GlassMountains Trip Reports

Exploring the backcountry and wilderness of the Western USA.

Trip Reports

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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Southeast Oregon Peaks, October 2013

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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
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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