayhike, leaving them for the overnight hiker to enjoy.

Before joining the club of lucky souls out there sleeping under the stars, however, it is important that you go in with both eyes open (while you hike, that is, not while you sleep). Many people who regularly take dayhikes assume that backpacking is just dayhiking plus spending the night. Wrong! The two activities have some very important differences. For example, people often blithely assume that since they regularly go on dayhikes of 10 miles or more, they can cover the same distance when carrying overnight gear. This is a fundamental error because backpacking is an activity in which gravity displays its most sinister qualities. Believe me, your hips, shoulders, feet, knees, and probably a few body parts you had not even thought about in years will feel every extra ounce. And at least in comparison to dayhiking, backpacking requires carrying quite a few extra ounces.

Perhaps more importantly, backpacking calls for a different mental attitude. It is usually unwise, for example, to travel alone, at least on your first few trips. This advice applies even to people who regularly take solo dayhikes. Most people assume that this recommendation is for safety reasons, but while there is some safety in numbers, the main reason not to go backpacking alone is mental. Human beings are social animals. Most people enjoy backpacking (or any activity) much more if they have along at least one compatible companion with whom they can share the day’s events and experiences. And having a hiking partner will make your journey more comfortable, because you can lighten your load by sharing the weight of community items such as a tent, a cook stove, and a water filter. If you haven’t got the sales skills to talk reluctant friends or skeptical family members into coming along, consider joining a hiking club, where you will find plenty of people with similar outdoor interests. (See Appendix C, for the names and addresses of some local organizations.)

Another thing that distinguishes backpacking from dayhiking is that backpackers need a different set of skills. They need to know how to hang their food to keep out bears and other critters. They need to know how to select an appropriate campsite—where breezes will keep the bugs away, where there aren’t dangerous or unstable snags overhead, where the runoff from overnight rains won’t create a lake beneath their tent, and a host of other variables. They need to know the optimal way to put things into their packs (where heavy items belong versus lighter ones) to carry a heavier load in the most comfortable way possible. Although the list of skills is long, they are all interesting, relatively easy to learn, and well worth the time and effort to acquire. (Turn to the recommended reading section in Appendix B, for a list of books that will help.)

Flowers near Goat Lake, Goat Rocks Wilderness (Trip 11)

Probably the most obvious difference between dayhiking and backpacking is the different equipment involved. Like dayhikers, all backpackers should carry the “10 Essentials” listed in the last section. But when you are spending the night, there are numerous other items you will need in order to remain safe and reasonably comfortable. A partial list of important items that every backpacker should carry but that dayhikers rarely need includes:

 A sleeping bag (preferably filled with synthetic material, since down doesn’t work as well in our wet climate).

 A tent (with a rain fly, mosquito netting, and a waterproof bottom). Oh, and don’t forget to run a test by putting the thing up in the backyard first, so you aren’t trying to puzzle out how it works as a rainstorm starts in the backcountry and you discover you are three stakes short of accomplishing the task. (Don’t ask me how I know this—just take my word for it.)

 A water filter or other water purification system.

 A lightweight sleeping pad for comfort and insulation against the cold ground.

 50 feet of nylon cord to hang your food away from critters at night.

 Personal hygiene items.

 Insect repellent (especially in July and early August in the mountains).

 A lightweight backpacker’s stove with fuel, cooking pots, and utensils if you want hot meals.

One final, important difference between dayhiking and backpacking, often overlooked, is that backpackers need to be much more careful to minimize their impact on the land. All hikers should do things like picking up litter, avoiding fragile vegetation, never cutting switchbacks, and leaving wildlife alone. For backpackers, however, there are some additional considerations. These are the some of the most important ones:

Since you’ll probably be doing a lot of wandering around near camp, it is crucially important that you put your tent in a place that is either compacted from years of previous use or can easily take the impact without being damaged. A campsite on sand, rocks, or in a densely wooded area is best. Never camp on fragile meadow vegetation or immediately beside a lake or stream. If you see a campsite “growing” in an inappropriate location, be proactive: place a few limbs or rocks over the area to discourage further use, scatter “horse apples,” and remove any fire-scarred rocks.

In a designated wilderness area, regulations generally require that you camp at least 100 feet from water. In places with long-established camps that are already heavily impacted, however, land managers usually prefer that you use the established site, even if it is technically too close to water, rather than trampling a new area.

