Horsethief Butte to Stacker Butte

17 miles of hiking • 4000' elevation gain •

A most awesome day traversing from the basaltic Horsethief Butte next to the Columbia, through Columbia Hills State Park, on up to Stacker Butte. We started down by the river, and found Horsethief to be (literally) just crawling with a hundred or more Mazamas out practicing rock climbing. Visited with a couple of PH friends for awhile, before exploring all around the butte, reaching its summit and then just wandering in search of ancient petroglyphs.

After seeing nearly all there was to see down below, we crossed SR-14 and headed up into the state park. I should say that both these places have very nice, new parking and outhouse facilities, though the Mazamas had all but consumed the first one. We followed a road for awhile, onward and upward, before diverting across the ranch fields, generally aiming towards the paragliding pullout along Dalles Mountain Road. Along this stretch, we found a great profusion of balsamroot blooms, with occasional bursts of lupine as well.

Took lunch at a convenient picnic table, and picked up the first tick of the day there too. Then we just rambled cross-country on up towards Stacker Butte. Along the way, we started a coyote, and enjoyed watching his flight. Then, as the flower show was really hitting its stride, we discovered a rattlesnake den with at least a half-dozen of the serpents bundled up together for warmth. As we approached with our cameras, they expressed their displeasure with some vehemence. First time I ever tried to make a rattlesnake shake its rattle!

We finally continued our push uphill, infinitely more "aware" of each footstep! Came across a couple heading down, and then a motorcycle with official Oregon plates. Very odd, that. By the time we peaked out, we were alone on top, and quite enjoyed the views and taking photos of that most phallic of all antenna structures. Decided to head west along the ridge to the farthest radio installation, signed threats to our health be damned.

The views from this ridgeline were superb! Even with the clouds, we could see from Rainier to Jefferson - a total of five biggie volcanoes - as well as the Goat Rocks. Lemei Rock in Indian Heaven stood out in front of Mount Saint Helens. The Dog-Aug-Cook complex called to us for future adventure. There seemed to be a handful of little wildfires to the south and east of The Dalles. Just a wonderful ramble up top!

At the end of the ridge, we took off cross-country and downhill, heading back in the general direction of the Dalles Mountain Ranch. Along the way, we crossed paths with a deer herd at least 30 strong. Flowers up high were still not making much of an appearance, but as we descended they came back on strong again. When we got to the ranch, we found that marmots had made a home under the ranch house, before heading around the barn to check out that rusty old car everyone likes to photograph. TICKS!!! Oh man, you have been warned.

Finally, we just walked the 4 miles or so back to the trailhead, enjoying views of the Columbia and much more all along. Just an incredibly fun day, in every possible way.