After 2 longer river hikes, some elevation work was needed to keep old legs, heart and lungs conditioned. Carbon karma was a big issue as well given the drives to Rogue and Enchanted Valley. Spencer Butte carries a 30 min … Read More
To keep up the endurance gained last week on Rogue River (post), a ‘fast-hike’ the full length of Ridgeline Tr (Spring Bvld to Blanton) and topping Spencer Butte twice. Hit the trail around 6:30 carrying lightly packed NorthFace 20L pack … Read More
The final gear run through before multi-day trips was a 1 night stay at Smith Rock. Late April had surprise … hot sunny afternoon on day 1, cold night, and on day 2, snow and sleet morning, then clouds and … Read More
Hiking season started today with a quick trip to Mary’s Peak for another test of the new backpack. Weather was suggesting temperatures above 70. Driving toward the trailhead, the sunrise over the valley farms and hills … Past this farm … Read More
For the last new backpack gear test, a long local, low carbon hike without trailhead vandalism risk presented a new methodology – park at somebody’s house and walk to the TH. This hike was 3 miles on the road, to … Read More
I risked another trailhead vandalism (but this time armed with new auto window alarms) for a near-in Ridgeline Trail hike to test out a new backpack — yipee!!! more to follow on that one. Weather was cloudy and cool Hike … Read More
Over 20 degrees warmer than the last trip to Silver Falls, and there was no ice … a bit of rain and mud, but nothing material or dramatic. Just the falls, trees, birds and a few humans who not surprisingly … Read More
The weather was near perfect – very cold around 22-25 degrees – the sun was going to shine, and the day before the cascade foothills were dusted with snow. A lower elevation hike was the answer, so off to Silver … Read More
I really wanted to hike Mary’s Peak this week before the mud really pauses ‘fun’ hiking, but after taking a 100 mile road-trip the past weekend to spend time w/ dear friends, my carbon karma allowance was over-drawn. Close-in hiking … Read More
Another Spencer ramble started early in the morning before light, but until half-way to the trailhead I was not sure if sunrise would be worth pushing for or not. The clouds were breaking up – a sunrise might work – … Read More