Do not build campfires. Although fires were once a staple of camping and backpacking, today few areas can sustain the negative impact of fires. In many wilderness areas and national parks, fires are now officially prohibited, especially at higher elevations. For cooking, use a lightweight stove (they are more reliable, easier to use, and cleaner than fires). For warmth, try wearing a sweater or going for an evening stroll.

Finally, to have as little impact as possible, just throw water over yourself to remove the daily dirt and use biodegradable soap to clean your dishes well away from water sources. Backpackers should also leave at home any outdated attitudes about going out to “conquer” the wilderness.

Reintroducing Yourself to Backpacking

For many of you, it has probably been several years since you went on an overnight hike, so before hitting the trails, take the time for a quick refresher course. You may be surprised to discover how many things have changed. For example, although hiking still remains wonderfully free of restrictions, the wilderness is now increasingly regulated. Places that you previously visited on the spur of the moment may now require permits—to park at the trailhead, to spend the night, or even to hike the trail at all. On the positive side, equipment has changed radically in the last couple of decades, becoming much lighter and more efficient.

Step one for anyone contemplating a backpacking trip is to get into some kind of reasonable shape. Blisters while you hike and painfully sore muscles when you return are not badges of honor, they just hurt. Therefore, some simple, regular conditioning to get into reasonable aerobic shape, and strengthening key muscle groups (such as the calves, thighs, and shoulders) are crucial to having a good time.

Step two is to gather together all the gear you’ll need. You remember, it’s that pile of musty stuff in the basement that you haven’t looked at in years, but which you haven’t had the heart to give away since you always told yourself you’d be using it again. Pull it all out, clean things up, and check for and repair any damage, such as seams that have torn out, places where mice have chewed through the shoulder straps, and instances where the tent seams are no longer waterproof. Make sure things still fit properly (no offense, but that hip belt might need to be let out some). Finally, decide if you have everything you need and if what you have might be significantly improved. I am not suggesting that you spend a fortune on new gear. It is not necessary and, especially for the first few trips (until you decide you want to do this regularly), it is probably unwise. However, for a few items, especially the bulkiest and heaviest ones, you might consider upgrading.

With the extra load, backpacking usually requires better foot stability than dayhiking, so good boots are your first priority. For most trips, all you need are a sturdy pair of those new lightweight but still waterproof ones that are made partly of fabric and partly of leather. For longer and tougher outings, it is usually better to go with all-leather boots.

Once you have taken care of the footwear, it’s time to turn to the rest of your body. Today’s hiking clothes feature all kinds of terrific, hi-tech, lightweight fabrics that keep you warm on cold days and cooler on hot ones, that magically wick moisture away from your skin, resist getting smelly, and even have built-in bug repellent. Buying everything new would be prohibitively expensive, so focus first on investing in a pair of the new, decadently cushy, wool-blend socks and one of those nifty new undershirts that wick sweat away and are very comfortable. Once you are convinced of the benefits of the new clothing, turn to buying hiking shirts and pants that are made of a thin but remarkably tough nylon-blend fabric that stops the wind and dries extremely quickly.

As with clothing, almost every other piece of backpacking equipment has recently undergone design upgrades and changes in materials to make it noticeably lighter, stronger, and easier to use. Tents are now wonderfully light and easier to put up. Packs are better designed to fit your body. Sleeping pads are impressively cushy and comfortable. Sleeping bags fit better, last longer, and are much warmer. So if you are not satisfied with your current gear, head for the nearest sporting goods store, check out the product ratings in the hiking magazines, and do a little shopping. Your top priorities should be a comfortable pack and a lightweight tent.

Also, be sure to obtain a water filter or other modern method of water purification. Unfortunately, you can no longer drink untreated water out of most backcountry creeks and lakes, even if they look clear and pure. Nasty microorganisms live there and, believe me, you really don’t want to ingest them.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s outdoor equipment manufacturers had one of those “Well, duh!” sort of epiphanies when they noticed, apparently for the first time, that men and women are different. This belated discovery has dramatically improved life for female backpackers, who were previously forced to use smaller versions of equipment designed for men. But today, women have a wide array of clothing, sleeping bags, packs, and accessories that are specifically designed to fit their body shape and unique needs. So if it has been several years since those of you proudly sporting two “X” chromosomes have been backpacking, you might want to look into upgrading your equipment. The added comfort and utility of the new female-oriented gear may make the cost worthwhile.

