Oregon Archives – GlassMountains Trip Reports

Tandem Skydiving, Oregon, August 2025

August 26, 2025 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Sunday, August 24, Linda and I celebrated her birthday by tandem skydiving. I knew Linda had wanted to do this from early in her life, and I found that Skydive Bend, with a landing zone at the Madras Municipal Airport, provided this service. Skydive Bend seemed to have a good reputation and a lot of experience. So I signed us up for the experience. Some time later I advised Linda of what we would be doing on her birthday.

Linda and I standing beside the little plane that will take us up for the jump.

We checked in at the Skydive Bend facility about 11AM Sunday. The day was quite smoky from the nearby Flat Fire to the southwest. It was warm at the airport, but we expected it would be cooler at altitude. After getting some advice we decided to wear what we came with, T-shirts, long pants, and running shoes.

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Castle Rock, Oregon, August 2025

August 16, 2025 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Wednesday, August 6, I climbed Castle Rock, a steep volcanic plug north of the community of Juntura in Eastern Oregon. It seems located in a transition region between Oregon’s Blue Mountains and High Lava Plains. I have often noted Castle Rock rising above as I drove east over Drinkwater Pass between Burns and Juntura. Castle Rock is also prominent to the south from many peaks in the southern Blue Mountains. In fact, it has 1524 feet of topographic prominence and a distinctive shape.

Distant Castle Rock to the north from Black Butte (Malheur County)

I began my adventure the day before, Tuesday, driving from the Baker Valley to Juntura. From Juntura I followed the Juntura-Riverside Road, then a more primitive road to the summit of Black Butte. This Black Butte is a prominent peak west of Juntura. From the summit of Black Butte I could see my next goal, Castle Rock, to the north.

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Fish Creek Mountain, Oregon, July 2025

August 13, 2025 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Sunday, July 27, I left my secluded and primitive campsite south of Timothy Lake and drove to the Fish Creek Trailhead in the Mount Hood National Forest of Oregon. My goal was to hike Fish Creek Mountain, a peak in the Mount Hood National Forest with 1432 feet of topographic prominence.

Climbing the Fish Creek Mountain Trail up steep slopes towards the Fish Creek Divide

I followed Forest Road 57 west, then turned north on Oregon Highway 224 past Ripplebrook Campground. Immediately after crossing the Clackamas River I turned sharply south and climbed Forest Road 4620 to the Fish Creek Trailhead. This road climbs through an extensive burn from the Riverside Fire of 2020. The road was in good shape in spite of the fire, with a few spots of recent rockfall and timber debris that were easy to drive around.

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Elkhorn Crest Summit Point, Oregon, October 2024

October 26, 2024 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Tuesday, October 8, I returned to Western Union Basin deep in the Elkhorn Mountains of Oregon. My goal was to climb “Summit Point” a peak rising to the west of Chloride Ridge along the Elkhorn Crest. Three days earlier I had driven in to this remote location and climbed Chloride Ridge West Peak. Summit Point appeared to be quite accessible using the same approach.

Summit Point on the right from Chloride Ridge West Peak

This would be the last of four high priority Elkhorn peaks I wanted to summit this season. In early August I had tried to visit Summit Point from the North Powder River. But road debris blocked my drive in several miles short of my intended parking spot. I hiked from there, anyway, but ran out of time far from the peak. I was much more hopeful today.

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