LTDunltd
03-10-2005, 06:27 PM
This story is composed of two trips to Spencer Butte. I linked the photos so the post will fit within FCF's structure.
The Hike
A friend suggested that I take Corbin to Spencer Butte. One of the few places close by that you can hike with your dog off leash. I looked it up online and located it on my map.
So on a Saturday morning that had some light fog around the house, we loaded up some gear, hiking boots, water and snacks for the both of us.
We drove the streets needed and soon found the road leading out of the city. I knew that after 52nd street it was only a mile to the entrance of the park. As we drove, the elevation increased and so did the fog. It was so thick that we drove past the entrance and it was only on the other side of the two lane road we were on.
Realizing that we had missed the turn, we went to the next intersection and turned around. Heading back and driving slower, we found the park. We parked, got out, assembled our gear and headed out.
We found the trailhead and started the hike. The trail was well maintained and easy going.
During the hike up we met a few people out doing the same, some going up and some going down. The hike, to me was very easy, but once we cleared the tree line and hit bare rock did I have to watch my footing.
The fog never lifted and we hit some light drizzle. At the top we walked around and talked to a couple that has climbed to the top every weekend since he proposed to her 15 years ago. They told me there was another trail that was a lot steeper and more challenging.
We found a flat top rock and sat down to have a snack and a drink of water. After the rest we headed out on what we thought was the second trail. It was a well worn and easy to follow, but the wrong trail.
It wound in and around some big Douglas firs and scattered Oaks. We made another rest stop and the slope was so steep that Corbin had a hard time lying down and not sliding down. He would slide down hill with a look on his face of, “What the hell is going on.” He would walk back up to where he laid down the first time, only to slide back down. The trail angled downward at about 30 degrees and was more changeling then what I now call the “Tourist Trail” up.
We came to a T in the trail and pondered which direction to take, we chose the left and continued on. The slope gentled out and we were in low scrub brush. Soon we came to the end of the trail. But it was not where we started out at. There was a map here that showed the trails in the area. By studying the map I determined that we had taken the wrong trail. We had ended back by where 52nd street crossed the main road. In stead of heading back on the trail and since it was only 1 mile back by the road we took that way.
We returned to the parking area and drove home.
I waited 3 more weeks for a sunny day that I didn’t have anything planed and we went back.
Part two; The Climb.
http://www.picvault.info/images/55459_1%20Spencer%20Butte.jpg
We returned and headed toward what I thought was the other trail, I was wrong again. The trail headed out and down from where I knew the Butte to be. I spotted a small side trail off to the right and we headed on that one. Another mistake, it wasn’t the other trail either. But we continued and came upon a rock wall.
http://www.picvault.info/images/55471_3%20Still%20not%20there.jpg
[color=#0000ff][/color] (http://www.thinkattack.com/userFiles/904/3%20Still%20not%20there.jpg)
Being a former rock climber it didn’t look to difficult, so onward we climbed.
[color=#0000ff][color=#000000]http://www.picvault.info/images/55472_4%20Halfway.jpg[/color][/color] (http://www.picvault.info/images/55472_4%20Halfway.jpg[/img])
The climb was somewhat challenging and as I climbed I kept an eye on Corbin. He climbed the rocks like an old pro. I guess having 4 paw drive helps. He did get into a few spots where the way he was going deadened and I had to coax him back to where he could continue. We reached to top of the rocks and took some pictures.
http://www.picvault.info/images/55473_5%20The%20Top.jpg
[color=#0000ff][/color] (http://www.thinkattack.com/userFiles/904/5%20The%20Top.jpg)There was still more of the butte to climb, but the going was a lot easier. Soon we arrived at the top. Took a break and some photos. We took the ‘Tourist trail’ back down to get some photos of things we saw last time.
This tree is the oldest on the butte.
http://www.picvault.info/images/55474_6%20Old%20Man.jpg
The Hike
A friend suggested that I take Corbin to Spencer Butte. One of the few places close by that you can hike with your dog off leash. I looked it up online and located it on my map.
So on a Saturday morning that had some light fog around the house, we loaded up some gear, hiking boots, water and snacks for the both of us.
We drove the streets needed and soon found the road leading out of the city. I knew that after 52nd street it was only a mile to the entrance of the park. As we drove, the elevation increased and so did the fog. It was so thick that we drove past the entrance and it was only on the other side of the two lane road we were on.
Realizing that we had missed the turn, we went to the next intersection and turned around. Heading back and driving slower, we found the park. We parked, got out, assembled our gear and headed out.
We found the trailhead and started the hike. The trail was well maintained and easy going.
During the hike up we met a few people out doing the same, some going up and some going down. The hike, to me was very easy, but once we cleared the tree line and hit bare rock did I have to watch my footing.
The fog never lifted and we hit some light drizzle. At the top we walked around and talked to a couple that has climbed to the top every weekend since he proposed to her 15 years ago. They told me there was another trail that was a lot steeper and more challenging.
We found a flat top rock and sat down to have a snack and a drink of water. After the rest we headed out on what we thought was the second trail. It was a well worn and easy to follow, but the wrong trail.
It wound in and around some big Douglas firs and scattered Oaks. We made another rest stop and the slope was so steep that Corbin had a hard time lying down and not sliding down. He would slide down hill with a look on his face of, “What the hell is going on.” He would walk back up to where he laid down the first time, only to slide back down. The trail angled downward at about 30 degrees and was more changeling then what I now call the “Tourist Trail” up.
We came to a T in the trail and pondered which direction to take, we chose the left and continued on. The slope gentled out and we were in low scrub brush. Soon we came to the end of the trail. But it was not where we started out at. There was a map here that showed the trails in the area. By studying the map I determined that we had taken the wrong trail. We had ended back by where 52nd street crossed the main road. In stead of heading back on the trail and since it was only 1 mile back by the road we took that way.
We returned to the parking area and drove home.
I waited 3 more weeks for a sunny day that I didn’t have anything planed and we went back.
Part two; The Climb.
http://www.picvault.info/images/55459_1%20Spencer%20Butte.jpg
We returned and headed toward what I thought was the other trail, I was wrong again. The trail headed out and down from where I knew the Butte to be. I spotted a small side trail off to the right and we headed on that one. Another mistake, it wasn’t the other trail either. But we continued and came upon a rock wall.
http://www.picvault.info/images/55471_3%20Still%20not%20there.jpg
[color=#0000ff][/color] (http://www.thinkattack.com/userFiles/904/3%20Still%20not%20there.jpg)
Being a former rock climber it didn’t look to difficult, so onward we climbed.
[color=#0000ff][color=#000000]http://www.picvault.info/images/55472_4%20Halfway.jpg[/color][/color] (http://www.picvault.info/images/55472_4%20Halfway.jpg[/img])
The climb was somewhat challenging and as I climbed I kept an eye on Corbin. He climbed the rocks like an old pro. I guess having 4 paw drive helps. He did get into a few spots where the way he was going deadened and I had to coax him back to where he could continue. We reached to top of the rocks and took some pictures.
http://www.picvault.info/images/55473_5%20The%20Top.jpg
[color=#0000ff][/color] (http://www.thinkattack.com/userFiles/904/5%20The%20Top.jpg)There was still more of the butte to climb, but the going was a lot easier. Soon we arrived at the top. Took a break and some photos. We took the ‘Tourist trail’ back down to get some photos of things we saw last time.
This tree is the oldest on the butte.
http://www.picvault.info/images/55474_6%20Old%20Man.jpg