Hiker falls to death at Oregon's Punchbowl Falls in Columbia Gorge He got a job teaching English to Chinese businessmen. "all the details that we'd so far heard, none of those makes sense with just simply sliding and falling down," said Arneson. "He started to verbally abuse Rhonda by calling her stupid and a bunch of other names," she said. 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. "The pelvis was essentially shattered," Young told the court. As Stephen Nichols waited in jail, police gathered evidence for the murder trial on their theory that it was no accident. Arnold says no tests were done to see if Rhonda made any contact with the outcroppings on the way down the cliffside -- contact that could have affected where her body finally came to rest. "Must've been so horrifying. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. The next 6 to the lake was nice but lower payoff. Your physical evidence could disappear within hours or days," Arnold explained. Nichols cooperated with police, answering all of their questions. "If I sneeze, if I cough, if any little thing goes wrong, that I was gonna die.". He was completely broken up. Every year, there is a story about someone falling from this spot and injuring themselves. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Arnold says there was no murder and that he can prove Rhonda's death was an accident. 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. Then veer left on the Pacific Crest Trail for 6.3 miles to the Benson Plateau and turn left to descend the Ruckel Creek Trail back to your car. Crampons/good micro spikes are a must, there are cliff sections where the ice covers the trail and become extremely dangerous if not crossed carefully. Best trails in Eagle Creek | AllTrails Nichols and Rhonda each had a policy on the other for the same amount of money. 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. After about a mile and a half of walking and ascending up onto the steep walls of the canyon you'll come to the Metlako Falls side trail. You have an attorney who's representing the state on this matter. Restroom at Eagle Creek Trailhead and Day Use Area. Despite its moderate grade, the Eagle Creek Trail can be dangerous due to the steep cliff sides without railings and water crossings. Arnold, having obtained the video through discovery, hopes to use their own demonstration to turn the tables on the prosecution. Make sure you allow as much room as possible when letting people pass. "She said he'd been kinda buggin' her to go hiking for like two or three weeks--like a month," Simmons said. You're a witness. The PCTA (Pacific Crest Trail Association) has done a magnificent job in restoring the trail, and the tread is in excellent shape. We intended to hike to the campsite at mile 4 on the All Trails map, only to find this area no longer exists, so we hiked to 5.5 and found a couple of spots. "It was always easy to be around her 'cause you kind of became that way as well.". The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. A user trail takes you through high brush to the top of Skoonichuck Falls. It was heavily forested and gorgeous! All rights reserved. You remember receiving that? March 5, 2016 / 11:16 PM Check out this 11.9-mile out-and-back trail near Cascade Locks, Oregon. 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. I will always love Rhonda. I made that very clear. Trail was in good shape. "So how does a kid from Oregon end up in China?" Get in the right lane before entering the tunnel. Also there are plenty of campsites at Indian springs. I think it was Mike Arnold: It was because of the pressure put on you by Steve Jackson. In addition, two bridges, the Fern Creek Bridge and the High Bridge, had to be replaced because of fire damage. on official, secure websites. Backpacked to Moss Bridge (5ish mi) stayed the night and hiked to Tunnel Falls the next morning. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. "I can tell that -- based on the injuries that she has, she -- she landed predominantly on her legs and her pelvis," Young testified. Sheer cliffs have no hand rails on parts of this trail, so this hike is not recommended for children or those afraid of heights, despite its gentle overall grade. Across the creek, you'll may notice little Tenas Falls, where a tributary splits around a rock to make a twin plunge into Eagle Creek. Four and a Half Mile Bridge is quite a contrast to its downtrail cousin, the High Bridge, sitting a mere four feet above the water! Just past Twister Falls is a sloping rocky bank that makes a great place to rest. Asked what he was sensing from Rhonda, Nichols told Van Sant, "I felt she was into me, too. Suite 200 "Have you done anything wrong?" 