It's hard to see them in this panorama, but from left, St. Helens (flat top), Rainier and Adams.

Day 10, Sept. 4, 2014

Mount Hood.

Table Mountain, another flattop.

Did 17 miles today. Steady climb from the Rock Creek campsite around Three Corner Rock and then on toward Table Mountain. 

One spot on the backside of Tree Corner Rock offered a view with three Washington State peaks visible: St. Helens, Rainier and Adams. I was thinking that this would be complete if Mount Hood (albeit in Oregon) could get in the picture. Walked a few more yards and there on my right was a great view of Mount Hood.

The "green tunnel."

The trail descended along the side of Table Mountain into what one hiker referred to as the “green tunnel” and said he would be happy to be out of it. A green tunnel through a forest with high canopy isn’t so bad. But going through brush with low hanging tree branches makes you wish you were back above the tree line.

The Columbia River

Signs of civilization.

We had our first views of the Columbia River today, so the end can’t be too far away. We are also starting to see very prominent signs of civilization, like power lines, the Bonneville Dam and lots of service roads. The trail is also pretty crumby in this area, a rocky path through cleared land. If you are a thru hiker coming north, this cannot be a very impressive introduction to the PCT in Washington State. But it gets better.

We thought about trying to hoof it out to Cascade Locks tonight, but it was 6:30 p.m. with 4.7 miles to go. We’re ready to get’er done, and John reminded me that the Seahawks were playing Green Bay tonight. We could probably catch some of the game. But with almost five miles to go, it didn’t seem like a good idea. So my resolution to favor participating in activities over watching sports was upheld by fault. We went another .9 mile and camped at Gillette Lake. That leaves 3.8 miles to finish tomorrow (plus the four miles back at Wind River Road).

Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River.

It has been very warm today, and I am planning to sleep in the open without my tent tonight. There is not much timber around our campsite so the view of the sky should be open. I’m hoping for one more night of stargazing. I’d like to see a shooting star or two.