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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 nights were allocated and counterclockwise worked best based on my hiking distances, stream crossing and drinking water. Making it even better was the Fall Equinox. Thanks to help from my guitar-playing buddy, getting to MtKeep Reading …

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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 the most exciting segment of the PCT – trees and more trees – the green tunnel. Second, this was ‘new’ PCT ground uncovered over the last few years – a ‘check-list’ hike to complete moreKeep Reading …

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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 Central Cascades as possible, traveling through all 3 wilderness areas, Three SIsters, Mt Washington, and Mt Jefferson. Given the PCT closure at Pamelia Lake (Lionshead fire from PCTA), the hike could only go north toKeep Reading …

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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 unique area. This year, the adventure was 6 days / 5 nights backpacking. The plan fully incorporated snow levels beyond anything seen in the last 6 years, but still the snow levels were low andKeep Reading …

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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. While rain and snow make hiking more challenging, the added water in our parched woods is just the ticket; doesn’t help much, but fire risk doesn’t get worse. Key objective over the 4 day backpackingKeep Reading …

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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 headed over the Cascades to Newberry National Volcanic Monument (US FS Site) for some ‘before the opening’ hiking. The plan was to start at McKay Crossing on Paulina Creek, hike up into the crater aroundKeep Reading …

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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 trail is within the Quinault area rainforest (NPS). This is a POPULAR trail and for good reason – enchanted valley. Our original plan was: Day 1 – TH to O’Neil Creek campsite Day 2 –Keep Reading …

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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 rain Monday and more rain Thursday & Friday – so the plan was modified to leave river Thursday. The trip started in Merlin, OR at Whitewater Cowboys to drop off car key – they shuttleKeep Reading …

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A 4 day PCT Ramble, with 2 nights backpacking and 2 nights at Big Lake Campground (car). The original plan had a 3 day loop through the Jefferson lakes to Pamelia Lake and back to the PCT (starting at Big Lake). Once then on PCT, stop by Big Lake and then through Washington wilderness until the Belknaps. All plans need to be flexible to conditions on the ground … The trails around the Jefferson lakesKeep Reading …

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4 nights and days to ramble the north side of Mt Hood following either PCT or Timberline trail at the same time as last year’s ‘Loop Hike’ … the plan was fairly simple: Timberline Trail full north (east / west) side (including Cooper and Barrett spurs) and PCT from Timberline to Whatum Lake. Plans need ‘on the ground’ clues to improve based on actual conditions – a riff on the original plan. What changed? A)Keep Reading …