Oregon Archives – Page 9 of 12 – GlassMountains Trip Reports

Southeast Oregon Peaks, October 2013

December 18, 2013 by Paul McClellan 1 Comment

The summer had ended and autumn had begun without my returning this year to hike peaks in Southeast Oregon. There was only one more peak on my Oregon’s Highest Peaks list in SE Oregon I had not yet climbed. I had that peak in mind when I traded my Ford Explorer in for a Jeep Rubicon. On Thursday, October 24, I packed my jeep and began my explorations of Southeast Oregon Peaks.

Little Pinky Reservoir, Oregon Canyon Mountains South Ridge on the Horizon

Oregon Canyon Mountains Highpoint

The Oregon Canyon Mountains Highpoint (aka “Stevenson Benchmark”) has a reputation for difficult access. In particular a frequently used road is long, remote, and has a reputation for shredding tires. However, Caleb Morris posted an alternative driving and hiking route on SummitPost.org. His route proved to be much shorter on difficult driving and included an interesting ridge hike.

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Wallowa Mountains, Oregon, August 2013

November 16, 2013 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

After a lapse of 24 years, I returned in August to hike peaks in the Wallowa Mountains and the Eagle Cap Wilderness of Northeast Oregon. Linda was riding the Oregon Bicycle Ride, which passed to the north of the Wallowa Mountains. While Linda rode the tour I spent the week hiking and camping in those mountains. I did visit her camp in Joseph for two nights.

China Cap and Granite Butte

On Saturday, August 3, I drove through Union into the forest along Catherine Creek Lane and other forest roads. I arrived at the Buck Creek Forest Camp and Trailhead and camped there for the night.

Granite Butte and Mule Peak from China Cap

The next morning, Sunday August 4, I hiked over Burger and Sand Passes and reached the summit of Granite Butte. The view from Granite Butte was very impressive with deep and long valleys and sharp ridgelines decorated with rocky peaks.

I retraced my route to Burger Pass, admired the fields of lupine, then gained the west ridge of China Cap. After traversing the south face of China Cap I climbed a breach in the summit cliffs. I gained the summit and enjoyed another view of the Southern Wallowa Mountains.

I returned to my car, then drove through Enterprise to a campsite along Hurricane Creek for the evening.

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Steens Mountain and Beatys Butte, Oregon, September 2012

October 24, 2012 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

In September I returned to Southeast Oregon to hike several Steens Mountain summits and remote Beatys Butte. In July I had been turned back from Steens Mountain by wildfires, and from Beatys Butte by a flat tire. Since then I had purchased new tires for my car and the wildfires near Frenchglen had died down. I was hopeful my plans would succeed this time.

Steens Mountain Summit

On Sunday, September 16, I drove to Frenchglen, then up the Steens Mountain Loop Road. The sky was smoky from fires in the Cascades if not from others elsewhere as well. I scouted out Page Springs, Fish Lake, and Jackman Park campgrounds for reference, then drove to the Kiger Gorge Overlook. Here I studied the summits lying on the ridge between Kiger Gorge below and Mann Lake to the east.

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More Northern Elkhorn Range Peaks, Oregon, July 2012

August 26, 2012 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Thursday, July 26, I returned to the Anthony Lakes Campground in the Elkhorn Mountains of Northeast Oregon. Two weeks earlier I had also camped here. But after one day of climbing I left the Elkhorn Range under stormy weather. This time the weather forecasts were more favorable. I planned to hike more Northern Elkhorn Range Peaks over the next three days.

Mount Ruth from Peak 8528 (Elkhorn Range)

Mount Ruth and Columbia Hill

On Friday, my first day of climbing, I hiked south on the Elkhorn Crest Trail (ECT) over Angell and Nip and Tuck Passes. The morning had started cloudy, but the skies seemed to be gradually clearing as the morning progressed.

I continued to about 0.3 mile south of Lost Lake Saddle just west below Point 8255. From here I climbed open slopes to the Northwest Ridge of Mount Ruth. I followed this ridge up over some rocky sections to the summit. The views this day were less hazy than two weeks earlier. I again enjoyed viewing and identifying the surrounding Elkhorn Range peaks, including Mount Ireland to the southwest.

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