Rebel Hike: Oneonta. Ponytail & Triple Falls - Oct 6 (last of season)
Bryan Miller
SUNSET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
GREAT ADVENTURES
REBEL HIKES
Rebel hikes provide an opportunity for hikers to improve their conditioning, learn about what to wear, and become better acquainted with those of similar inclinations. Plus, the views are spectacular.
The leader for this series of hikes will be Howard Hansen, a former Mazama climb leader with international experience in hiking and climbing. Contact him direct by at least the Friday before the hike to sign up or if you have questions:
Howard Hansen
16915 S W Theodore Way
Beaverton, OR 97006
Cell 971-270-7566 (day of hike only)
Email – howard...@comcast.net
Prepare for each hike by bringing a daypack large enough to carry clothing layers (NOT COTTON) appropriate for Oregon weather (cold/rain/wind), hat or cap, lunch/snack for along the trail, at least one liter of water or your favorite sports drink, and wearing comfortable, broken-in lug sole trail boots. Optional equipment would be trekking poles, packable umbrella, pack cover, etc. Please don’t bring pets. While we encourage carpooling, you are welcome to travel on your own if you prefer. It is customary to contribute toward the driver’s fuel expense.
HIKE NINE – ONEONTA, PONYTAIL AND TRIPLE FALLS (last of the season)
ONEONTA GORGE
COLUMBIA GORGE
OCTOBER 6, 2012
Meet on the west side of SPC parking lot at 8:00 am for carpooling. We will leave at 8:15 to caravan to the trailhead. Take Hwy 26 east to the I-405 access to I-84, then I-84 east to take the Ainsworth Park exit 35. Rest rooms are just after this exit traveling back west at the Ainsworth State Park. Continue west on the old scenic highway 1.5 miles to the large Horsetail Falls Trailhead parking area where we will meet to start the hike. We soon pass behind the 80-foot Ponytail Falls (aka Upper Horsetail Falls). After 0.8 miles we switchback down to a metal footbridge which crosses above Oneonta Falls, then climbs up to a junction with Oneonta Trail. We turn left and travel up 0.9 miles to Triple Falls and a great viewpoint for a snack. Descend down to the Oneonta Trail junction and continue the loop down to the highway. On the walk back to the parking lot, we have an opportunity to put on sneakers and walk/wade up Oneonta Creek, possibly half a mile through the 20-foot-wide chasm to another 100-foot falls. This portion is optional, and reaching this last falls depends on the creek depth.
Difficulty – Moderate
Distance – 4.5 miles round trip
Elevation gain – 555 feet
Seasons – Year round
Trailhead parking permit – Not required