Wolf Creek Trestle Hike 3/22/14

 PH Field Guide

EG: 87' 10.5miles

Saturday we took my partners mom out for a nice hike along the Tillamook rails from Cochran pond to the Wolf Creek trestle. When we got the TH, I was attempting to get my bearings and ended up with my first official meeting of a fellow PH'ers, Rustygoat and Melinda We chatted for a bit and then hit the rail, or I mean trail

It was a crisp 37 out in the shade.

On Frozen Pond

There were a few other people out on the rail, including a rather large group that was getting organized when we left the TH.
There was a lot of litter around (we collected a garbage bag full on the way out). Some of it is becoming part of the landscape.

Have you seen this bear?

old mill remnants reflecting on Cochran pond

trees on the tracks

There was a lot of graffiti in random spots on this hike.  

There are a lot of areas where there have been washouts or partial washouts along the tracks, but you can either safely walk on the tracks still, or walk around.

 

exposed fiber optic cables

 

After about 2 miles, you come to the first tunnel. There is a small portion of the track that the land has washed out under, but you can easily walk around this section.

 

walking around the washout

light at the end of the tunnel

and we made it through

There are a few sections along the rail, where there have been rock slides, landslides and washouts. But there is plenty of room to navigate around all of these.

rockslide

Cher and mom admiring the landslide

Cher climbing over a fallen tree

Mom and Jen's turn

Next, we came to the Big Baldwin Trestle. We discovered that mom has a bit of a fear of heights, but she crossed the trestle with no problem.

Big Baldwin Trestle

Baldwin creek

After crossing the trestle, I decided to hunt for the memorial that I had read about. It took a bit of hunting, but I found it. It was marked by a piece of orange ribbon tied to a branch.

I thought this was a memorial at first

then Cher found this about 100' down

In hunting for the memorial, I discovered how dangerous tiny alder tress can be. I was whipped and tripped up by them a few times.

there were old railroad relics everywhere

We got back on the trail and just before the second tunnel, we found a nice area above the river to have lunch.

soaking up the sun

We opted to walk around this section

After lunch, we went on to the second tunnel and quickly came to the Wolf Creek trestle. Mom decided she would not join us in checking out the second trestle as the first one was enough for her.

 

rail art

waterfalls

 

We went down to the next washout area around the corner from the trestle and decided to turn around, as not to leave mom alone for too long

We only saw a few wildflowers

But the amount of mushrooms/fungi made up for no flowers

The snail must have found better digs

We headed back and the trail was a lot sunnier than on the way down. We ran into Rustygoat and Melinda a few more times (they were doing some off-trail exploring), as well as a few other people we enjoyed chatting with a few times along the way.

On the way out to 26, we stopped for a few minutes and chatted with the local bison in town.

It was a great trip. I will be excited to hear what comes of the official rails-to-trail conversion. I saw they were having some planning meetings this month, so we shall see.