It was good in the Hood - Helion Creek Oregon

It was good in the Hood – Helion Creek OregonTrip report 08-12-2012


The Oregon Clackamas River, born on the western slopes of the Cascade Range near Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson, flows towards the coast picking up water from dozens of side drainages. Many of these drainages, originating high above the volcanic blocks, the water pouring over their moss covered basaltic cliffs clouded with dense layers of rain forest foliage, hide within them multiple waterfalls, clear pools and a paradise of green.


Helion Creek is one of these gems.

The goods of Helion Creek located in the last ½ mile of the drainage took most of the day to run thru. From our shuttle park off of Forest Road 45 we walked an old decommissioned Forest Service Road to the top of the drainage. From there it is a short down climb/bushwhack to the creek. There was no sign of previous activity and we built the web and link waterfall rappel anchors using trees and logs. The more strenuous activity, walking the creek between waterfalls was slow going with slippery moss covered rocks and fallen logs to slither around and thru with wetsuits serving dual purpose as body armor against the brush, slip & falls and blackberry thorns.
The creek pours directly into the Clackamas River opposite the road side leaving us with the following exit choices; bushwhack up stream to a bridge that crosses the river, have a raft waiting, bring our own rafts, or swim across. All of those choices sound fun but we’re hardcore canyoneers!! so we chose the swim?. Dave swam across taking a rope with him tied to his harness. Once both ends of the rope were secured the rest of the party pulled themselves across thru the mild rapids. Tom went last with all of us assisting the pull over. – Mighty Fun.


Thanks to Lorin French for Pictures
Thanks to Canyoneering Northwest for Beta
Thanks to all of my canyoneereing partners ( Dave, Monica, Karen, Maurice, Tom and Lorin) for a great time

More of our photos can be viewed here

https://picasaweb.google.com/1149702...Oregon08121012


Doug French

This trip was amazing! :rock:The waterfalls were a blast to rappel down from. Great TR. :2thumbs:

Nice, that one was on our list when we were up there but we didn't make it over there. Next time we will hit it. Glad you showed a picture of the swim we were wondering how big the river was going to be to swim across.

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Originally Posted by moab mark

Nice, that one was on our list when we were up there but we didn't make it over there. Next time we will hit it. Glad you showed a picture of the swim we were wondering how big the river was going to be to swim across.

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Across the river, from anchor to anchor, is about 180 ft of rope. We tied a 150 and a 140 together to make double sure we'd have enough, given that we wanted to leave a good downstream angle on the rope so the river pushed folks across most of the way.

The crossing at Pup Creek is more difficult as there is more of a drop in the river there and the current is stronger. Doug did that swim. We heard from some hikers that there is a foot bridge about a mile and a half upstream from where Pup Creek hits the Clackamas, it would be worth the walk (along a trail) especially if there is more water in the river.

What was Pup Creek like? Isn't it the one with the 270' rappel at the end? Next time we go we are going to head over and do those Canyons.

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Originally Posted by moab mark

What was Pup Creek like? Isn't it the one with the 270' rappel at the end? Next time we go we are going to head over and do those Canyons.

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We scouted the exit and entrance for Pup Creek but didn't do the route. Our hunch is that Pup is a complete day - get there early - based on the terrain found in Helion and what it took to get up the drainage to the trail that leads to the waterfall. We did make it to the base of that last rap, beautiful tall waterfall, with nothing that looked particulary difficult.

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Originally Posted by davehuth

Across the river, from anchor to anchor, is about 180 ft of rope. We tied a 150 and a 140 together to make double sure we'd have enough, given that we wanted to leave a good downstream angle on the rope so the river pushed folks across most of the way.

The crossing at Pup Creek is more difficult as there is more of a drop in the river there and the current is stronger. Doug did that swim. We heard from some hikers that there is a foot bridge about a mile and a half upstream from where Pup Creek hits the Clackamas, it would be worth the walk (along a trail) especially if there is more water in the river.

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Yes what Dave said. i would think twice about trying to cross the Clackamas at the Pup Creek exit. If the water levels had been just a little higher it would have real tough. It is a safer bet to find the exit hikers trail up or down the creek side. But that does make for a longer trip especially for doing total Pup Creek top to bottom. I swear drainage hiking is slower than high stemming thru a tight slot.