He was buying drinks for all of us. "If Stephen Nichols murdered your daughter, why did he do it?" "this was a tragic accident. There is lots of low-intensity fire, often known as good fire, where trees might have black scorch marks but the canopy is intact and the forest floor is covered up with ferns, moss or the golden color of bigleaf maple. You're a witness. "and you know, somebody that's really nice. Nichols and Rhonda each had a policy on the other for the same amount of money. Numerous camping spots. Indian mount summit was worth the day hike for the views of hood. Van Sant asked Arnold. Also, you'll notice blackened conifers from the 2017 fire almost immediately, and most of the maples went up in flames but are vigorously sprouting back from their lignotubers. "A little over two months and she was fluent in Mandarin She had dance lessons. Julia Simmons [looking at document]: Well, I see it here, so I must've done it. What changed?" Eagle Creek Trail, in the Columbia River Gorge near Cascade Locks, features waterfalls, autumn colors and high bridges. It would be the last hike of her life. The negative, mostly rocky, little shade due to the burn, and tons of mosquitos the last 3 miles to Wahtum lake. "So I tried to call her, and I got no answer," Julia Simmons said. Free permits are self-issued at the Wilderness boundary. Pacific Crest Trail Association volunteers were able to reopen the PCT quickly, but the Eagle Creek Trail, which follows a steep and beautiful canyon, just reopened . "The science you believe is on your side in this case?" Waterproof hiking boots will save your feet from a very uncomfortable day. "She was, like, it for me. All dogs must be on leash. The steep slopes above you are composed of conglomerates from the Eagle Creek Formation, sedimentary deposits laid down by the ancient Columbia River millions of years before the Columbia River Basalt Flows. "They adored each other," Stephen Nichols Sr. said. "He started to verbally abuse Rhonda by calling her stupid and a bunch of other names," she said. ", Asked if she enjoyed hiking, Nichols told Van Sant, "She loved it. At the next scree slope, you should hear the alarm calls of the resident pikas, who survived the fire huddled in cool crevices below the surface. In fact, you'll soon pass a large fossil tree stump, now much diminished because of the depredations of decades of souvenir snatchers. CASCADE LOCKS, Ore. - A hiker died Tuesday night after falling into Punchbowl Falls on the Eagle Creek Trail, just south of the Washington-Oregon border in the Columbia River Gorge.. Soon you'll reach your second cliff face, also with a cable handrail. 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 burnt areas are still unsightly, but beginning to recover. But by the time Stephen Nichols and Rhonda Casto headed back down the narrow path, the weather had turned. Simmons moved into Nichols' Portland, Oregon, condo. Gloves Spikes Waterproof boots "She was super protective and just -- like a new mom, you know? These are both worth visiting, and the trail grade continues to be gentle. You'll be hiking through a temperate rainforest. The trail is very beautiful, lots of falls, flowers, and berries. The upper parking area is found beside the Cascade Salmon Hatchery just off the interstate and has room for about three dozen cars. Gorgeous falls. "Tell me about this," Van Sant asked while holding up a photo of Rhonda. Rocky areas also become slippery after rain, or after many muddy boots have crossed over them. She's quite beautiful.'". "I sort of wanted a fresh start," he said. The Eagle Creek Trail is one of the best known Oregon state trails,. Most hikers either turn. "all the details that we'd so far heard, none of those makes sense with just simply sliding and falling down," said Arneson. You take it one day at a time," said Nichols. "I never really knew that they went hiking," she explained. Human caused fire. "And it was probably 45 feet long.". It took four years, but in 2013, Nichols was ready for a new chapter in his life. Elevation gain: 2360 feet. Meanwhile back in Oregon, Rhonda's mother, convinced her daughter had been pushed off the trail, kept pressuring investigators for answers. - Must haves for this season: 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. Fires not allowed within 100feet of the trail during other times of the year. I fully expected to spend the rest of my life with her. "That Rhonda had conveyed to them that if she didn't come back it was because Mr. Nichols pushed her," Tiffany testified. "I saw something pop up on my phone. 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. Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps. 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. "Attraction right away?" Hike Type: Out and back. