Exploring the backcountry and wilderness of the Western USA.
Travel using primarily feet only. Hands might be used with hiking poles for balance or uphill travel.
On October 4 I hiked up South Sister, an “ultra prominence” peak in the Cascade Range west of Bend, Oregon. South Sister is the third highest peak in Oregon with 10358 feet of elevation. It is the fourth most prominent peak in Oregon with 5588 feet of topographic prominence. The climb is a straightforward but scenic hike and was a well-needed workout for me.
In late June Linda and I and our canines established base camp at Lake Selmac in the SW Oregon Siskiyou Mountains. Linda found several bicycling routes to explore in the area while I hiked several Siskiyou Prominence Peaks. The canines enjoyed the new scents of the area but were glad to leave for the open Ponderosa Pine forests of home by the end of our visit. Before this visit the mountains I planned to visit were just names on a map. By the end of the week they each made an impression on me and I left the area with memories and a better appreciation of the Siskiyou Mountains than I had before.
My first goal of the week, on Tuesday June 20, was Grayback Mountain, south of Applegate, Oregon. Grayback Mountain is the high point of Josephine County, Oregon with 7048 feet of elevation. It is also the 49th most prominent peak in Oregon with 2248 feet of prominence. Tuesday morning I drove up the Thompson Creek Road south of Applegate, then took a forest road to the Upper O’Brien Creek Trailhead. The last mile was a bit eroded but the drive in was not a problem for my Jeep.
[Read more…] about Siskiyou Prominence Peaks, Oregon, June 2017On Saturday morning, April 23, I left my dispersed campsite along Pinery Creek to hike Silver Peak on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains. As I crested Onion Saddle and began my descent to the east I observed the steep peaks and ridges and deep valleys below me in the morning light. This view curiously reminded me strongly of the North Cascades of Washington State. I descended into Cave Creek Canyon near Portal, Arizona, and parked at the Silver Peak Trailhead.
The Silver Peak Trail leads from the floor of Cave Creek Canyon to the summit of Silver Peak, the site of a former lookout. Silver Peak is the 72nd most prominent peak in Arizona with 2008 feet of prominence and 8008 feet of elevation.
[Read more…] about Silver Peak, Southeast Arizona, April 2017On February 22 I hiked Black Mountain north of Oracle, Arizona. This particular “Black Mountain” is the 85th most prominent peak in Arizona with 1907 feet of clean prominence and 5587 feet of elevation. It also has nearly 20 miles of isolation (distance to any higher peak).
On February 17, Linda and I watched the start of the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, a 24-hour mountain bike race held just south of Black Mountain. We drove in north on the Willow Springs Road, northwest of Oracle, Arizona to reach the event. We were surprised by the size of the temporary tent and RV village and enjoyed the start of the event. Afterwards, we drove further north on Willow Springs Road and explored access to Black Mountain. I planned to return soon.
[Read more…] about Black Mountain, Arizona, February 2017