We decided to do one last hike on the PCT in Washington State by walking over the Bridge of the Gods. It was only a quick walk, a There And Back, but it was still fun.
Over the previous two weeks we discovered to our dismay that Vicki was suffering from some version of Fatigue, one which left her unable to backpack longer distances, or undertake any hours-long sustained efforts. This pretty much ruled out doing multi-day sections of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington. This was precisely why we drove all the way from San Diego, and now it was why we were currently on our way back home. Today’s hike was our Consolation Prize.
We spent the night in the Best Western Motel in Cascade Locks after yesterday’s Test Hike, and decided to take a walk over the bridge in the morning. So we woke up early, had a quick snack, and looked out the window. There was the bridge, lit up bright, with the first colors of dawn lighting the clouds high above it. Beautiful!
We hustled out of the motel and crossed the road to Tollhouse Park, at the Bridge of the Gods Trailhead. Then we climbed up to the Tollhouse itself, which was on this side of the mighty Columbia River. Needless to say, pedestrians got to cross the bridge for free.
As the high clouds turned red in the pre-dawn light, we headed out onto the bridge. There was essentially zero traffic, which was why we picked this hour to hike it. Plus, it was just light enough that the drivers would be able to see us. Perfect day with perfect timing.
Once we reached the portion of bridge supported by the metal superstructure, the roadway became a steel catwalk. We could see straight down to the river below us. The river itself was constricted in this area, the result of a huge landslide, about a thousand years ago, that swept down from the north and blocked the entire Columbia River! There’s a crazy amount of water coming down from the interior every year, so a huge lake formed. Eventually, the waters forced a path underneath, through the dam, and the waters rushed out, forming a bridge of land, so that it was possible to walk across to the opposite shore. That’s why they call it the Bridge of the Gods. The Native Legend is even more interesting, and makes for a much better story than the dull geologist’s version. It also tells about how the land bridge eventually collapsed, leaving the river much as it is today.
We reached the Washington side of the bridge and posed for photos beneath the big sign. It was the best photo-op spot on the bridge, so of course we had to do it.
After that, the only thing left to do was cross on back. We enjoyed the views yet again, and the sunrise clouds grew even prettier as we hiked. It was the Magic Hour, after all.
We got back to the room and packed things up. We decided that we had enough time to do a load of laundry downstairs. Then we headed next door to the restaurant which had a deal with the motel to provide breakfast for their guests. It was good to eat a proper breakfast, not freeze-dried packaged meals.
We went back to the room one more time, trailing a luggage cart behind us. We filled it with backpacks, food, a laptop, and clean laundry, then took the elevator down. We loaded it into the car and drove south. Next stop: Crater Lake National Park.
For a topographic map of the hike see my CalTopo Page
For LOTS more photos of the trek see my Flickr Page
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