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Apparently, key evidence, including some death scene and autopsy photos, is missing. Pretty dusty this late in the season, water is low. "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. "He couldn't write a book until the case was solved," said Tiffany. This used to be an absolute paradise. Oregon's Oneonta Gorge closed 4 years ago. When will it reopen? Van Sant asked Simmons. Distance: 4.2 miles (round trip) Elevation gain: 525 feet. Please consult a good, up to date map when planning backpacking trips. Starting at the trailhead, pass a weir, and then follow the wide well-groomed trail above the creek for a stretch. Hike Type: Out and Back. She remembers her best friend as simply irreplaceable. Trail conditions were fantastic. And I just immediately fell in love with her," said Nichols. Trail was moderately busy until after punch bowel falls then slimed down significantly. "I first met Stephen Nichols through the Internet. Tunnel Falls is amazing view with the ice and snow just be prepared to cross a creek with no dry crossing. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. The small oaks on this steep slope were burned but are coming back from their bases. It was more of a 30 mile hike vs what is in the description. Carrie Rasmussen: Objection! He sent you the email which caused you to react by setting it for grand jury? 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. 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. It's beautiful but treacherous. Then, he and his now-motherless daughter moved across the state to live with his family. 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. "One time she got really mad at him. 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. Difficulty: moderate to difficult Length: 4.4 miles round-trip. It affords spectacular views of the creek's slot canyon, where a cool, ethereal fog offers a reprieve on a hot summer day. Kayakers take the plunge through some rapids far below. This two-tiered waterfall tumbles 200 feet in total to the canyon below twisting around basalt cliffs as it does so. Parking: Please park in designated spaces only. Campfires are not permitted though. "If you're a young couple with a kid you should have life insurance," Arnold said. Carrie Rasmussen [reading]: "With all this being said perhaps it is time to see what a panel of citizens will decide. "I don't know," he replied. The Eagle Creek Trail is the most popular trail in the Columbia Gorge. Mike Arnold: What was the last line of your email back to him the next day? This spectacular cliffsidehike passes through a forested basalt cliff overlooking Eagle Creek. A stumble here can lead to a deadly freefall. United States government. This trail is truly one of the most beautiful and well maintained in the northwest. There's another view of Punch Bowl Falls just beyond that viewpoint as you continue along the Eagle Creek Trail, and then you'll cross the Tish Creek Bridge, this version installed in 2017 and miraculously a survivor of the fire later that year. AMENITIES: Portable toilets, parking lots. "If Stephen Nichols murdered your daughter, why did he do it?" Sandy, OR 97055 Parkdale, Oregon 97041 503-668-1700 541-352-6002 The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. According to court filed documents, Melanie Casto will allege she began having sex with Nichols when she was just 15. Dozens of search and rescues are done every year. I have never threatened Rhonda with physical harm. We were hiking and she -- it was all icy and she just slipped off the mountain.'". Very popular. Past Tenas Camp, the forest was heavily burned in the 2017 fire. nothing too crazy nothing steep very easy straightforward incline definitely the most gradual 5000 ft of elevation I've ever done. Northwest Forest Pass Required May 15-Oct 1 I don't think I've ever threatened anybody with physical harm," said Nichols. United States. And I said, 'No, thank you,'" Nichols told Van Sant. Fees: Northwest Forest Pass required, or pay a $5 fee at the trailhead per car. Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. From Portland, OR: Travel east on Interstate 84 to exit #41 which is just past the interstate tunnel. It affords spectacular views of the creek's slot canyon, where acool, ethereal fog offers a reprieve on a hot summerday. His father, also named Stephen Nichols, remembers it as a happy time. 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. Van Sant asked Jackson. You'll encounter eight major waterfalls along Eagle Creek and its tributaries, with lots of smaller and seasonal falls in-between. Bear in mind that it is only above the High Bridge that overnight camping is permitted on the Eagle Creek Trail; in addition, many of the original campsites have disappeared under heavy brush or downed trees, so availability is more limited than it used to be. Thankfully, in some sketchy areas a cable has been bolted to the cliff wall to hang on to while hiking. Gerry Tiffany: No, it was there when I left. She was taking Tae Kwon Do. "For about three months after Rhonda died I completely shut down," he said. The trail enters a lovely amphitheater, dripping with moss and maidenhair fern, where Tunnel Falls plunges 175 feet to a shallow pool. Many people stop here to take photos of the falls and their cool, refreshing amphitheater. Wear some good shoes, hiking boots are best if you are walking more than 1 mile. Even on a dry day, the Eagle Creek Trail is extremely wet, as water constantly runs downhill over cliffs onto