Yocum Ridge
Situated at the western foot of Wy’east (Mt Hood) is Yocum Ridge. The trail begins at Ramona Falls Trailhead, and it is about 9 miles one way with about 3,800 ft of climbing. We set out for a quick over-nighter to camp on the ridge. The hike is dense with interest; beautiful glacier fed rivers, waterfalls, wild flowers, interesting geology, and mountain vistas. OregonHikers.org has a good write up on the hike for those looking for more information. There is a lot of blow down that makes for some challenging traverses, but it is not anything too crazy. And the trails that lead to Yocum Ridge (Ramona Falls, PCT, and the Timberline Tr.) were all in good shape with minimal to no blow down.
As I have been rediscovering the PNW, I have been trying to spend more time learning the land through the eyes of the indigenous people. I thought I would share a brief story concerning the three prominent volcanoes of the area:
"... Northwest Indians told early explorers about the fiery Mount St. Helens. In fact, an Indian name for the mountain, Louwala-Clough, means "smoking mountain". According to one legend, the mountain was once a beautiful maiden, "Loowit". When two sons of the Great Spirit "Sahale" fell in love with her, she could not choose between them. The two braves, Wyeast and Klickitat fought over her, burying villages and forests in the process. Sahale was furious. He smote the three lovers and erected a mighty mountain peak where each fell. Because Loowit was beautiful, her mountain (Mount St. Helens) was a beautiful, symmetrical cone of dazzling white. Wyeast (Mount Hood) lifts his head in pride, but Klickitat (Mount Adams) wept to see the beautiful maiden wrapped in snow, so he bends his head as he gazes on St. Helens. ..."
This story is from a Gifford Pinchot National Forest Brochure from 1980 that I referenced here.
