On:
In: Day hikes

With great luck, my sister and I found ourselves with free time, a Santiam Pass hiking permit and both of us at Santiam Pass. She was kind enough to start the hiking at my hour (first light as if we camped at the trailhead), if the hike fit her free time slot – about 3 hours. A two-part hike was planned; part A together going from Santiam Pass to Summit Lake on the west sideKeep Reading …

On:
In: Day hikes

With the re-opening of the PCT north of Pamelia Lake (Lionshead Fire) after 2 years being closed, and complimenting last week’s PCT Pamelia Lake sobo (post), on Sept 15 under cloudy skies the hike started at same Pamelia Lake TH, and went nobo on PCT to the northern ridge above Jefferson Park, and then back to the car. Standard operating procedure (SOP) for a long day hike is to arrive at TH and start hikingKeep Reading …

On:
In: Day hikes

Another day, another day hike … with Lionshead Fire closure behind us (for at least this year), an opportunity to put more PCT miles onto the Jefferson / 3 Finger Jack hike from earlier this year. The day started at dawn from the popular Pamelia Lake TH (one of the biggest most developed TH this year). It’s a 4 mile hoof from TH to PCT and then it was SOBO to catch up those PCTKeep Reading …

On:
In: Backpacking

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 …

On:
In: Backpacking

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 …