The Timberline Trail: A Cold Day 1

High alpine fields of endless wild flowers and foreground views of the mountain. A very peak path that looms around Treeline, with a section of almost 7 miles above, serving endless views in all directions. Water Water Cross that are unpredictable from one day to another. A mountain apparently made of sand. Innumerable waterfalls and dramatic views. All this is the Timberline Trail, a path of ~ 40 miles around Mount Mt. in Oregon.

Timberline Trail is one of the best known short loop walks, at least here in the northwest of the Pacific. It overlaps a few miles with the PCT, including one of the main reference points for PCT hikers: Timberline Lodge. The Lodge is a historic building known for being a milestone in the film. The brilliant And for the buffet of everything you can eat that attracts hikers every year. Another factor in the popularity of the path is that it does not require a difficult permission to obtain. Excursionists simply collect a free self -service permit at the beginning of the path.

I made a small section of 6 miles from Timberline in 2023, and I wanted to return since then. I originally planned to return in 2024, but the moment did not work. This year, it fits perfectly in my goal of Volcano Triofecta UNE. Four friends wanted to join, so we set out to walk for 4 days in early August.

August 7, 2025 – Day 1

The views of the mountain, begin even before arriving. We stayed the night near Hood River, or, and the trip to Timberline Lodge from there is simply beautiful. On the trip, Lauren and I argue if we will really be walking in Mt. Hood or simply near Mt. Hood. The more we get closer, the bigger the mountain itself feels. Even so, I maintain that we are walking in The mountain. I love the idea of ​​being in a great mountain and taking the long path instead of undergoing. It seems that I will experience it much more closely in this way.

Mocking us along the way.

Once in the shelter, we are told to be in the overflow lot (first to the right as they enter, for those who plan this walk by themselves). We run to use the facilities and to obtain our permission. There are some different paths to choose from to start the path, but Timberline Lodge has, with much, most of the comforts. Large bathrooms, a gift store, a portal store (!), Description of information and hotel and restaurant (with the famous buffet). It is also an easy place to collect our free self -service permit.

Mount Hood has a popular ski season that manages to offer skiing throughout the year. It is a bit shocking to see snowboarders in the middle of snow suit in early August, but most visitors seem to fall into that category. Part of this is probably due to the unfortunate climate today.

As we gather our packages for the walk, we are continuously criticized by a frigid lateral wind. It rained most of the night last night, and the clouds and the cold persist today. Two in our group immediately pull the pants that did not even plan to wear. The clouds cover the peak of Mount Hood, and the wind discovers it, the cycle that repeats the nausea. It will be an interesting first day.

Fortunately, I am walking with a good group of people. The hiking companions of this weekend are most of the same people who walked together the North Loop last year: Julia, Lauren, Margaret and Markdavin. All are close friends, travel companions and musical colleagues.

The group! L A R: Margaret, Lauren, Julia, Me, Markdavin. You can easily say how cold I am at first. Photo credit Markdavin Obenza

Paradise

The tentative mileage plan that I presented during our four days on the road is a bit unequal: 5.5/12.5/11.5/10. This is because I really want to take a particular alternative on the first day: Paradise Park Loop. It is supposed to have impressive views and close to the bell and the endless fields of wild flowers. I have little preference for most camp options with the exception of this alternative. However, it means that our first day is only 5-6 miles, and the rest is much longer. If we travel in an anti -Horary sense, this could be our final camp, but it is very popular and the camps are quickly filled. I finally chose to travel in the sense of the clock needles and try to get early on the first day. I hope it is worth it.

Peekaboo Mt Hood seen in the glacial morrena on the Zigzag River.

Going in a schedule means that the path begins with a gradual up and down, but above all to the Zigzag River. It is a quick temperature with clouds that went and went, but they still treat us with radical views from the river. We also begin to have an idea of ​​how popular the path is. There are already many more hikers than I saw the full three days on the Loowit path. I can’t help worrying: are there enough campsites for all these people?

