First Oregon Backpacking trip!

Well it's been two weeks ago and I've been meaning to put up some pictures ever since.  But Memorial Day weekend, having a 3 1/2 day weekend and beautiful weather, I got my first chance to rough it in the Oregon wilderness.  Em had to work Sunday, so I made it into a solo trip and got to try out some of the new gear.  I finally bought a water filter, since Lisa and Clay, you aren't here to borrow from anymore.  It's still surprisingly snow-covered above 3500 feet, so the trailhead I was hoping to start from was blocked on both approching roads.  (About an hour of wasted time figuring this all out)  So I started 10 miles down the road at a connecting trailhead.   But about 5 miles up that trail it was blocked out by snow again, so I spent the night there.  I wouldn't have guessed it but it's really hard to find

a tent spot in oregon wildernesses.  There's just so many roots and old growth around, and ridges are steeper and closer together.  Not many open flat spots.  I was real pumped when I 

found this spot the second night in a beautiful "meadow," which basically means it's not so dense and the branches are all higher up.   Still really hard to find a spot.  I'd hiked out of the first night's place since I couldn't go any further and had driven to another wilderness at about 2500 feet instead of 3500.  Had a much more solitary night the second night.  And it was a lot easier to find dry wood for fires.

 

The next morning then I went for a quick day hike up Salmon Butte.  Turned out to be a bit longer than I expected.  Partially because the last 1/2 mile or more was through snow, which meant the trail was not visible at all.  I sorta had to bushwack and do my best to follow footprints in the snow of other people who had bushwacked.  I lost those several times too.  But eventually i made it through the snow, six feet deep towards the top (packed enough to walk on) and reached the summit for a great view of Mt. Hood with Jefferson, Adams, St. Helens, and I wee glimmer of what I think may have been Mt. Raineer.

My goal is to go at least 4 times this summer.  When Eric is here mid August that will account for at least one more if not two.  And the locals say the snow should be melted within another couple weeks.  

Hope all is well with you folks.  I want to see pictures and stories of the bike shoppe.  With that spelling it makes it look like you sell old timey bikes with 5 foot wheels and other funny stuff.

Great pictures Lisa and Kara.  Keep them coming.  I miss those boys a ton.  And all the rest of you too, give or take an ounce.  :)  

Love you guys.

Jay