Where: near Springfield, Oregon
Who: DB
When: July 2010
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For the 4th peak of the day, DB and I hiked up Mount Pisgah, a dominating (yet still only 1,530 feet high) mountain near Springfield and Eugene. At the grassy top of the mountain, we encountered an interesting memorial to Jed Kesey, the son of Ken Kesey who had tragically died in a vehicle accident in the mid-80s. As I recall, Bill Graham ponied up the dough to create the memorial. Pretty cool stuff.
Showing posts with label Cascades (Oregon). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cascades (Oregon). Show all posts
Mount Pisgah
Salt Creek Falls
Where: Oregon Cascades
Who: DB
When: July 2010.JPG)
While driving along OR-58 on the way to Eugene, DB and I pulled off at the signed overlook for Salt Creek Falls. Not expecting a whole lot, you can imagine our joy to behold an awesome 300-foot waterfall booming into a lush, fern-covered amphitheater. Great stuff, man!
Odell Butte
Where: Oregon Cascades
Who: DB
When: July 2010.JPG)
The day after I hiked up Mount Thielsen, DB and I took the short hike up to the top of Odell Butte. A fire lookout was manning the charming summit structure, though he proved to be rather unfriendly, and so we kept our distance. Still, the views were nice and the summit was worthwhile.
Spencer Butte in Eugene
Where: Near Eugene, Oregon
Who: DB
When: July 2010
While visiting charming and green Eugene, DB and I hiked up a handful of small local mountains. The most aesthetic of the group was Spencer Butte, a lush mountain with a nice trail system leading to a bald and rocky summit. The summit was busy, but it didn't prevent us from hanging with a dozen or two people (and their many dogs) for a solid hour, enjoying the greens and shadows of the region.
Mount Thielsen
Where: Oregon Cascades
Who: solo
When: June 2010
Mount Thielsen and its needle-like summit spire is one of the most iconic peaks in the Cascades. With 3,800 feet of gain and a "scary, vertical" 80-foot summit climb, it promised to be a fun day of choss bagging. As it turned out, the summit climb was an easy breeze, the views breathtaking, and I returned to the car 4 hours and 25 minutes after leaving..JPG)
A Fun, Snowy Romp up Mount Bailey
Where: Oregon Cascades
Who: DB
When: June 2010
Upon arrival in Oregon from the Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival near Laytonville, California, DB and I immediately headed for Mount Bailey, an 8,300-foot volcano across the lake from the uber-impressive Mount Thielsen. The mosquitos were bad but the views were awesome. And the hike was enjoyable as well!.JPG)
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Eagles Rest - Migration of the Snails
Where: Oregon Cascades
Who: DB
When: July 2010
Before meeting first cousin, once-removed Marty and her partner Bruce at the July 4 Merry Pranksters festivus in nearby Dexter, DB and I hiked up a small mountain called Eagles Rest. With a beautiful several mile trail approach through lush forest, the canopy broke just enough on the summit to afford us pleasant views from a short, rocky outcropping. On the way down, we encountered several large snails crossing an obscure road high in the mountains. Some made it; unfortunately, others did not.
Mount Bachelor's North Face
Where: Central Oregon Cascades
When: June 2009
Partners: DB
After some psycho wandered into our camp and creeped out our intended Mount Thielsen attempt the next day, DB and I instead headed to Bachelor as a consulation prize. As it turned out, it was a fine, snowy climb via the north face. Nice views!
Finally Climbing Mount Hood, Oregon's Highest
Where: Cascade Range, Oregon
When: July 2008
Partners: Solo
Route: South Side (Old Chute Variation)
Mileage/Gain: 6/5,200
TOPO: Here
After a failed attempt of Mount Hood during a spring 2004 blizzard, and several other plans to climb the mountain thwarted by poor weather, packed flights and whatever else, I found myself in the area of the mountain in late July. Knowing that the standard route up the mountain typically goes out of condition some weeks earlier, I was skeptical about the safety of pulling off an ascent this late in the season.
Calling Timberline Mountain Guides for current conditions on the mountain, I was told that they were still taking clients up, on a day-to-day basis. Well, I'll just go for it!
Starting alone early, early one morning, I headed up the mountain, soon reaching the talus below Crater Rock. Contouring to the right on snow, I soon gained the hogsback and headed up. A bit below the bergschrund, I gained a boot pack angling off up and left toward the Old Chute. Gaining the chute, I negotiated through good, 50-degree snow to reach the final, loose rocks below the summit ridge that would take me to the top of the mountain.
And then, I finally gained Mount Hood's summit...in the dark!
I considered waiting for the sun to rise, but it was cold and I headed down instead.
Mount Hood, An Attempt of Oregon's Highest
Where: Cascade Range, Oregon
When: May 2004
Partners: Eiji Sugi, Thomas Slease & Rod C.
Route: South Side (Attempted)
In May 2004, me, Eiji Sugi, Rod C. and Thomas Slease assembled in Government Camp for a bite to eat before settling in bed early for the next day's attempt of Mount Hood. With weather already poor and snowing, visibility low, we didn't have high expectations that even the mountain's easiest route, the Hogsback, would treat us right.
Sleeping rather comfortably on the heated cement of the alcove at Timberline Lodge, we woke with a few other groups nervously deciding whether or not to go for it. Snow was coming down hard, visibility was worse than it had been at bed time, and prospects weren't looking good. But, still, we went for it. The others parties made a feeble attempt and turned around.
We roped up out of concern for losing each other in the blizzard that was beginning. Up, we went...and then day broke - nothing to see but gray.
Although the route is straightforward in clear conditions, we weren't so fortunate, so we stopped to dig out a snow cave to hunker down in while (we hoped) the weather cleared.
Sadly, it didn't. Eventually, we shrugged and collectively decided to head down, a full 1,500 feet below the summit.
Photos by Rod
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