Imagine adding exhaustion and weather to that situation. He accuses Simmons of painting Nichols as a murderer, so she could one day collect Rhonda's life insurance policy: Mike Arnold: And did you say, "I wanna lay claim to be the beneficiary of my daughter's life insurance claim?". All campsites awesome and near water. So sad now its burned. "It was always easy to be around her 'cause you kind of became that way as well.". Get in the right lane before entering the tunnel. There are moments on the Eagle Creek Trail when you completely forget that it was the birthplace of one of Oregons largest and most high-profile wildfires of the past decade. "I always believed, you know, he pushed her," said Gerry Tiffany. Spend some time here and take some photos. At 4.5 miles (name of the bridge) you'll pass over Eagle Creek again but this time you will only be about 5 feet off the water. Hikers will find four primary waterfalls along the first seven miles of the trail though during the rainy season dozens of seasonal waterfalls flow off the cliffs into Eagle Creek. "There were times where we could just kinda look at each other and know what the other one was thinking and we'd just laugh," she said. Mike Arnold: So you kinda hard up on money in 2009? Plus cold weather gear Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. "If you're a young couple with a kid you should have life insurance," Arnold said. Is that what you're trying to do? This is what one firecracker can do. Van Sant asked Jackson. And she goes, 'I told you.'". You have an attorney who's representing the state on this matter. Then came a knock on the door. "And it was probably 45 feet long.". When Rhonda died in 2009, she was the fourth fatality on the Gorge trails in just a six-month period. "I'm positive that he killed her," Simmons said. The Statesman Journal covered the story of the escape from the Eagle Creek Fire which you can read at StatesmanJournal.com. You'll know when you are getting close when you pass by a section known as "the potholes" which look like smooth steps carved into the trail by an ancient waterfall. The Eagle Creek Trail is one of the best known Oregon state trails,. "The last time I saw Rhonda was at Boston's Grill," Jen Sconce, a friend of Rhonda's back in 2007, told "48 Hours." Eagle Creek Trail, in the Columbia River Gorge near Cascade Locks, features waterfalls, autumn colors and high bridges. "And as she said that, he turned around and said, 'If you leave me, I'll kill you.'". This was one of Oregons gems, it was almost too sad to do the hike. "She says, 'He's either gonna give me a ring or he's gonna throw me off the cliff.'". "I sort of wanted a fresh start," he said. In total, the effort brought in an additional $149,000including $30,000 donated by Friends on behalf of its membersfor Gorge trail repair and restoration efforts. Three months after Stephen Nichols' arrest in 2015, his attorney, Mike Arnold, took his own investigative team up the Eagle Creek Trail where, he believes, Rhonda Casto slipped and fell to. The trail negotiates its third cable-railed section on a high cliff with views to massive boulders that have tumbled into the creek below. The Eagle Creek Trail was always a bit dangerous with narrow paths carved into cliffs above a sheer drop-off into a rocky canyon and that has not changed. After all these years, friends Jessica Colburn and Brandi Arneson finally find the courage to visit, for the first time, the spot where Rhonda fell from that trail. "We know people fall every day in their homes. Again, a great photo opportunity. The trail down to Wahtum was very well maintained and easy. He also was ordered to write apology letters to 152 people trapped on the Eagle Creek trail because of the spreading flames, the city of Cascade Locks, the Forest Service, Oregon State Parks, the. Download a Trail Description and Map (pdf). He told the operator that Rhonda had been acting high, being silly and running on the slippery trail before she fell. Dont be surprised if you find peoples dirty toilet paper and other garbage at the campsites though. As you pass behind it just think about how much effort it must have taken back then to do this work far into this canyon! Even in the places that are burned and the impact is clear the burn scar is not overwhelming for much of the hike. Sandy, OR 97055 Parkdale, Oregon 97041 503-668-1700 541-352-6002 The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. "He can be very charming," she said. The trail is rocky in many areas and requires one to be paying