Category: Backpacking
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20231003 Cispus to Panther Creek, GPNF
Time for another Big Ass Hike, version 2023. This adventure takes me from the the Cispus River to Panther Creek, all in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, climbing into the Mt. Adams Wilderness, then following the Pacific Crest Trail southbound thru the Indian Heaven Wilderness, exiting above the Wind River Road at Panther Creek Campground,…
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20230916 Lost Hat Lake, GPNF
I’ve long wanted to get up into this high country above Packwood, along the very top of the Coal Creek Mountain. I tried once before, but got turned back by snow. And the entire area has been closed d/t the wildfire last summer, until just this past week. So, up I go! I start out…
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20230703 Tongue Mountain Hike GPNF
I wanted to hike the long ridge, but the bugs drove me back down the mountain after I’d made only so far as Tongue Mountain. Bugs, and the realization I didn’t have enough water for the dozen or more miles to the next water. So I exited via the logging road and set up camp…
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20230617 Green Mountain Loop Hike GPNF
After spending the weekend with Barry and Liam up at Orr Creek, I was reminded of a loop I’d been wanting to do for some time, having been turned back by snow on my last attempt a few years ago. So, I parked at the Green Mountain TH along the 5601 Rd, and set out…
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20220919-26 Big Ass Hike 2022
Vacation! I celebrated by taking a weekend to rest and prep, then I took a Big Ass Hike, then back home for another week to do some projects I had been wanted to finish. For my hike, I had Mike drop me off at outside of Packwood at Johnson Creek Road, around 5 PM Sunday…
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20220724-26 Potato Hill to Muddy Fork Cispus River MAW
Heat wave!! Nothing to do but head for the mountains. Besides escaping the heat, I’ve new boots to field test, and flowers should be putting on a good show at elevation. My new Salewa ‘Crow’ hiking boots are a dream. Truly. Thank you Barry for helping me get those. I’m in love. I arrived at…
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20220504-6 Oregon Canyon WSA, ODT,
My Oregon Desert Trail adventure continues, this time outside of McDermitt, NV, exploring the Oregon Canyon Wilderness Study Area. I parked along the Oregon Canyon Rd off Hwy 95, just north of McDermitt, hiked across the open desert to the edge of the Oregon Canyon Mountains, then climbed up and over a saddle into Oregon…
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20220315-16 Birthday Soak
It’s a new year! And that requires a healing soak. I had originally planned to visit Willow Creek Hot Springs down in SE Oregon, but due to the length of drive and cost of gas, as well as a crappy weather forecast, I opted for a warmer locale to the north, weirdly enough… Port Angeles…
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20210703 Boundary Trail #1 to Snagtooth Peak Trail
Boundary Trail #1 – a historic, rugged trail traversing the wilderness between Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams along the watershed boundary between the Cispus and Lewis Rivers. A largely dry trail with some expansive views, it was my destination for a 5-day backpack over the Independence Day holiday weekend. I start out by leaving…
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20210621 Clear Fork Cowlitz to Tieton Pass
Summer is finally here, the snow is melting, and the insects are not yet awake. I’ve got some new gear, and it’s time to get hiking! This weekend, I took a 3-day backpack trip up the Clear Fork Cowlitz trail to Tieton Pass on the PCT. Arriving at the trail head a bit later than…