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Looking down the trail toward Mt. Washington
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The trail and the fire lookout in the center, top distance
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Fire lookout
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Mt. Jefferson
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Historic Cupola
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Yummy trail moss. Winter survival. J/K, don’t eat that.
On Jan. 31st I started to attack my snowshoeing goal. REI rents snowshoes, 3 days for just $10. What a great deal. Plus, they rent the Atlas snowshoes which were one of two pairs that I’ve been considering for purchase. I haven’t been able to decide b/c from all of the reviews I’ve read there are pros and cons to each. So I was super hoping that renting the Atlas would help me decide.
I’d picked out 2 or 3 routes in my guide, but as I drove out of the parking lot I still wasn’t sure where I was headed. I was thinking of hitting a route off Century, but as I circled in a round-about I was driving off toward Sisters suddenly. Ultimately, I was hoping to be away from people just incase I ended up looking super awkward. I don’t really think you can go wrong snowshoeing; most people say if you can walk you can snowshoe. What if I was the one person to mess that up though! Better not take any chances.
So I followed my book out to Black Butte Volcano. “Black Butte. Rating: most difficult. Round trip: 10 miles. Starting elevation: 4000 feet. High point: 6400 feet.” Ah, perfect for the first time out this season! I started driving up the road, but it became dicey (totally undriveable after about a mile, too), plus I wanted to count this as one of my snowshoe outings and I figured that driving part of the route would definitely be cheating. So I parked back down at the bottom of the road. The first 1/4 to 1/2 mile didn’t have that much snow so I didn’t wear my snowshoes for that. Then the road became icy and snowy, so I put on the snowshoes, but really it was only so I could cross this route off of my list b/c this could have been hiked in boots! Honestly, I was hoping no one would see me b/c I felt embarrassed to be snowshoeing on a route that could be hiked. After a mile or two I ran into some tracks that I swear were a Yeti. Holy big! Maybe even a Yeti wearing snowshoes. When I turned around I noted that my own tracks were the same shape. Ah, just another snowshoer then of the regular sort. The route for this portion is actually Forest Road 1110 that winds up the base of Black Butte, about 3-4 miles. It had great views and lots of ponderosa pine. I came across a group of five people and I was so pleased…they were snowshoeing this hikable route, too! Phew. There were portions of the road w/ lots of sun exposure and thus patches of bare ground, but I snowshoed carefully over those areas b/c it would have taken forever to strap in and out at every little patch. At the end of the road the trail to the summit begins and it is a “steady uphill grade” to the top. This was where the scenery really kicked in. Lots of serviceberry and snowberry (I’ve got to get some local field guides and learn the vegetation out here), and there were great mountain views all around of the Sisters, Mt. Washington, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Jefferson, and a handful of others. Having only seen one group of people on the road and noting only my car and theirs, I felt very solitary going up the trail, doubting I would run into anyone again. The majority of my hiking tends to be solo, but snow hiking is new to me and it made me a little more wary. The mountainside was steep and I slipped a few times. At one point I could see a fire lookout way up high on the summit (see pic…it looks like a dot!). Cool, I was hoping I’d be able to go up when I got there. The trail seemed to disappear, but it was easy enough to find a route up…I was more concerned about being able to find the trail again on the way back down. At last I arrived at the summit. Wow. The only person up there, surrounded by views of snowy peaks. Beautiful. And then there was the fire lookout. I’ve always wanted to go up one. Hmmm. The ladder was pulled up, apparently off limits. Maybe I could climb up the side and over the railing. Agh! I got part way up, took one look down, and got shaky in the knees. Oh gosh, if I fall and break my leg I would be spending one long, freezing night up here alone. Okay, back down. I don’t want to miss this opportunity though. I climbed up a different side to where I could reach the suspended ladder. Seems steady enough to support my weight…that’s what I’m hoping as I hoist myself on it. And then the ascent begins, floor after floor of my white knuckled grasp on the railings. I wonder how sound is this structure? Why am I afraid of heights? I wonder if the Forest Service put a motion censor camera up here for rule breakers? Alas, I rounded the last flight, but the floor gate to the platform was padlocked. Agh! Well, at five levels up the views were still unbelievable and I faced a fear of heights/breaking the rules/uncertain safety. Phew. Back on ground I found a sign, “Fire lookout off limits to the public”. Ha! There were other interesting structures up there as well. Here’s a little info I found on traveloregon.com, “Black Butte is the site of several generations of Forest Service fire lookouts and has, therefore, played an important role in protecting Central Oregon forests for over 80 years. In 1910, lookouts worked from a platform perched in a pair of trees. The Cupola was built in 1922 and served as the primary lookout facility until 1934 when the 83 foot tower was completed. Builders estimated it would require 300 pack loads of material to construct the tower-it actually took over 1000 loads.” So I looked at the Cupola, a nice log cabin, a decrepit outhouse, and some interpretive signs about the structures and distant peaks. I took a few pics (gotta love the timer…right Nate?!) and realized I’d been messing around for 45 minutes! Holy smokes, I need to at least get down off the trail and onto the road before it gets dark b/c I’m not finding that trail w/ a headlamp. About halfway down the trail I was thinking what a good thing it was that I left when I did b/c it was turning dusk; gosh I’d hate to be going up now. Then suddenly I was startled by a group of five kids, maybe high school aged, not exactly dressed for Winter hiking condition, going up. The girl in the group seemed to be dragging, they didn’t seem to have much water, they were wearing t-shirts, and they had one headlamp amoung the five of them. I said, “Well, at least one of you can come down and get help for the others.” That was disturbing. Ah, but how many times have I done that kind of hike or worse? Many. Sometimes I even drag people down w/ me…Nate, Mom! (Readers, do not let this discourage you from hiking w/ me in the future however!). Arrived on the road w/ a little light left, but I didn’t care about hiking the remaining miles out in the dark as long as it wasn’t on the trail. There was a great moon; I didn’t even turn on my headlamp. The stars were incredible, too. By far the best I’ve seen in years. It took me just as long to come down as to go up b/c I took a number of off-road investigations looking for a missing snowshoe that one of the hikers had dropped (how do you loose a snowshoe?!). All in all, I was out 7 hours. Even though ten miles isn’t that far, I was getting tired toward the end and at every corner for the last 8 corners I was thinking I would find my car. Ugh. I also found that somewhere in my travel I majorly pulled my calf. Oh my gosh, my freak’n leg.