attention so, make sure you stop once in a while to lift up your head to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and not miss some of the waterfalls. "For about three months after Rhonda died I completely shut down," he said. Very popular. Expect to wear your masks throughout most of your hike. Van Sant asked Simmons. The first few miles and really most of the way to High Bridge there is a lot of low-intensity fire along trail, while up on the higher ridges, you can see much higher-severity fire manifest in the rows of dead trees. Email, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/crgnsa/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=29912&actid=50, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Aircraft/UAS/drone takeoffs and landings are prohibited, Effective Oct 20, 2022: Closure Update: Eagle Creek Fire, Drones prohibited in wilderness and select recreation sites, Klickitat Mile One Overnight Use & Large Boat Launch Prohibition, 11/7/22: Restroom closed for the winter; portable toilets available. But at least for now as of November the route is clear for the spectacular 3.3 miles to High Bridge. ( This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Looking across the gorge, you can see different layers of basalt entablature separated by narrower bands of colonnade. "No, I did not. Starting at the trailhead, pass a weir, and then follow the wide well-groomed trail above the creek for a stretch. This isn't the best trail for dogs or kids. A bridge marks the beginning of the Eagle Creek Trail, just past the parking area at the trailhead. The next set of campsites, at . "She got treated badly, and he tried to cheat on her several times," Julia Simmons alleged. She was skidding toward a 100-foot drop off. But, she admits, the hostility went both ways. No shade on most of the trail since all the trees are burned. She remembers her best friend as simply irreplaceable. There are moments on the Eagle Creek Trail when you completely forget that it was the birthplace of one . His father, also named Stephen Nichols, remembers it as a happy time. From Cascade Locks, OR: Travel west on Interstate 84 approximately 3 miles to Bonneville Dam exit #40 (there is no westbound exit #41). "I was tongue tied. As you turn into a gully, you'll get a glimpse of the top of Metlako Falls across the gorge and then cross Sorenson Creek, with its round concrete steps. Van Sant asked. Suddenly, a startling new chapter in this case begins as the motion to dismiss hearing continues. Recreation Map After you cross a scree slope, the valley becomes more V-shaped with the slopes across scorched by a raging crown fire. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. "You don't think about your friend's name being said and saying that she has died by falling off a cliff," Brandi Arneson said in tears. But I just think that she's just absolutely beautiful," Julia Simmons said of her daughter, Rhonda. This spectacular cliffsidehike passes through a forested basalt cliff overlooking Eagle Creek. (The Eagle Benson Trail, which rises 2,900 feet to the Benson Plateau, has not been maintained since the 2017 fire.). This 60ft waterfall is a tributary which tumbles into a round pool below before cascading into Eagle Creek Below. Van Sant asked. Because while the trail has largely healed from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, the flames of five years ago will keep this an unstable and dynamic place of falling trees and landslides for years to come. And knowing that you're never getting back to your child.". One amazing waterfall after another while you hike a long a trail that, at many sections, has been hewn out of the side of the gorge's rocky walls. Please check the Mt Hood National Forest and Columbia River Gorge National Forest Closures for the latest information. "That Rhonda had conveyed to them that if she didn't come back it was because Mr. Nichols pushed her," Tiffany testified. Mike Arnold: So it was a cause and effect? Eagle Creek Trail in Columbia River Gorge reopens 3 years after devastating wildfire The U.S. Forest Service reopened the trail on Dec. 28. But every now and again you hear it the loud crack and crash of a fire-weakened tree splitting and plummeting down the canyon. In a nutshell: One of Oregons most scenic trails, located in the Columbia River Gorge near Cascade Locks. Next, you'll see the mouth of Opal Creek, which flows steeply down from the bowl below Tanner Butte. I hope that someday, justice will be served.". And I don't know if you guys wanna use