Spectacular Skies and Weird Water
Around midwest lakes in October with temperatures in the 80s, the clouds, sun and water put on quite a show … Then, as expected, thunder storms rolled in during the night and the next day was nothing but fog …
-
-
Fog Painting
Warm weather for October and clear skies early, but by 5:30am the fog rolled in … At Pisgah North TH, there were 3 cars at a dark and foggy 6:15. A small moon and Jupiter in the late morning sky showed once above the fog. As sunrise showed above the ridge, the fog painting show…
-
Fog and Pumpkins on Pisgah
After a cup of tea at home, I headed to Pisgah on a warm, clear and sunny October Thursday leaving the North TH around 9:00. The hike itself was a typical Pisgah round-about and up / over. Wildlife was sparse – even the birds – a couple of turkey vultures, a red-tail hawk and the…
-
End of Season Silence Above Waldo Lake
Late September weather was cool but sunny with no snow yet in Central Cascades passes. A perfect time to take the quickest route to the cascades spine for a long day hike. I hiked this same area 2x this year (smoke and 100k), so decent weather beyond the busy summer season was perfect to hike…
-
Camp Sherman & Nearby Hikes
After hiking Mt Washington Monday (review / photos), I landed at Camp Sherman CG to meet my favorite sister for a week of hiking and chilling along the Metolius River. This was our 3rd or 4th time this year meeting up, but for my sister this was her 9th stay at Camp Sherman this year….
-
PCT: Big Lake to Belknap Crater
… and back. On the way to Camp Sherman for a week of hiking and Metolius River chill, the first day started at Santiam Pass from the PCT junction at Big Lake. Intention was to hike as far as possible across the lava flows south of Wasthington and ideally, Belknap Crater. Starting pre-dawn in a…
-
Feeling Fall at Pisgah
After spending last week bopping around downtown Seattle and Bainbridge Island, it seemed too much to head right to Cascade Spine and hike the crest. After a quick Costco gas stop, my Highlander was the first car in Pisgah North lot. Around 6:15 the light was just enough to forgo headlamp. Soon after heading up…
-
What Rain Storms Can Do
After what seems like years, the heat and sun (and all the fire impacts) gave a little way for a series of rain storms from the Pacific. I think everybody wanted to be out in the rain after the desert-like parching. Initially, I thought hiking Hardesty Mt to walk under those great trees in the…
-
A Very Dry Diamond Peak Wilderness
Honoring a request, I changed a backpacking plan for car-camping at Crescent Lake to explore the lakes between Crescent Lake and Diamond Peak for 3 days. Three very different hikes: a) Whitefish Creek and Crater Butte; b) Oldenberg and Windy Lakes; and c) Maiden Peak (on way home). The larger lake names read like characters…
-
A Little Smoke = Empty Woods
To expand Saturday’s PCT hike from Willamette Pass to Bobby Lake, yesterday was the PCT from Bobby Lake NOBO to Charlton Lake and back with a pass up The Twins. The woods were basically empty – literally. I saw maybe 10 PCTers and 1 local hiker the entire time. Animals and birds were scarce as…
