Hiking Reports

Travel using primarily feet only. Hands might be used with hiking poles for balance or uphill travel.

Mount Ellen, Utah, September 2015

September 24, 2015 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

In early September I spent a week hiking several Utah prominence peaks and sampling Utah mountain ranges I had not yet visited. After hiking Abajo Peak I headed for Mount Ellen in the remote Henry Mountains south of Hanksville, Utah. Mount Ellen is an “ultra prominence peak” with 5842 feet of prominence. With 11522 feet of elevation it is the highest peak in the Henry Mountains.

I approached the Henry Mountains with some apprehension. I was not concerned about the summit route – I expected it to be a quite straightforward ridge walk. Instead, I was concerned with the remoteness of the range, the long drive on dirt and rock roads, and the possible isolation from help if I had mechanical issues.

I had good driving directions with me. After topping off fuel, I stopped at the BLM Office in Hanksville to learn more about the route and road conditions. The BLM staff assured me that the western approach road was in good shape and the easiest on tires. I left word with Linda that if I did not check back in with her in two days that she might call the BLM office to request they check on me.

A view of the Henry Mountains from the western approach road a few miles east of Sandy Ranch Junction

I found the western approach road and began the drive in. The trailhead at Bull Creek Pass lies in the notch on the ridge near the center of the above photo. Mount Ellen, the high point of the Henry Mountains, is the broad summit left of that notch. The pointy peak to the left of Mount Ellen is Mount Ellen Peak. The trailhead lies 24 road miles from the highway. That afternoon I was driving in 19 miles to the McMillan Spring Campground to find a campsite.

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Abajo Peak, Utah, September 2015

September 23, 2015 by Paul McClellan 1 Comment

In early September I spent a week hiking several Utah prominence peaks and sampling Utah mountain ranges I had not yet visited. After climbing Mount Peale in the Lal Sal Mountains I headed for Abajo Peak. Abajo Peak has 11360 feet of elevation and is the highpoint of the Abajo Mountains just west of Monticello, Utah. With 4550 feet of prominence Abajo Peak is 82nd most prominent peak of the 48 Contiguous US States.

South Peak and Abajo Peak from near Monticello, Utah — South Peak (left) and Abajo Peak (right) from near Monticello, Utah

On the afternoon of September 2 I checked in with the Manti-La Sal National Forest Service in Monticello. Here I verified that roadside camping was permitted on he drive up Abajo Peak. I also learned the local pronunciation of Abajo (Ah-BA-ho).

Linda and I had last passed through Monticello in August 2012 on our way to Monte Verde National Park. But I did not recollect paying much attention to nearby Abajo Peak at that time.

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Western Oregon Cascades Peaks, July 2015

August 2, 2015 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

During the last week of July I spent three days hiking prominent Western Oregon Cascades peaks. I visited Carpenter Mountain above the McKenzie River, Chucksney Mountain (north and south summits) above the Aufderheide Forest Drive, and Olallie Butte north of Mount Jefferson. Each peak had at least 2000 feet of prominence. The weather was quite warm with clear skies.

Looking North from Carpenter Mountain Lookout

I began by driving to the Carpenter Mountain Trailhead, then hiking the trail to the Carpenter Mountain Lookout. This hike is only one mile long with 900 feet of gain to the lookout. The last few feet to the lookout building climbed up some rock slabs. The attendant was friendly and we chatted while I viewed and photographed the scenery from the balcony. In the above photo you can see Wolf Rock on the left. Iron, Cone, and Echo Mountains line the center skyline. Mount Jefferson is to the right of them in the distance.

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Elkhorn and Cabinet Range Peaks, July 2015

July 18, 2015 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

In July I climbed an Oregon high peak in the Elkhorn Range of Northeast Oregon and a prominent peak in the Cabinet Range of Northern Idaho.

Cougar Pond SW Peak

On Tuesday, July 7, I drove to Baker City, Oregon, and checked road status at the local Forest Ranger Station. Then I drove west up along Pine Creek on the east side of the Elkhorn Range. The Pine Creek Road was quite rough. I recommend 4WD, good clearance, and tough tires to drive up to where parking is allowed beyond private property. I spent a pleasant evening and night camped beside the road.

The next morning, Wednesday July 8, I hiked up further along the primitive road. This road eventually became more of an ATV track as it approached Pine Creek Reservoir. I hiked past the reservoir, then followed the track as it switchbacked north up a slope towards a saddle.

The last 400 feet to the saddle was on an unimproved trail through a flowering meadow. Some mountain goats were visible on the slopes above and to my left. Rock Creek Butte rose far above me to the west.

From the saddle, Cougar Basin extended below me to the north. My destination, the unofficially named “Cougar Pond Southwest Peak”, rose above me to the west. Cougar Pond SW Peak is Oregon’s 39th highest peak (with at least 500 feet of prominence). From the saddle I climbed open ground and through thin forest to find the summit on the NW end of the summit ridge.

I enjoyed identifying most of the 12 other Oregon 100 highest peaks in the Elkhorn Range from the summit. I noticed a thunderstorm brewing above Mount Ireland to the NW.

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