several folks from Portland as well as friends from upriver joined up to check out the Cape Horn loop. We were interested in seeing which sections might be affected by the Forest Service planning process that seeks to reduce impacts to flora and fauna and improve safety, particularly on the lower section.
Despite wet weather the previous weekend, only a couple sections of the trail were muddy; winds were calm and the temperatures mild, in contrast to previous trips I've made to the area!
We hiked counterclockwise from the Skamania County Park-n-Ride covering the loop in about 4.5 hours including stops to chat and have lunch.
We noted flagging hung below Hwy 14 indicating where a potential re-route would bring the trail away from the cliff edges and seeping springs which are sensitive areas for riparian vegetation and flowers. The re-routes would also bypass the current trail location where it switches-back across moss covered talus slopes that are rare habitat for the Larch Mt. Salamander.
Beyond the waterfall heading east we looked in vain for signs of the Peregrine falcon nesting area. A proposed season closure from the waterfall to the Cape Horn road is intended to protect the falcons during the critical nesting period, but would also prohibit hiking the full loop.
We saw several white Trillium making an appearance along the trail!
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