We find our first curves of the trip as we descend to the river. The trees are thick here, and the rolling band is solid on this well maintained path. The Zigzag is our first crossing of the river of the trip. One of my concerns before the walk was of the potentially treacherous crosses, which can be fast and deep. This is not so bad, a relatively simple rock jump. Then it is just a short ascent to the detour for Paradise Park.

In the clouds

From the detour, the path becomes immediately more steep and narrower. As compensation, we are also surrounded by blueberry bushes, some mature enough to eat. In front of me, Margaret frequently stops for the snack, so me too. I appreciate the rest of the steep ascent and the reminder to enjoy the gifts of the path. This is one of my favorite things about hiking with this group: they know how to stop and smell the roses (or eat the blueberries), and remind me that I stay in the present and enjoy the path.

Even with the steep degree, the path is easy to enjoy. It doesn’t take us for a long time out of the trees and enter a slope of incredible wild flowers. Pinks, purple, white, orange, red, vegetables, impressive flowers for what we can see. There are striped brushes, mini lupine, corn lilies, asters and many more.

Margaret walks ahead, surrounded by wild flowers.

The more we walk, the greater the opinions. Soon, we avoid the trees, and a bell from Mount Niebla is coming over us. We begin to pass camps. Many of them are quite exposed, and with the predicted wind, we would all like some protection for the camp. There has even been a discussion about simply lunch here and continue camping near the Sandy River, to make more miles and get more coverage. After all, it’s just 1 pm

The incredible Boulder Split camp in Paradise Park. If I have the opportunity to return in a better climate, I would love to camp here.

I find an incredible camp option, but it is completely exposed and too suction. Fortunately, Margaret and Julia find another option with much more tree coverage. We settle for lunch, still without decision on whether to stay or move on. However, we have a true hiking democracy. During lunch, each of us expresses our preference. As we are already establishing, we decided to stay.

Honestly, the cold strongly motivates our decision. The small thermometer that hangs from my package says it is in the 50s, but it feels much colder. Even in the trees, protected from the wind, I am surprised how cold I am. I needed to make a camp immediately or move to keep heat. We build our tents quickly and most of us crawed into stores to get heat.

Using each piece of clothes I brought. Buff, wool hoodie, jacket and rain jacket.

The divided rock

To keep heat while the others are in their stores, Julia and I headed to the beautiful camp I found. It is higher in elevation but slightly protected by a giant divided rock and a large tree. Surprisingly, it even has a cell phone signal. I call my husband to let him know that we arrive at the camp while Julia goes up to the rock.

I try to join Julia, but my short legs do not seem to want to take the big step required. After dinner, the rest of the group joins and I successfully upload the rock. From here, Hood is behind us playing Peekaboo with the clouds. Go ahead, we see river glimpses that we will cross tomorrow and even fragments of Washington.

It really is incredibly beautiful here in Paradise Park. It is absolutely and exceeds my expectations, and I am glad I opted for a short first day to make the most of this incredible place.

The Sandy River, which we cross tomorrow, briefly lights up for a sun break.

Julia and I explore until the wind cools too much. When we begin to return, we find a solo hiker to find a camp. She also renounces the Ventosa but beautiful option and finds one closer to ours. I can immediately say that he is a PCT hiker based on his worn and light team. We get a conversation and learn that it is from the Czech Republic. She tells us her incredible stories and we offer to send some postcards by mail. I love the way you know people along the way, you would never talk in another way.

The sun breaks through the clouds was constant. It was for impressive views.

It’s a humid cold

During dinner and seeing the sunset, I can’t help again surprise how cold it feels like being alone in the 50s. I wear every piece of clothes I brought and I still feel cold. It is immersed in the 40 highs at night, but just.

Full to my little buttock with hot water that serves both to preheat my quilt and tarnish my tent. While trying to warm up in my comforter, I realize that the Down has grouped into points. This serves to leave cold gaps in the places where I want more (my back!). I have never washed this quilt and I realized that maybe, it’s time. However, the hot water bottle heats up well, and I fall asleep easily.

Daily statistics

Thousands walked: 6.5
Elevation won/lost: 1500 cattle/1650 lost
Cross rivers: 1 (There are no wet feet!)
Eaten blueberries: So many
Wild flowers seen: Hundreds