this, but she bit him on the shoulder. "If Stephen Nichols murdered your daughter, why did he do it?" Two years into their stormy relationship, the couple allegedly had a shouting match one night in a bar that a witness says quickly escalated into a shocking threat. Carrie Rasmussen: Right. Arnold says no tests were done to see if Rhonda made any contact with the outcroppings on the way down the cliffside -- contact that could have affected where her body finally came to rest. Aside from having proper footwear, maintaining physical awareness is key. Its also a great place to see the way wildfires impact different patches of forest at different severity. Gradual incline. Nicely groomed. It was a cold day rain off and on. In that August 2015 bail hearing, Tiffany tells Arnold his suspicions were further confirmed by stories he heard from Rhonda's family. The primary parking area is at the trailhead itself, with room for about two dozen vehicles. "Give me a sense what it meant for you and for Rhonda," Van Sant asked Nichols. Van Sant asked Nichols. That's why we're here," said Jackson. End Point: Eagle Creek Ford. Arnold says there was no murder and that he can prove Rhonda's death was an accident. My name is Rhonda.' Mike Arnold: Did you steal ___'s Social Security benefits? "Magical moment. Some of those passages are basically single tracks with cables that can be used as hand rails for those more sensitive to heights. More:Trapped by the Eagle Creek Fire, Salem teenagers survive night in the wild. Loowit Falls is framed by two small drops on Eagle Creek itself. Will do again! All rights reserved (About Us). I have been emotionally abusive at times to people. It was along the Eagle Creek trail that Rhonda Casto, a 23-year-old mother of a nine-month-old girl, set out with her boyfriend, Stephen Nichols, back on March 16, 2009. Heavy rains only compound the issue. Investigators believe that's not true. Area. So this will need to be a regular hike. Check out this 11.9-mile out-and-back trail near Cascade Locks, Oregon. Conifers at the bottom of the canyon survived the fire with a full canopy, but you'll pass through a scorched area where fireweed, thimbleberry, poison oak, and ocean spray flourish. Urness is the author of Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon and Hiking Southern Oregon. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6801. With no cell phone signal, he returned to the trail parking lot and called 911. Moderate 4.7 (1786) Mount Hood National Forest. Crowds also pose problems on the trail itself. Gerry Tiffany: No, it was there when I left. Why? Meads headed out on a Gorge hike in May 2015, that soon became a struggle to survive. I would definitely do the first seven miles again through the falls. Gorgeous falls. "If I sneeze, if I cough, if any little thing goes wrong, that I was gonna die.". "There's one universal truth out there, and that's physics. Jessica Colburn first met Rhonda when they were in high school. A stumble here can lead to a deadly freefall. "They adored each other," Stephen Nichols Sr. said. The campsites to the right of the trail were obliterated by two large Douglas-firs, which fell in early 2017. Then you'll negotiate another cable-railed cliff face on hexagonal "paving stones", actually columns of basalt sheared off by the original trail builders. (7mi in) Small waterfalls trickle along the sides of the cliff, and the trail passes many larger waterfalls, includingthe iconic Punch Bowl Falls, which is accessed from a side trail about 2 miles up the trail. "Yeah. The route of the Eagle Creek Trail #501 (not a GPS track) (bobcat) Courtesy: National Geographic Topo. Investigators returned to the scene of Rhonda Casto's fall for an unusual experiment. Although named in open court, "48 Hours" has chosen not to name Simmons' granddaughter. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Hikers were out on a soggy Monday, excited to explore. We hiked out expecting to stay there, but we had to hike back because the site wasn't viable. Many shivered through a hungry, exposed night outdoors and shared afterwards that they learned why it's so important to pack overnight essentials, even for a short day hike. Bail was set at $2 million. ", Asked if she enjoyed hiking, Nichols told Van Sant, "She loved it. "That has nothing to do with me, but I think a grand jury looked at the evidence and said there's enough here to go to trial. "Rhonda's family claims that you were not grieving," Van Sant noted to Nichols. Did this 6.6 mile out and back based off of one of the hikes, Hike #51, in NW OR and SW WA by Sullivan. For a full day and adventure, hike 6 miles (12 round-trip) to Tunnel Falls, a trek that takes you into the Gorges best taste of a wilderness adventure. 