GlassMountains Trip Reports

Exploring the backcountry and wilderness of the Western USA.

Trip Reports

Western Oregon Cascades Peaks, July 2015

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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
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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Northern California Prominence Peaks, June 2015

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In June I drove and hiked prominence peaks in Southern Oregon and Northern California. The weather was unsettled but I had the peaks to myself and saw a black bear and wild horses.

Yainax Butte from Swan Lake Point
Yainax Butte from Swan Lake Point

Swan Lake Point, Stukel Mountain, and Hamaker Mountain

Swan Lake Point, Stukel Mountain, Hamaker Mountain, and Yainax Butte each have at least 2000 feet of prominence. They are located near Klamath Falls in Southern Oregon. On June 1 I visited Swan Lake Point, Stukel Mountain, and Hamaker Mountain summits. I expect most people passing through the area give these peaks little notice. Forest roads lead me to or near these summits. I got good views of this volcanic part of Oregon.

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Southern Wallowa Peaks, Oregon, October 2014

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In early October I spent three days hiking and climbing Southern Wallowa peaks in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of Northeast Oregon. After some unsettled weather the first day the skies were clear for the rest of my trip. The scenery was beautiful – it seems we have a piece of the Colorado Rockies in NE Oregon. I saw no other person on the trails or peaks, and I had time to pause and absorb the feeling of the mountain wilderness during my long hikes.

Echo Lake Northwest Peak
Echo Lake Northwest Peak

On September 30 I drove the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Road #77 to the West Eagle Trailhead and Campground. I claimed my campsite and settled in. I would be camping there the next three nights. As it turned out, I had the entire campground to myself each evening and night.

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Elkhorn Range Peaks, September 2014

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In mid September I hiked and scrambled up Red Mountain and Crown Point in the Elkhorn Mountains of NE Oregon. I accessed these Elkhorn Range Peaks from the east and west side of the Range. I felt renewed by the experience. We are blessed with many diverse and scenic destinations to explore in Oregon.

On September 16 I drove from Bend to Baker City. I checked in with the Forest Service there about road conditions along the North Powder River. This is a popular 4WD route, though reportedly quite rocky.

The people I spoke to at the Forest Service were 4-wheelers, themselves. They described driving through the flooded road with water up to the windows. They cautioned that there might still be some flooding on the road. I left expecting an adventure.

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