Let's Hike to Gillette Lake and Then Have Lunch

Let do a short hike to a pretty lake on the Washington side of the gorge. This hike is straightforward and fairly easy, so it's good for beginners, and anyone else who wants to get out and stretch their legs and commune with nature for a bit.

We will meet at the North Bonneville Trailhead at 9:30 am and depart from there. We will hike around 3 hours total. We will have lunch somewhere for those that have interest.

Here's a description of the hike:
The hike starts at the Bonneville Trailhead. You'll start up the Tamanous Trail. Ta-mah-no-ous is a Native American word translated roughly as "vision quest". Young men proved their readiness to be adults by going on a search for guardian spirits. From the parking lot, you start out on a gravel road but quickly divert up a wooded path that starts straight uphill. (Incidentally, if you continue down the gravel road another 100 yards, you'll see where the nearby train track enters a tunnel.)
It won't be long before you have a nice viewpoint to the south overlooking the river just east of the Bonneville Dam. There won't be much more in the way of views until you get to the lake. It is somewhere in this trail section where the trail crosses over the top of the aforementioned tunnel...but you'll be hard-pressed to see where!
After a little more than half a mile from the trailhead, you'll come to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail. Turn left, and you'll be heading toward Canada (even if you are heading more west than north). There are two ponds near this junction, both unnamed - the first is seasonal and it may not be there during the warmer months; the other is farther up the trail just an 1/8 of a mile or so; look downhill and you'll see it between the trees. Follow the trail closely in this section, and do not divert onto the overgrown forest roads that intertwine here.
In about a mile, you'll come to a clearcut as the trail turns sharply to the right. In fact, there are several clearcuts through the remainder of the hike, from different eras and in varying stages of regrowth. While they are an eyesore to many, they represent a long history of forestry in this area, and underscore the work of conservation groups that are responsible for the preservation of all the abundant forests that remain. Further, they provide the only views of nearby Table Mountain and Greenleaf Peak until you get to the lake. The trail can be a bit faint through here by Pacific Crest Trail standards, but it should be easy to follow as you wind your way through the remainder of the hike. The area is also a strange mix of public and private land. Property owners have allowed access for through hikers, but it is not recommended you divert far from the trail.
As you approach the lake, the forest gets thick again. Somewhere in this area, you might notice that the land is unusually hummocked. Instead of the common pattern of valleys eroded by winter streams, the land here is filled with random small mounds and huge, mossy boulders. You're walking on a huge landslide deposit, laid down about 500 years ago when the south side of Table and Greenleaf mountains slumped into the Columbia River. This landslide dammed the Columbia for many years, giving rise to the story of the 'Bridge of the Gods.' Today trees and ferns have covered the landscape, but the uneven landforms still provide evidence of the devastation.
After a bit, you head up the right hand side of a dried-up creek valley and begin to gain more elevation. The trail eventually empties out at a forest road. Actually, this is the access road for the powerlines that you'll hear buzzing overhead. The lake is on the other side of the road downhill just out of view. Look for where the trail picks back up as it heads downhill quickly. You'll see the lake on your left. Gillette Lake is a natural body of water filling a depression in the landslide. Continue down the hill and look for a small spur to the left. It takes you to a nice lakeside campsite.
The lake is stocked with golden trout, and there are often ducks as well, particularly in the winter. There is recent evidence of beaver activity on the shore of the lake. Deer are common around dusk, feeding in the clearcuts. Putting aside the powerlines overhead, it is a pleasant, tranquil location. The lake often has a greenish/turquoise coloration that gives it some character. The distinct profile of Hamilton Mountain is in evidence to the west.

Remember to always update your RSVP if you change your mind about attending.