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Then veer left on the Pacific Crest Trail for 6.3 miles to the Benson Plateau and turn left to descend the Ruckel Creek Trail back to your car. Be very careful when passing others on the trail here. Yesterday, ice was melting in the sun, dripping down, and freezing again below on narrow rocky ledges hikers must cross. That route is CLOSED. History: Built in the 1910s to accompany the opening of the Columbia River Highway, the Eagle Creek Trail was blasted out the cliffs . This is one of the most popular trails in the Columbia River Gorge and can be a crowded experience on summer weekends. At an exposed cliff viewpoint, you can see across to Loowit Falls splashing in a thin pretty veil down to a pool with a final short drop to Eagle Creek. Simmons became suspicious when she learned that Nichols had taken out a million-dollar life insurance policy on Rhonda just months before her death. Wear some good shoes, hiking boots are best if you are walking more than 1 mile. Start by hiking up the Eagle Creek Trail 13.3 miles to Wahtum Lake. What a pretty hike! "Absolutely not," he replied. All parking areas require cars to display either a Northwest Forest Pass or another federal lands pass. Theres also frequent debris and mudslides. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. March 5, 2016 / 11:16 PM Some poison oak but you can avoid it.. Official websites use .gov A .gov So that was our goal. "Up until that point she's the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Stephen Nichols says this is how the tragedy unfolded: they're heading down the trail. In 2005, Simmons played a role in introducing her daughter to a man who would change the course of Rhonda's life. He was completely broken up. "When I look at Steve Nichols, I see an innocent man falsely accused that's grieving over the loss of Rhonda," said Arnold. Colburn introduced Rhonda to another friend, Brandi Arneson. And I said, 'No, thank you,'" Nichols told Van Sant. Tunnel Falls is amazing view with the ice and snow just be prepared to cross a creek with no dry crossing. If you are there in the spring with snowmelt or on a rainy day keep an eye out for smaller falls emptying into Eagle Creek below. And thats likely to happen again. The incline was nice and gradual. Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. The trail is very beautiful, lots of falls, flowers, and berries. Hope you get out to, Soakin up those bluebird days at @mthoodmeadows, The fall colors are beginning to pop at Multnomah, A tranquil fall evening at Lost Lake, captured by, On these cooler fall nights, cozying up in front o, Who else is getting excited for the fall colors to, Hiking the Eagle Creek Trail to the Punchbowl waterfall, Important notes about the Eagle Creek Trail, The incredible Wahclella Falls trail in Oregon, The waterfalls in Starvation Creek State Park, Oregon, The stunning Dry Creek Falls hike near Cascade Locks, Oregon, What to do in Smith Rock State Park, Oregon. If you are nervous with heights think twice about this trip. - Must haves for this season: Tenas camp doesn't really exist anymore. In August 2015, Stephen Nichols was in court for a bail hearing. At this hearing, she doesn't want to talk to Mike Arnold, either: Carrie Rasmussen: Sustained means sustained. That objection is overruled. "One time she got really mad at him. Acknowledgement of the PCTA's work on the Eagle Creek Trail since the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire (bobcat) Spawning salmon can be seen near the trailhead in late fall (cfm) Latitude: 45.636574. 2023 www.statesmanjournal.com. And she goes, 'OK, well, you're missing out. there are some very high cliffs and if you are afraid of heights or afraid of falling just be a little cautious. A. Wilderness Permits are required when entering Mark O Hatfield Wilderness. And I just immediately fell in love with her," said Nichols. Here you will cross a high bridge just past Loowit falls and just over 3 miles into the trip. