Sunday, September 1, 2024
I needed photos of the Waldo Mountain Lookout, which survived the 2022 Cedar Creek Fire, but access to the lookout is currently difficult. The Waldo Lake Wilderness and its trails are open, but the roads to the west are still closed, so the Salmon Lakes – Waldo Mountain Trailhead cannot be reached.
My sister offered to get me there from the east, by paddling across Waldo Lake. So on Labor Day Weekend my sister Deb, brother-in-law Karl, and myself set off from Shadow Bay and paddled across the lake. We found a campsite on the western shore near Rhododendron Island. This was our view:
After setting up our tents we set off on our hike at 10:40am. First we had to go cross-country through burned forest:
After 0.3 miles we reached the Waldo Lake Trail / Jim Weaver Loop Trail and turned north. This is the only trail in the wilderness that has been cleared since the fire:
This area is dotted with lots of little lakes and tarns:
Most of this stretch of trail burned in 2022:
The understory survived here:
Meadow and young trees surrounded by burned forest:
After 2.8 miles on the Waldo Lake Trail we reached the junction with the Salmon Lakes Trail. This spot had burned, yet the wilderness sign, trail sign, and permit box/sign all survived:
Elbow Lake is located near the junction. Looks like the entire shoreline burned:
No more cleared trail from here on out. Wading through brush:
In some places the trail tread was obvious and easy to follow:
1.1 miles later we reached the Wahanna Trail and turned right:
0.2 miles later we reached the junction with the Waldo Mountain Trail and turned left:
Going uphill off-trail through the burn on this hot afternoon was really hard:
About half a mile from the junction we entered unburned forest:
We stopped to take a much-needed break in the shade, then we passed the junction with Winchester Ridge Trail:
This is when I stopped taking pictures. My legs are pretty strong by this point in the summer, but it was now 2:15 and the afternoon heat was really getting to me. On hot days in order to get uphill hiking done in the cooler morning, I always get an early start, so I’m not all acclimated to uphill hiking during the hottest part of the day. Despite the fact that the rest of the route was through unburned forest with mostly unobstructed trail, I was struggling. Because of my slow pace It took us an hour to do the 0.8 miles and 560′ elevation gain from the Winchester Ridge junction to the summit (this included another break in the shade). Boy was I glad when we reached the lookout! From our campsite it had taken us four hours and 40 minutes, 5.8 miles, and 1,360′ elevation gain.
This lookout was built in 1957, replacing an earlier cabin that was built in 1926. It was last staffed in 2001. (Read more about is history on my lookout website.) Crews wrapped it in 2022 to protect it from the fire. The place could definitely use some TLC. The catwalk on the east side has collapsed:
Rusty old barrel:
Dozens of pieces of the protective wrapping were scattered all over the summit:
The fire burned right up to the south side of the summit:
Due to smoke/haze the views weren’t as far-reaching as they are on a crystal clear day, when you can see all the way to Mt. Hood. This is the view to the north. I believe the two bumps at right are Middle and South Sister:
View to the west:
View to the south (it’s hard to make out Diamond Peak due to the light and the clouds, but it’s there):
Looking east to Waldo Lake, The Twins, and Maiden Peak:
Looking northeast with Lower Edeeeleo and Upper Edeeeleo lakes below:
Because of my slow pace and the long hike we had to get back, we didn’t have much time to spend on the summit. After a whirlwind 30 minutes up there we headed back down:
I was able to pick up the pace now that we were heading downhill, although we had to regain lost elevation on the 1.1 mile stretch between the Wahanna Trail and the Waldo Lake Trail. When we reached Elbow Lake I dipped my hat in the water multiple times and dumped it over my head. This is something I’ve done many times on hot days, but I’m not sure it’s ever felt as refreshing as it did today.
We got back to camp at 6:45. It had been an 11.8 mile day with 1,800′ elevation gain. We made dinner and enjoyed cold drinks and relaxed at camp. It didn’t get very cold that night, and it was clear enough to see lots of stars!
The next morning was beautiful but definitely hazier than the previous day:
After a leisurely morning we packed up and paddled back across the lake. Shadow Bay was hopping, with lots of people both putting in and taking out. Deb and Karl said they’ve never seen it so busy, but of course it was Labor Day.
