Bring your raincoat. He does something "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant has never seen. "Have you done anything wrong?" She was taking Tae Kwon Do. But what if, as Rhonda's family and friends believe, it wasn't an innocent fall? "It's been really hard, just having no closure and not knowing what happened," friend Jessica Colburn said. Certainly finished soaking wet, but that's to be expected on a rainy day in January. Narrow trail with anchored cables into rock in some areas to hold onto for support away from cliff edge. More:Trapped by the Eagle Creek Fire, Salem teenagers survive night in the wild. Soon, you'll come to the Punch Bowl Falls overlook, where you can view Punch Bowl Falls spouting into its circular amphitheater and magnificent deep pool below. Check out this 11.9-mile out-and-back trail near Cascade Locks, Oregon. Mike Arnold: You weren't asked a question, ma'am. Given the narrow trail and the crowds, theres simply no way to hike Eagle Creek without coming within six feet of another person. 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. But not everyone knows the story of the 150 hikers who were trapped by the fire including nine Salem teenagers and forced to spend a night in the forest before hiking out the long way. "I don't even know who Jen Sconce is," Nichols laughed. In August 2015, Stephen Nichols was in court for a bail hearing. By the time we were done people were parking a half mile away and walking in. Then you'll pass under a cliff face to reach the junction with the Eagle Benson Trail #434. It was a chaplain sent by the local fire department. Luckily, several hikers happened by. The upper parking area is found beside the Cascade Salmon Hatchery just off the interstate and has room for about three dozen cars. Julia Simmons [looking at document]: Well, I see it here, so I must've done it. She had hiked that trail numerous times before.". Got there early and the parking lot was already almost full. Author Steve Jackson will go just about anywhere for a good story, including the Hood River County Courthouse, where he's researching a book, along with his investigator, on Rhonda Casto's death. Very popular. The trail is well groomed, just rocky and narrow in spots. The defense then takes aim at that dummy test, which Arnold thinks is as dumb as its name: Mike Arnold: Three grown men who have some athleticism through their job duties were not able to make that dummy reach what you think is the final resting place of Rhonda Casto. This page has been accessed 718,151 times. Apparently, key evidence, including some death scene and autopsy photos, is missing. I hope that someday, justice will be served.". All campsites awesome and near water. The small oaks on this steep slope were burned but are coming back from their bases. Van Sant asked Arnold. He was buying drinks for all of us. Looking up or around you as you walk can sometimes result in a loss of balance, and on the Eagle Creek Trail that can be deadly. "And then she asked me again and I said, 'No, thank you. Nichols and Rhonda each had a policy on the other for the same amount of money. You take it one day at a time," said Nichols. Gloves Spikes Waterproof boots The grade was easy after the first mile. The trail negotiates its third cable-railed section on a high cliff with views to massive boulders that have tumbled into the creek below. Carrie Rasmussen: Objection! Simmons says that Rhonda and Stephen's relationship had been stormy for years before that fateful hike. LockA locked padlock Length 4.8 miElevation gain 1,020 ftRoute type Out & back. Parking: Please park in designated spaces only. You remember receiving that? This page was last modified on 1 January 2023, at 00:10. Some of those passages are basically single tracks with cables that can be used as hand rails for those more sensitive to heights. "My daughter was absolutely thriving," Nichols said. Fires not allowed within 100feet of the trail during other times of the year. We were hiking and she -- it was all icy and she just slipped off the mountain.'". I could tell that she valued intelligence and I've always thought that that's one of my strongest assets.". Some poison oak but you can avoid it.. You're also encouraged to add just one more mile round-trip to see the last two large waterfalls in the drainage, both on the West Fork Eagle Creek. From there, head to another bridge over Eagle Creek (passing a nice swimming hole for hot days, with a cobbled beach to dry out on). 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. Beyond, the next 3 miles to Tunnel Falls do have some landslides that make for tricky hiking, and at least one semi-difficult creek crossing, but it does remain open and doable. If you are nervous with heights think twice about this trip. 