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. Now retired, Tiffany was the lead detective following Rhonda Casto's death in 2009. The Eagle Creek Trail runs 13.1 miles one way, from the main trailhead to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail at Wahtum Lake, though few hike the whole thing. Please enter valid email address to continue. As ever, there are a million things to appreciate about the trail, including the autumn colors, walking the edges of high cliff faces and views of the endless waterfalls Punchbowl Falls chief among them. READ MORE: Hikers return to Eagle Creek Trail, as one of Oregons best hikes reopens, Hikers return to the Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge, more than three years after the trail closed due to the Eagle Creek fire.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian. As the name implies, your path with pass through a tunnel behind the falls about midway up the drop. In fact, you'll soon pass a large fossil tree stump, now much diminished because of the depredations of decades of souvenir snatchers. Rhonda's mom, who had moved out of the condo, had been babysitting the couple's 9- month-old daughter. You'll get a view to Grand Union Falls down on Eagle Creek; these falls are just below the confluence of the East and West Forks of Eagle Creek. / CBS News, Produced by Susan Mallie and Leslie Neigher. Nichols and his daughter, now 5, moved to Wuxi, about 75 miles from Shanghai. Asked what he was sensing from Rhonda, Nichols told Van Sant, "I felt she was into me, too. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management: National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required; fee kiosk at the trailhead, Restrooms, picnic tables, information kiosk, nearby campground, Limited parking; if lot is full, go back to the. Photos (3,454) Directions. A second parking area has room for about a dozen cars along Northeast Eagle Creek Loop, the road that leads from Interstate 84 to the trailhead, though parking is prohibited along most of the road. It is also a popular alternative route to the Pacific Crest Trail. If you're day hiking, you can turn around here. And its still one of the best hikes in Oregon, especially among those that usually stay open through the winter, with the exception of a few low-elevation snowstorms and the aforementioned landslides. "He started to verbally abuse Rhonda by calling her stupid and a bunch of other names," she said. Wild flowers and butterflies. But I've never physically hurt anyone.". Otherwise, stay on the Eagle Creek Trail, and cross a massive crib wall constructed by the PCTA at a spot where the trail slid away. To support his work, subscribe to the Statesman Journal. Trail was in good shape. Take a right at the end of the off ramp and follow the signs to the Eagle Creek Trailhead/Picnic Area. Then came the time for that hike in March 2009. Fires not allowed within 100feet of the trail during other times of the year. Arnold isn't buying the timing of the grand jury: Judge John Olsen: Miss Rasmussen, you can't object. "That was part of her modeling portfolio. It was more of a 30 mile hike vs what is in the description. I don't think I've ever threatened anybody with physical harm," said Nichols. "And as their relationship evolved, honestly, did she love Stephen more for what was inside him, or what was in his wallet?" It was a chaplain sent by the local fire department. Little succulent-leaved stonecrop plants bloom here in late spring. There are six sections where cable handrails will give you a sense of security as you pass above vertical drops. Just down the trail nearing 4 miles you'll pass a campsite area called Tenas Camp. About two miles down the trail you will reach beautiful 33ft Punchbowl falls which tumbles into a large pool amphitheatre below. Otherwise, hikers can simply continue along the trail with no concern of getting turned around. Ask the next question, please. Mike Arnold says, so what? Parking fills up quickly during hot days as many people visit to go swimming in the lower-punchbowl falls area. "The science you believe is on your side in this case?" His daughter was sent to live with Rhonda's family. In 2017, more than 150 hikers had to be rescued from the Eagle Creek Fire by emergency personnel who assisted them up the remaining 12 miles and 3,000 foot elevation gainto the Wahtum Lake Trailhead. Meaning, Arnold contends, that Rhonda slipped feet first, because if she'd been pushed, she would have tumbled head over heels, sustaining injuries over her entire body. Perfect day. Thank you. Many hikers choose to backpack as far as Tunnel Falls, about seven miles up the trail, where they can pass behind falling waters. Each year several unleashed dogs fall off of or chase other dogs off of the steep cliffs.
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