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. The campsites to the right of the trail were obliterated by two large Douglas-firs, which fell in early 2017. That's something that can't be outlawyered, it can't be confused with rumor and innuendo," he continued. Photos (5,154) Directions. Authorities declined to declare the death an accident, but Stephen Nichols was not charged with any crime. This is an amazing gorge hike with several beautiful waterfalls, including one that users can walk behind. History: Built in the 1910s to accompany the opening of the Columbia River Highway, the Eagle Creek Trail was blasted out the cliffs . "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. Browse the most recent Eagle Creek, Oregon obituaries and condolences. Check out this 4.8-mile out-and-back trail near Cascade Locks, Oregon. In 2017, more than 150 hikers had to be rescued from the Eagle Creek Fire by emergency personnel who assisted them up the remaining 12 miles and 3,000 foot elevation gainto the Wahtum Lake Trailhead. It was a chaplain sent by the local fire department. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors. But Rhonda's mother says she knows what happened and why: Nichols' huge losses in the stock market. TTY (541) 386-8758 The trail down to Wahtum was very well maintained and easy. The trail enters a lovely amphitheater, dripping with moss and maidenhair fern, where Tunnel Falls plunges 175 feet to a shallow pool. Wear some good shoes, hiking boots are best if you are walking more than 1 mile. It would be the last hike of her life. "Yeah. 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. Eagle Creek to Punchbowl Falls. Sheriff English: It could have been official misconduct or tampering with evidence, potentially. Most people who live in Oregon know the story of how the Eagle Creek Fire ignited a teenager tossed a firework off the trail on a boiling hot day in early September 2017. What changed?" ", "She asked me if I would like to meet her daughter. If you're day hiking, you can turn around here. Later, the trail enters forest that has been more severely burned. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Looking across the gorge, you can see different layers of basalt entablature separated by narrower bands of colonnade. "She was, like, it for me. "The exact opposite. She was my rock, my sidekick, my everything," Simmons told Van Sant. Be cautious on the upcoming trail as it is well over 100 feet above the river below and can be narrow. So this will need to be a regular hike. Official websites use .gov A .gov If you still feel like you still have some energy, the last two major waterfalls, both on the West Fork Eagle Creek, can be seen in the next half mile. You are risking your life to save mine,'" Meads recalled. Sconce says Stephen Nichols thought Rhonda was acting flirtatious toward others in the bar. To maintain an easy grade through this rugged canyon, the builders blasted ledges out of sheer cliffs, bridged . For many of them are not accessible and you only see them from the trail that sometimes is far above the river. A slip and fall on a dangerous trail.". "If Stephen Nichols murdered your daughter, why did he do it?" The trail is also something of an engineering marvel. Mike Arnold: And what's the potential crime for which you believe he's a suspect? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Arnold questions the man who organized the dummy experiment, Deputy Daniel DeHaven. ", "I'm the most non-violent person you will ever meet," he said. The trail was the site of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, leaving burn scars throughout the hike. "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. Mike Arnold: How much money were you getting a month from ___'s Social Security benefits? St. Helens upon dying. (541) 308-1700 The Eagle Creek Trail to Punch Bowl Falls hike "One time she got really mad at him. Even on a dry day, the Eagle Creek Trail is extremely wet, as water constantly runs downhill over cliffs onto the trail. Most hikers either turn. But ultimately, does Simmons' confession of taking her granddaughter's checks really tarnish all of her testimony in the case of her beloved Rhonda? Past Tenas Camp, the forest was heavily burned in the 2017 fire. All along the trail, there's water runoff and lots of moss, which is very slippery, making its way down to the trail where there's muddy footing. The grade was easy after the first mile. The Eagle Creek Trail was always a bit dangerous with narrow paths carved into cliffs above a sheer drop-off into a rocky canyon and that has not changed. Very popular. Dozens of search and rescues are done every year. 