Mt. Defiance Upriver by Cosine
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Description
We did the Mt. Defiance hike yesterday. It's billed as the most difficult in the Columbia River Gorge. One of the reviews at this site says:
"This trail is considered by many as a harder climb than if you were to summit Mt. Hood." And after doing it I have no trouble believing it.
It's 4900 feet (1.5 km) up the side of a mountain in a distance of about 6 miles (9.6 km). I was exhausted by the time we got to the top, and by the time we got back to the bottom via a different trail I was too tired to take my camera out of my pack to photograph a new waterfall. But I'll get back there for that.
Here's a view upstream from one of the first good viewpoints. Thanks for stopping by and any comments.

Comments (17)
Thank you for providing me with a view that I will never see for myself. I have no desire to climb anything that sounds this bad so I'm glad you did it and took pictures for the rest of us non-Mountain Goat types.
Awesome site/shot ... Beautiful as always :)
Oh how I would love to make that climb. To say I did it and to see the hidden spendors along the trail. This is a fabulous shot.
LOL @ the non-mountain goat types!!!!! I guess I'm with her on that, sounds grueling!!!!! It's a good thing you're in good shape to show us these fantastic places!!!!! Excellent shot!!!!!
Wow - remind me to send you a bag of gorp or something, to show my support for the fact that you hike so I don't have to! :) This is an awesome view. Thank you for climbing that cliff to take a picture! I, for one, greatly appreciate your willingness to do such things. Beautiful image!
I can just imagine the strain it must have been going up. Hope downwards was an easier trail. Excellent shot and good job on this hike. Aloha
Beautiful view...
beautiful all round shot! the view was worth it!
A marvelous vista. You must be in good physical shape with all the hiking you are doing. Bravo! Thanks for sharing what you see. A daily pleasure for me to see your photos.
Superb view!
What a fantastic view. Excellent shot!!
This is an amazing capture of a wonderful view - excellent vantage point. I don't think I'd have made it up anywhere near half that distance, so congratulations on making it to the top and back in one piece. Great shot. xx
Fantastic view !
Beautiful as always :)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A beautiful view! How interesting to see the way they built the road, sometimes right on the edge of the river! Considering the outcroppings of rock we can see, the river must be difficult to navigate, for surely there are rocks underneath the water. I really enjoy your hikes :)
My sense of balance must be off today. Looking at this, I feel I am going to fall. Your pictures are very real. I could be standing there.
What a lovely view.