14.2 miles of hiking • 5500' elevation gain •
I decided to head for the often overlooked, Augspurger Mountain. I'm amazed that more people don't venture beyond the junction of Augspurger and Dog Mountain trails. But I'm not about to complain, I enjoy the serenity! I got a fairly late start, but with some extra layer's and headlamp in my pack, I wasn't concerned. I left the Dog Mountain trailhead at exactly 1pm. I opted to take the easier Augspurger trail to gently gain elevation up to the Augsurger/Dog Mountain trail junction. Here I dropped down several hundred feet before I began the ascent on the other side.
It was a steady 'climb' coming up the other side before I came to a four-way junction under the power lines. Shortly after this, I came to a hairpin in the road cutting back on it's self to the left. In the middle of the hairpin, there is a flagged trail on the right side of the road. I stayed right here on the flagged Augspurger trail. I continued up the eastern side of the ridge and switched back several times before reaching a nice open ridge-line with views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Defiance, Wind Mountain and the Gorge looking west. I took in some views here and continue on up to the forested summit. I continued just over a tenth of a mile back down the other side to a beautiful open ridge where I enjoyed a bite to eat.
After stuffing my face and taking some pictures of St. Helen's, Raininer, and Adams, I turned around and headed back for the junction of Augspurger/Dog Mountain trails. As I reached the junction, I decided I couldn't be this close to Dog Mountain without getting up there. So I decided to make a bit of a 'loop' out of the trip. I hiked up to the summit of Dog Mountain and took in the great, but still premature, wildflower display. After a quick stop at puppy dog, I was ready to get back to town and have me a greasy cheeseburger! As I arrived back at the trailhead at 8pm, my knee's were overjoyed to have a seat. But it was worth every second of it!
Note: Augspuger Mountain is best hiked in the Spring, just as the snow is melting off and before the trail get's overrun by the brush.