the trail. Hiker falls to death at Oregon's Punchbowl Falls in Columbia Gorge Later, the trail enters forest that has been more severely burned. There are already a few small slides on the trail, some of which require tricky crossings. On Oregon I-84 Eastbound, take exit 41 toward Fish Hatchery/Eagle Creek/Rec. A picture, taken by Rhonda herself and sent to her brother, shows red marks left from an alleged physical encounter with Nichols. Length: 4.4 miles round-trip to Punchbowl Falls; 6.6 miles to High Bridge; 12 miles to Tunnel Falls. Most of this hike is burned up and the sun glares on you. Eagle Creek Trail Rises From the Ashes Many hikers choose to backpack as far as Tunnel Falls, about seven miles up the trail, where they can pass behind falling waters. For a nice day-trip, hike 3.3 miles (6.6 round-trip) to aptly named High Bridge, then return and head to Cascade Locks for a late lunch. 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. Suddenly, a startling new chapter in this case begins as the motion to dismiss hearing continues. He never doubted she was murdered: Mike Arnold: And when did it become a homicide investigation, as opposed to an accidental fall? Eagle Creek to Punch Bowl Falls Hike - Oregon Hikers Simmons says that Rhonda and Stephen's relationship had been stormy for years before that fateful hike. Every year, there is a story about someone falling from this spot and injuring themselves. But I've never physically hurt anyone.". Melanie declined to speak with "48 Hours," and Nichols says allegations of statutory rape, or any relationship, are false. She wanted to lose weight," said Nichols. (This is a section of trail sometimes called the "The Potholes".) And it was precisely in that very spot that Rhonda Casto went off Eagle Creek trail, falling over 150 feet to her death. The next 6 to the lake was nice but lower payoff. Van Sant asked. Tiffany has denied, under oath, that he ever intentionally destroyed anything: Mike Arnold: Do you know what happened to the hard drive that those files were on? I made that very clear. It was heavily forested and gorgeous! 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. What a pretty hike! As the name implies, your path with pass through a tunnel behind the falls about midway up the drop. "You guys good buddies?" Narrow trail with anchored cables into rock in some areas to hold onto for support away from cliff edge. 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. Some poison oak but you can avoid it.. "And as she said that, he turned around and said, 'If you leave me, I'll kill you.'". Length 4.8 miElevation gain 1,020 ftRoute type Out & back. And I told her, 'I am going to propose to you.' I have been emotionally abusive at times to people. Theres also an excellent documentary by TOPIC magazine on the rise of the Eagle Creek Fire. "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. "The last time I saw Rhonda was at Boston's Grill," Jen Sconce, a friend of Rhonda's back in 2007, told "48 Hours." Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Mike Arnold says, so what? It's like a mini trial, with witnesses called. It is quite popular with easy vehicle access at the trailhead, so plan to see a lot of other hikers and is part of the Pacific Crest Trail. ( Many water sources ! To top it all off, Nichols met Landy Yin Yan and after about a year of dating, he proposed. Sconce says Stephen Nichols thought Rhonda was acting flirtatious toward others in the bar. The trail connects to several other remote, multi-day loop backpacking opportunities intheMark O. Hatfield Wildernesson the Hood River Ranger District in theMt. Turn left at the stop sign, go under the interstate and then turn left onto the eastbound freeway entrance. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. You may recognize this viewpoint from photos and postcards. At the junction with the Lower Punch Bowl Trail #440B, you can descend 300 feet down into the gorge to a spot just upstream of Lower Punch Bowl Falls; however, the view of Punch Bowl Falls from the end of this spur trail no longer exists due to a 2018 landslide that blocked the creek (see the Eagle Creek to Punch Bowl Falls Hike). Take I-84 and turn off at Exit 41, which is a 30 minute drive from Hood River and about 50 minutes from Portland. From this area, you can get a view back to a pinnacle formation on the west side of the Eagle Creek Gorge; this needle had been concealed by tall conifers before the Eagle Creek Fire. He was completely broken up. Backpacked to Moss Bridge (5ish mi) stayed the night and hiked to Tunnel Falls the next morning. 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. Please. Be cautious on the upcoming trail as it is well over 100 feet above the river below and can be narrow. I was looking for a place, a room to rent," said Simmons. There is a tunnel behind the 175ft falls that was dug out (with great effort) around 1910. ", "She asked me if I would like to meet her daughter. "Then I turn around and I look at her and my tongue pretty much hit the floor," he told Van Sant. This is an amazing gorge hike with several beautiful waterfalls, including one that users can walk behind.