A hike to the summit of Mt Defiance

I hiked from Starvation Creek State Park to the summit of Mt Defiance. 

I had the day off and initially meant to go to Rooster Rock State Park. However, I realized that this park had trails of only a few miles length. I wanted a destination that was a little more engaging and where I could leave the stroller crowd behind. Somehow I went in the extreme opposite direction and settled on Mt Defiance, which is considered the most difficult hike in the Columbia River Gorge near Portland.

The first part of the trail is pretty ugly. It is lined by invasive weeds. The stink of the highway and railroad below is hard on your lungs as you climb.

Then the air clears and freshens and the trail turns into a series of switchbacks and ridges that climb and climb. The steep parts are punctuated by peaceful trails that are sheltered from the wind of the Gorge.

There are many signs of the Eagle Creek fire in the form of dead, burned trees and grassy cliffs that used to be more wooded. But post-disturbance ecological succession is occurring. Beetles and other bugs are crawling about and woodpeckers are hunting them. Each year looks different.

I would have liked to visit Warren Lake but doing so would require doubling back because the trail was closed due to communications tower work. Next time I go I will visit this mountain lake and perhaps camp overnight.

At the summit there is a large communications installation that is a bit incongruous with the scenery. But I enjoyed the spectacular views of Mount Hood and all the way to the town of John Day. I snacked up there and drank almost all the fluids I had brought.

I headed down and noticed that the descent is a lot harder on the knees than the ascent. I had been training on the stair stepper at my gym, but I don’t know how to strengthen my knees for this unusual movement down. I am still sore two days later.