Mary’s Peak I often compare to Spencer Butte for a day hike. Both are right outside college towns, Eugene and Corvallis, and heavily used, but Spencer is city and Mary’s is US Forest Service. July 25, 2023 was all Mary’s … Read More
Another July day sandwiched between really hot July days for a close-in day hike. Last week was lower McKenzie River, so this week targeted Willamette River valley: Salt Creek Falls (opposite Waldo Lake) to Vivian Lake and then on to … Read More
After hiking the upper and middle sections of the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail and the weather forecast in the upper 80’s, a perfect time to hike the lower McKenzie River section – completing all the trail but the detour. … Read More
Hiking Fuji Mountain and South Waldo Lake loop was planned for last week as the last of the snow melted, but high heat >90 postponed the trip until Sunday, July 9. Weather forecasted clear and low 80’s. A couple of … Read More
The day’s plan originally was Fuji Mt for some photos of snow-covered sisters. Hot weather just made the plan stupid, so nearby Ridgeline Tr is an always-welcome contingency. A 30 minute total car-time hike that started at 5:00am at Spring … Read More
In an attempt to finish the entire McKenzie River trail (USFS, AllTrails) both directions (upriver and downriver), Tuesday, June 27, I hiked the middle section of the trail (upper section earlier this year). This hike started at Blue Pool trailhead … Read More
Summer solstice seems a good day to be in the woods — last year. This year the weather was cool, potentially cloudy but no rain in Willamette Valley, and after last week’s long trip (Ochoco, Smith Rock, McKenzie River) a … Read More
As part of the contingency plan after bailing out of the Old Summit trail hike from Round Lake (post), the upper McKenzie River trail was right on the way home … I stopped around 10:00 on Saturday, June 17. At … Read More
After hiking at Smith Rock for sunrise, and camping at Gorge CG, Camp Sherman, the original plan had a long day hike on the east side of 3 Finger Jack along the Old Summit Trail (US FS). Some older hikers … Read More
On the way back westward from the Ochoco Mountain Day hikes, I stopped at Smith Rock for a sunrise hike. When I arrived at the park around 5:30 there were less than 10 cars in the entire parking lot. When … Read More
