Wallowas West Eagle Creek
I last visited this area 17 long years ago and it was past due for another visit. I considered duplicating the big loop I did on that trip but decided that something easier was more suited to my abilities at this point. So a three night trip (same as last time) but not a loop and with much shorter backpacking days and more dayhikes added in was the plan.
I arrived at 2:30pm after a long but easy drive on smooth dirt roads.
The first mile or so passes the gorgeous West Eagle Meadow.
Classic Wallowa scene with meadow and huge cliffs behind.
It was less then three miles of almost flat hiking to my low camp near West Eagle Creek at 5900 feet, arriving at 4pm, which would be my home for two nights.
The next day was a 5 mile dayhike from camp to the unnamed pass on the west side of the West Fork valley that leads to Tombstone Lake on the other side. This is a hot and sunny hike in the morning and I was glad not to be backpacking over that pass as the loop would have required. Early on the hike there were many of these mariposa lilies.
That is tomorrows hike to Echo and Traverse Lakes. Maybe you can see the switchbacks in that huge talus field. These trails have dozens and dozens of low angle switchbacks.
After two hours of hiking, I reached this nice alpine meadow. The pass is the notch above, still 45 minutes away.
The view over the 8100' pass, with Tombstone Lake below. Looks like it is raining somewhere over there.
Another view across the canyon to tomorrow's destination. That is Echo Lake, where I would be camping.
The next morning I left camp at 8am to make the most of the shaded side of the canyon, before the sun would rise over it. Lots of wildflowers on this hike.
Trying to figure out if that is penstemon.
A crossing of West Eagle Creek with well-placed stepping stones.
I set up camp at Echo Lake, only three miles from the lower camp, arriving about 10:30. I had considered going higher to camp at Traverse Lake, but it was hot and sunny (and windy) and the upper lake has much less shade and shelter.
My camp was a little above the lake and there was this nice nook to sit with an opening in the trees.
Or I could walk a short distance down and sit next to the lake shore.
That left the afternoon to hike up without the pack to the upper lake and to Wonker Pass above. Here is the dramatic Traverse Lake. It is 1.8 miles to Traverse Lake and 3.3 miles to the pass, 1200 feet higher.
By conincidence, I ran into three guys hiking up who said they were coming up to open the dam on this lake to allow the water to drain for irrigation needs far below. He said this lake would be empty in a month. (╥﹏╥) And the creek would be higher tomorrow for my hike out.
Looking down on Traverse and Echo Lake below, which is actually much larger than Traverse.
Wonker Pass at 8400 feet.
The entire Wallowa Mountain range opens up to the northeast. That is Eagle Cap in the right center.
A closeup of the central part of the range. No snow visible at all on the south-facing sides.
Looking up at the peak that domimnates above Traverse Lake.
Last day - hiking out through more Wallowa meadows.
Here is that same crossing that had the dry stepping stones yesterday. The creek has already risen and I would have wet crossings today getting out.