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. One key to the prosecution's case will be the credibility of the woman making so many of the accusations--Rhonda's mother, Julia Simmons: Mike Arnold: What do you do for a living, ma'am? Hood River, OR 97031 Standing on the High Bridge, you can see down the narrow gorge and also up the creek to small cascades. "Um, when we started off, it was actually a very nice day," he replied. Indian mount summit was worth the day hike for the views of hood. The trail passes the boundary sign for the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness and enters a shady defile to cross Wy'East Creek. Within this corridor, theres only one side trail to worry about: a short trip down to the water between Punch Bowl Falls and Lower Punch Bowl Falls. Immediately off the exit at the stop sign, take a right and continue down Eagle Creek Lane past the Eagle Creek Fish Hatchery, keeping right down Eagle Creek Loop which ends at the trailhead. No shade on most of the trail since all the trees are burned. Mike Arnold: What was the last line of your email back to him the next day? Length: 4.4 miles round-trip to Punchbowl Falls; 6.6 miles to High Bridge; 12 miles to Tunnel Falls. Gloves Spikes Waterproof boots "Because he had an inkling that Rhonda was gonna leave him, and he didn't wanna pay child support," she replied. But wy,east, blue grouse, and 7 .5 mi campsites are fine. Eagle Creek Trail in Oregon reopens three years after wildfire - KGW One of the most popular backpacking trails; there are multiple camping sites along the trail. Distance: 15.4 miles round-trip to the Eagle Creek Ford. Eagle Creek Trail : Oregon Hiking 4K - YouTube Pretty falls. / CBS News, Produced by Susan Mallie and Leslie Neigher. This isn't the best trail for dogs or kids. Investigators believe that's not true. "I saw something pop up on my phone. He was buying drinks for all of us. 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. Start point: Eagle Creek Trailhead. Beautiful hike! "The science you believe is on your side in this case?" I just said, 'What happened?' This used to be an absolute paradise. He told the operator that Rhonda had been acting high, being silly and running on the slippery trail before she fell. Stephen Nichols' defense attorney, Mike Arnold, knows about the dangers of the Columbia River Gorge firsthand. If you are there in the spring with snowmelt or on a rainy day keep an eye out for smaller falls emptying into Eagle Creek below. As Rhonda and Nichols made their way up Eagle Creek Trail, they had some challenges. The climb out from eagle creek Trail on Indian springs Trail is no joke, very steep. "So I tried to call her, and I got no answer," Julia Simmons said. However, recovery efforts from the 2017 Eagle Creek wildfire are still underway on some of these multi-day loop trail opportunities (Ruckel Creek #403, Tanner Butte #401, Eagle-Tanner #433, and Tanner Cutoff #448 trails remain closed). Eagle Creek Trailhead - Hiking in Portland, Oregon and Washington You'll reach the top of Twister Falls, with its necktie "crossover" of two streams of water. Small waterfalls trickle along the sides of the cliff, and the trail passes many larger waterfalls, includingthe iconic Punch Bowl Falls, which is accessed from a side trail about 2 miles up the trail. Take a right at the end of the off ramp and follow the signs to theEagle Creek Trailhead/Picnic Area. This is one of the easier 12-mile hikes you'll accomplish, heading up the Eagle Creek canyon on a very gently graded trail. This is what one firecracker can do. "I went over to Julia's room and I'm like, 'Your daughter is just incredibly beautiful.' Parking fills up quickly during hot days as many people visit to go swimming in the lower-punchbowl falls area. "A mom can be like, you know, 'Oh well, I'm biased, because she's my daughter.' Once you exit the highway, drive the short ways up Eagle Creek Loop, past the salmon hatchery, to find the trailhead parking. This was one of Oregons gems, it was almost too sad to do the hike. Numerous camping spots. Gerry Tiffany: Pretty much the next morning. "She'd call me, or she'd be over at my house.". Length 4.8 miElevation gain 1,020 ftRoute type Out & back. However, as you enter the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness beyond Wy'East Camp, you'll encounter larger stands of intact canopy where the fire was less intense. "For about three months after Rhonda died I completely shut down," he said. "He goes, 'Rhonda's dead.' Eagle Creek to Punch Bowl Falls Hike - Oregon Hikers This hike is not far from Portland and is best in the spring or early summer to really appreciate the beautiful waterfalls. He passed the couple on the trail possibly minutes before Rhonda's fatal fall: Mike Arnold: And what did she look like? Parking: Please park in designated spaces only. "She couldn't have a better thing in her life than Landy.". Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. (The Eagle Benson Trail, which rises 2,900 feet to the Benson Plateau, has not been maintained since the 2017 fire.). Combine that with human error, as I witnessed, and its pretty dicey. It was along the Eagle Creek trail that Rhonda Casto, a 23-year-old mother of a nine-month-old girl, set out with her boyfriend, Stephen Nichols, back on March 16, 2009. Just last week, Judge John Olsen denied the defense's motion to dismiss.