Early season backpacking when the snowpack is so deep and wide-spread is a challenge. Rivers seem to be the best plans, like hikes a couple weeks ago, Smith Rock/Crooked River, John Day River, Deschutes River. The plan was open and … Read More
With spring finally showing up, and backpacking trips closer on the calendar, time to shakeout backpacking gear kit to find and correct any gotcha’s from gear updates or tired gear. The gear review details are here, this post is just … Read More
After the clockwise 4 day Timberline Trail from 2020, planning another trip after recent nobo and sobo approaches to Mt Hood, counterclockwise was the plan with 2 bonus side-trips, Cooper Spur and McNeil Point or Paradise Park. 3 days /2 … Read More
After a well planned backpacking trip fell apart, I found myself at the US 26 / PCT junction Tuesday morning, July 16 with time until Friday noon to backpack the PCT just south of Mt. Hood. First, this is not … Read More
WOW! After the Sisters Loop 2 weeks ago with feet and feet of snow on the west side, I took another – leaving Aug 1, a 6 day PCT hike both directions (north and south) covering as much of the … Read More
For me, there is no place in Oregon like Three Sisters Wilderness (US Forest Svs), and for the last 6 years I’ve wandered around this area – amazed, challenged and inspired by the diversity and beauty and fragility of this … Read More
The first PCT hike of the 2022 season (July 5-8) didn’t turn out as expected from very early planning … who would have thought that OR snow would come later and last longer than any season in the last 6. … Read More
Reminder: clicking on pics will display 90% resolution pic The original plan to hike Trinity Alps this week was changed after my hiking buddy caught a bug (not Covid); so with gear all packed up and the motor running, I … Read More
A hiking buddy of mine goes to Enchanted Valley regularly, and this year he asked me to tag along. We arrived at the Graves Creek Trailhead (East Fork Quinault River Trail – NPS, All Trails) around 11:00, May 17. This … Read More
Planning an Oregon backpacking trip for April / May is a challenge if one intends to stay dry … the original Rogue River Trail (BLM site or Guide) plan was to go M-F 4 nights, but the weather had material … Read More