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. Very icy and there were some sketchy parts but nothing too overwhelming. Because there's someone else in the courtroom who Arnold believes is the real reason prosecutor Carrie Rasmussen charged Nichols with murder. Explore one of 2 easy hiking trails in Eagle Creek or discover kid-friendly routes for your next family trip. Eagle Creek Trailhead & Trail (#440) Area Status: Open This spectacular cliffside hike passes through a forested basalt cliff overlooking Eagle Creek. But to the racist man with the pit bull threatening to push other peoples dogs off the trail, I hope you find some kind of happiness, because you definitely need it. "Absolutely not," he replied. A spur leads down to some campsites, and the view up the creek is of a lush green canyon with living trees! Arnold claims Simmons would do just about anything for money, including a despicable crime: cashing her granddaughter's monthly death benefit check from the government despite never having custody of her. ", "She asked me if I would like to meet her daughter. Natural hazards: Downed trees and landslides may be possible on the trail. In addition, two bridges, the Fern Creek Bridge and the High Bridge, had to be replaced because of fire damage. The two first landed in San Francisco, where Stephen was stunned to be met by authorities and arrested. The falls convey the East Fork Eagle Creek from the bluffs above to the creek bed below, and then downstream into the main Eagle Creek run. "The exact opposite. "You were tongue tied," Van Sant remarked. Entiat River. You'll reach the location of Tenas Camp, the first area of permitted camping on the Eagle Creek Trail (but campfires are not allowed). And Arnold says accidents like Rhonda's are more frequent than people realize. Before the bridge, a trail leads down to the cobbled shore and a swimming hole, a nice place to cool off on a hot day. "If you're a young couple with a kid you should have life insurance," Arnold said. "The pelvis was essentially shattered," Young told the court. I wanted to lose weight. Free permits are self-issued at the Wilderness boundary. Take I-84 and turn off at Exit 41, which is a 30 minute drive from Hood River and about 50 minutes from Portland. But every now and again you hear it the loud crack and crash of a fire-weakened tree splitting and plummeting down the canyon. The trail connects to several other remote, multi-day loop backpacking opportunities intheMark O. Hatfield Wildernesson the Hood River Ranger District in theMt. Dec. 18th 2022 to Tunnel Falls Every year, there is a story about someone falling from this spot and injuring themselves. John Whaley: She was quite an attractive gal estimated to be in her younger 20s. Simmons moved into Nichols' Portland, Oregon, condo. Most of this hike is burned up and the sun glares on you. If youre heading out to hike Eagle Creek whether its your first time or your 50th there are a few factors to consider and some preparations to make (including packing the essentials) before leaving home. Loved it. That's why we're here," said Jackson. If you're day hiking, you can turn around here. A. Wilderness Permits are required when entering Mark O Hatfield Wilderness. He sent you the email which caused you to react by setting it for grand jury? All parking areas require cars to display either a Northwest Forest Pass or another federal lands pass. "I'm positive that he killed her," Simmons said. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. But, she admits, the hostility went both ways. "Knowing her family, I'm gonna say it's made up," he replied. End point: Punch Bowl Falls. My name is Rhonda.' Unable to come up with the money, Nichols returns to jail. This was one of Oregons gems, it was almost too sad to do the hike. 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. In January 2016, in Hood River, defense attorney Mike Arnold plans to put the prosecution's case on trial at a hearing to have all charges against Stephen Nichols dismissed. "48 Hours" caught up with one hiker who has a terrifying tale to tell. I love Rhonda. Heavy rains only compound the issue. That's all he could say. A mysterious fall off a rain-soaked path. The trail passes the boundary sign for the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness and enters a shady defile to cross Wy'East Creek. He was completely broken up. They were both upbeat and happy, you know, just a zest for life," he said. "If Stephen Nichols murdered your daughter, why did he do it?" Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. Before leaving home, you should also check TripCheck.com to make sure the roads to Eagle Creek are open, as the exit off the interstate occasionally closes due to landslides. Nichols was extradited back to Oregon and charged with the murder. The hike was beautiful though. Once you exit the highway, drive the short ways up Eagle Creek Loop, past the salmon hatchery, to find the trailhead parking. He passed the couple on the trail possibly minutes before Rhonda's fatal fall: Mike Arnold: And what did she look like? Be very careful when passing others on the trail here. Van Sant asked Nichols. Around mile 5, you enter Wilderness where a free permit is required (available at the wilderness boundary). Mike Arnold: What is your opinion about whether or not Miss Casto was pushed? While beautiful, the trail is also one of the most treacherous in the Columbia River Gorge a problem compounded by landslides, narrow paths and the enormous crowds who flock to see it. The bridge was damaged in the Eagle Creek Fire, with its floorboards completely burned, so it was replaced in October 2019, with the new version being airlifted in by helicopter. This two-tiered waterfall tumbles 200 feet in total to the canyon below twisting around basalt cliffs as it does so. Even in the places that are burned and the impact is clear the burn scar is not overwhelming for much of the hike.