Introducing Your Kids to Backpacking

By the time I turned 12 years old, I had been going on dayhikes and family car-camping trips for well over half my life. Then, just as I was starting to get the hang of things, my father decided to up the ante and take me backpacking. Gallons of blood donated to thick clouds of mosquitoes turned that first trip into an unmitigated disaster, but youthful enthusiasm overrode good sense, and I was happily backpacking again the next weekend. Apparently, when you find the right mix of an active young mind and the wonders of nature, it is an irresistible (and a wonderful) combination.

Even though it requires considerably more work and planning, few things in life are more gratifying or enjoyable than taking a kid backpacking. One big reason for this is that children have the unique capacity to renew your appreciation of the outdoors. No matter how commonplace and mundane things may be to you, everything is new and interesting to a child. The list of wonders includes all kinds of “little” things—mushrooms, old pine cones, tadpoles, fern fronds, discarded feathers—that adults no longer appreciate or even notice. In fact, it is downright humbling to see how much a child “notices,” and the feeling is only slightly reduced by the realization that children possess a natural height advantage when it comes to seeing things that are close to the ground.

Although backpacking with a child may be fun for the adult, it is even better for the kid. Today, when American children spend, on average, more than 6 hours a day (!) staring at some kind of electronic screen, and where even summer “camp” is more likely to be a computer camp than one where a kid can actually get outdoors, it is vital that we reintroduce our children to nature. A growing body of evidence indicates that regular contact with the outdoors is a natural antidote for attention deficit disorder, depression, and obesity, and is generally crucial for a child’s overall mental and physical development. What better way to fill that need than to take them to a place where electronic screens simply aren’t an option, and where they can explore a world filled with newts and flowers, pine cones and toads, and countless other real-world wonders?

To ensure that the backpacking experience is a great one (for both young and old), here are a few tips and guidelines to keep in mind:

 Despite everything you will read elsewhere (including in this introduction), when backpacking with young children, leave the teensy-ultralight-supposedly-for-two-people-but-only-if-they-are-on-their-honeymoon tent at home and pack along a nice roomy shelter.

 Don’t forget that children, much more than adults, need a few comforts of home. Packing along that favorite blankie, stuffed animal, or bedtime storybook may be essential to everyone getting a good night’s sleep.

 Remember that young bodies are less tolerant of weather extremes than older ones. Precautions such as protection from the sun, drinking plenty of water, and bundling up for the cold, for example, are all much more important for children than adults.

 Recognize that your kids, especially preteens, will get dirty—probably downright filthy, in fact. Live with it. Don’t bother to scrub them clean every time you see them. A dirty kid usually means they are having fun.

 If your kids are too young to recognize natural dangers (poison oak, steep drop-offs, anthills, or the like) then you will need to physically block these off or post a watch among the adults.

 A little entertainment makes a big difference. In the evening, kids love the idea of having a headlamp (for some reason it’s really cool), so bring along one for every member of the party. Bring simple games to keep everyone entertained in the evening. Playing cards, “pick-up sticks,” and small board games all work well. Finally, don’t forget to brush up on your storytelling. It is still the best way to spend an evening with kids in the outdoors.

 Don’t forget to bring snacks. Lots of ’em.

 Be thoroughly familiar with child first aid, and recheck your first aid kit to ensure that it contains children’s aspirin, lots of bandages (often great for psychological comfort even when the child isn’t really hurt), and tweezers for removing splinters.

 Consider bringing along the child’s best young human friend, or even their whole family. It may not fit with your idea of solitude in the wilderness, but kids usually love having a playmate while exploring the outdoors.

 How much leeway and independence you give your child depends on their age and responsibility level. You have to be able to trust that the youngster will follow instructions and not stray too far from camp when searching for huckleberries, chasing a squirrel, or some other equally distracting activity. To help combat this problem, all younger children should carry a whistle, preferably on a necklace, which they have been instructed to blow if (and only if) they become lost and need to be found.

Your choice of backpacking location is especially crucial when traveling with young hikers. Unlike adults, children are rarely impressed by great views and invariably complain about steep climbs. (To be fair, we adults often complain about steep climbs as well.) This book includes dozens of backpacking trips that are especially well suited to children. Identified both in the summary chart on pp. xii–xiii and by icons on the first page of the individual hike, these trips are relatively short, involve less elevation gain, and include plenty of the things that youngsters love—splashing creeks, wildlife, berries, lakes to explore, and the like.

