We thought we'd see how far up we could get today, Dalles Ridge being a sort of pipe dream (without the pipe). The upshot: we got 8 switchbacks, or about one mile, beyond the Little Ranger Peak viewpoint. Along that particular switchback (see pic), the snow and the angle of the trail led us to decide that that was our turnaround point. We could have made it up to the junction with Palisades, I'm sure, but it didn't seem worth it to us--too much work just to eat lunch in the snow and still be a mile or so below Dalles Ridge. Plus, we started late, so time was a factor, as well. Following is our route and some trail specifics.
We parked at Camp Sheppard, where there's a big lot and toilet facilities (which are decent and stocked). Here, we took the White River trail 2 miles to the Little Ranger Peak (LRP) trail. Between that TH and the viewpoint 2.5 mies up, there are several blowdowns, all step-overable except one. With the exceptional one, there's a little trail that cuts to the next switchback. No snow up to the viewpoint, and the viewpoint is lovely. We had lunch there in the warm sun. From the viewpoint, we hiked up. The trail is intermittently snowy starting around the third switchback. We put spikes on along the sixth switchback--they were handy, for sure, and I'm sure we would've worn them all the way up if we'd gone that far. The snow was not terribly deep (maybe five inches at the eighth switchback), but slippery because it was in the process of melting, and the trail, at least in many places, is angled downhill and also had plenty of rocks and roots underneath, which get pretty slippery in the right conditions. We turned around when the trail crossed a minor avalanche field (which was not dangerous, just a fact) and we decided it wasn't worth it to continue trudging along. If we'd left earlier, I think we might've pursued it. It does appear that considerable snow fell over the last week or so . . . So, we headed back down to the sunny ledge and basked like turtles in the sun till heading back down.
Special features: this trail has quite the collection of Pacific Yew trees, especially just as you leave the viewpoint and start heading up to Dalles. You can tell them by their red bark and straggly appearance. The forest in general has some really nice old growth trees, though the best are right out of the Camp Sheppard parking lot--HUGE, beautiful old growth trees, a large stand of them. This afternoon, we could definitely feel spring: lots of birds chirping,and the salal and Oregon grape bushes fluffing out. Lovely day. RT was 11 miles or so. Happy hiking, Everyone!
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