I’ve wanted to scramble Phoca Rock for a while…just never got around to it. Deb and I had a half day available on Sunday so we headed out to Dalton Point with the Kayaks. The weather was perfect! Warm, very light breeze and most important, very calm waters. Tide was low and heading in, which didn’t impact the paddle at all.
Took us only 15 minutes to get to Phoca Rock, then a few minutes to scramble to the top, then another 20 minutes to paddle back across the mighty Columbia River to a small beach where we enjoyed the sun for a while before heading back to Dalton Point.
Getting ready…
Getting ready worked up a sweat, cooling off before the paddle over to Phoca Rock…
Calm waters…
Nearing Phoca Rock…happy to see there are no Seals, or Sea Lions basking in the sun this morning.
Natural boat slip…wished there was a bit more water
Deb making the crux move of the scramble to the top…
The summit of Phoca Rock, out near the middle of the Columbia River…
Heading back…
The water is a little choppier on the paddle back…
One of my favorite “summits”. Scenic approach, never have to wait for other parties to get past the crux, and every time you pass on I-84 or SR-14, you can say, “See that rock out there? I’ve stood on the top of that.”
Brad,
Yeah, I look at it the same way…similar to Rooster Rock and Squaw Rock (above Smith Rock)…
Karl