An excellent time to schedule a backpacking trip with kids, especially into the Cascade Mountains, is late August. This is huckleberry season, when children (and adults) can stuff themselves with handfuls of the delicious berries. In fact, one measure of the success of a hike at this time of year is how purple one’s fingers and tongue are by day’s end. In addition, the mosquitoes are usually gone by this time, and the mountain lakes remain warm enough for a reasonably comfortable swim. Finally, your trip will take place just before kids go back to school, so they will have impressive stories to tell when their teacher asks the inevitable, “So, Suzy, what did you do this summer?”

For further information on backpacking with children, see the recommended reading in Appendix B.

How to Use This Guide

The trips in this book are broken down by geographic region, starting from the southeastern Olympic Mountains in the north and working down to the Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Washington area in the south.

Each individual trip begins with a quick overview of the hike’s vital statistics, including scenery, solitude, and difficulty ratings, as well as distance, elevation gain, managing agency, best time to visit, and more. This allows you to rapidly narrow your options based on your preferences, your abilities, and the time of year.

Just below the trip title are numerical RATINGS (1 to 10) of the three qualities that traditionally attract or deter hikers the most: the hike’s scenery, its difficulty, and the degree of solitude you can expect.

Mount Saint Helens and Saint Helens Lake (Trip 12)

The SCENERY rating is my subjective opinion of the trip’s overall scenic quality on a 1 (an eyesore) to 10 (absolutely gorgeous) scale. This rating reflects my personal biases in favor of photogenic views, clear streams, and wildflowers. If you prefer other qualities, then your own rating may be quite different. Also keep in mind that the rating is a relative one. All the trips in this book have beautiful scenery. Some are just better than others.

The DIFFICULTY rating is also subjective, and runs from 1 (barely leave the La-Z-Boy) to 10 (the Ironman Triathlon). Since most out-of-shape Americans would find even the easiest backpacking trip to be very strenuous, this rating is relative only to other trips.

Since SOLITUDE is one of the things backpackers are seeking, it helps to know roughly how much company you can expect. This rating is also on a 1 (bring stilts to see over the crowds) to 10 (just you and the marmots) scale. Of course, even on a “10” hike, it is possible that you could unexpectedly run into a pack of unruly Cub Scouts, but generally this rating is pretty accurate.

The next two lines list total ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE and ELEVATION GAIN for that trip. For many hikers, the difficulty of a trip is determined more by how far up they go than the mileage they cover, so pay especially close attention to the second number, which includes the total of all ups and down, not merely the net change in elevation.

OPTIONAL MAP: Every trip includes a map that is as up-to-date and as accurate as possible. Many hikers, however, will also want to carry a topographic map. This entry identifies the best available map(s) for the described trip.

Next you will find two seasonal entries. The USUALLY OPEN line tells you when a trip is typically snow-free enough for hiking (which can vary considerably from year to year). The second entry lists the particular BEST TIME(S) of year when the trip is at its very best (when the flowers peak, or the huckleberries are ripe, or the mosquitoes have died down, etc.).

AGENCY: This is the local land agency responsible for the area described in the hike. (See Appendix D, for contact information.)

PERMIT: This section tells you if a permit is currently required to enter or camp in the area and how to obtain one. It notes the few instances when the permits are not free or where advanced reservations are required, and provides the necessary details. When a Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the trailhead, this is also indicated.

ICONS AND TRAIL USES: If they’re appropriate for children or dogs, the trips in this book will be labeled with an icon.

This hike is good for children.

Pets are allowed and the trail is both safe and suitable for dogs.

HIGHLIGHTS: This section summarizes the most interesting features of a particular trip, letting you quickly assess whether it’s what you’re looking for.

GETTING THERE: This section provides driving directions to the trailhead from Portland.

HIKING IT: In this section, your hiking route is described in detail beginning at the trailhead and through each trail junction you’ll encounter.

Safety Notice

While backpacking is not an inherently dangerous sport, there are certain risks you take any time you venture away from the comforts of civilization. The trips in this book go through remote wilderness terrain. In an emergency, medical supplies and facilities will not be immediately available. The fact that a hike is described in this book does not mean that it will be safe for you. Hikers must be properly equipped and in adequate physical condition to handle a given trail. Because trail conditions, weather, and hikers’ abilities all vary considerably, the author and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for anyone’s safety. Use plenty of common sense and a realistic appraisal of your abilities, and you will be able to enjoy these trips safely.

References to “water” in the text attest only to its availability, not its purity. All backcountry water should be treated before you drink it.