Chris

47 trips 459 miles logged 12 nights out in 2014 Subscribe to updates

Hikes by Chris in 2014

November 23, 2014

11.5 miles / 3,250 feet gained

There's still no snow on Scott Mountain so this Sunday afternoon trip was a go. Tangle Blue Lake sees more foot and horse traffic in season but there was not a soul out there with the light dusting of snow and mid 30's temps. The sun showed it's face a few times! We decided a good summer trip would be to stage a car at middle boulder and bear lakes trailhead...

November 15, 2014

7 miles / 1,250 feet gained

Fantastic weather with a very nice ridge walk and hit-and-miss views of Shasta. Some guys in 4x4s were trying to make it down to the lakes on the very rough 4x4 roads, which was pretty entertaining to watch.

October 11 to October 13, 2014

25.5 miles / 8,750 feet gained / 2 nights

An excellent weekend trip to these very nice lakes. We had some time trying to find the off trail route through the manzanita and oak trying to get up to Morris and Smith lakes, but once the path was found it was much easier going—quite a few nicks and scrapes! No one else seen once we left the Stuart Fork trail. A very nice trip, with nice weather. Highly r...

September 14, 2014

9 miles / 2,750 feet gained

A nice hike during the fire season.

August 30 to September 1, 2014

39 miles / 5,000 feet gained / 2 nights

A trip over the holiday weekend. A bit crowded for my taste, but it was to be expected given the area and the timing. Did the loop coming from Echo Lakes--lots of nice lakes in this area, especially on the east side, and south of Lake Aloha. It's a bit dry in the China flat area, but more subalpine for most of the rest. The weather was great, no bugs, but no...

August 15 to August 16, 2014

27.5 miles / 5,000 feet gained / 1 night

A nice, quick little trip to the Three Sisters after a week in Bend. Camped Friday night at the Green Lakes area after a few miles from the Devils Lake trailhead. It was packed! Saturday, the cross country route up to Carver Lake and up through Chambers Lakes was much quieter—only one other group. The flowers seemed to be at their peak. This little cut throu...

July 3 to July 6, 2014

63.5 miles / 10,750 feet gained / 3 nights

This was Sierra trip #2 for the summer: the somewhat well-known North Lake to South Lake loop. For those looking for a “starter” Sierra loop, this is it. About 60 miles, that can be done in as little or as much time as you want. (Another shorter option is to come in over Lamarack Col through Darwin Canyon, which still hits all the good stuff). This trip was ...

June 21 to June 22, 2014

13 miles / 4,500 feet gained / 1 night

Overnight to Bear Lakes. There is a well marked off trail route to Little Bear from the granite waterfall area about 1/4 mile from Big Bear. Wee Bear Lake had super fishing—lots of brookies. While the saddle looking down towards Big Bear had very nice camping sites, the tarns that usually hold water during wetter years held only dead bug water. Little Bear h...

June 15, 2014

11 miles / 3,250 feet gained

A loop from Taylor Lake. Seven lakes, if you include little Neil Lake (but really a pond). This is best done counter-clockwise due to the scrambling above Big Blue lake being a bit treacherous if you were to come down it. Moderate scrambling and minor route-finding required, but great views from just below Neil Lake and the col above Big Blue. The area is re...

May 31, 2014

15.5 miles / 3,000 feet gained

A group trip with shuttle. It appears the Box Camp trail has had some recent rehab, and may be newer. Great views from that trail, and the road isn't as bad as the ranger suggested. We made a quick trip up Marble Gap as well—a worthwhile side trip.

May 24 to May 26, 2014

34.5 miles / 5,750 feet gained / 2 nights

A great holiday weekend trip. I made the 7.5 hour drive down from Grants Pass Friday night and got in to the Mammoth campground around 1am. Day 1: 10 miles, 2750’ Saturday morning I learned that the Reds Meadow shuttle just started that weekend, so I parked at Mammoth Mountain and took the required shuttle down to Agnew Meadows. I had a permit for the high t...

May 18, 2014

5 miles / 1,000 feet gained

More snow! Even with two weeks of hot days, this area still hasn't melted nearly as far as I thought it would be—I predicted wrong. Oh well—a nice hike anyway.

May 10 to May 11, 2014

19.5 miles / 5,250 feet gained / 1 night

This was basically a repeat of a trip I took last fall, with the addition of Boulder Creek lakes, and some great weather. There's a reason this is the most popular part of the Trinity Alps. Did some car camping Friday night after work, on the way down, at one of the campgrounds on the almost-empty reservoir. A quick breakfast a Mama Llama in Weaverville, and...

May 3, 2014

9 miles / 1,500 feet gained

Stymied by snow again! The NOHRSC reports are going to be interesting in their accuracy this year, what with the drought and all. Got up to the crest, but the loop had several feet of snow, which was getting quite melty in the mid-afternoon sun.

March 29, 2014

9.5 miles / 2,500 feet gained

A great little hike up a trail popular with Ashland runners. Stopped about 1/2 mile before the summit due to the snow depth—it got to be about 1/2 foot deep with no prior tracks.

March 23, 2014

2.5 miles / 500 feet gained

This is a busy little area in the Applegate, for being set so far back as it is.

March 1, 2014

5 miles / 250 feet gained

A nice meander along a creek and dammed lake

February 16, 2014

4.5 miles / 500 feet gained

A quick snowshoe loop in the Bend area. My first choice had it's parking lot to the point where there was literally nowhere to park. So this nice little loop was a great plan B.

February 9, 2014

7.5 miles / 1,250 feet gained

A popular running loop for Ashland-area trail runners. Great views of the valley.

February 1, 2014

7 miles / 500 feet gained

This was just a slow meander along the Union Creek area of the river. This part reminds me a lot of the Metolius—slow running and lots of pine.

January 26, 2014

13.5 miles / 3,000 feet gained

After several weeks of scrapped hikes due to some overambitious snow depth estimates and rockfall blocking roads, I finally got in a nice hike today! Up to Marble Rim—not quite to the top, but high enough for the views. I was contemplating going over to Sky High Lakes but the snow got deep on the trail, it was about 3 snow-covered miles round trip and I woul...

January 18, 2014

6 miles / 1,250 feet gained

Another botched attempt due to snow. Was going to go up to Duck Lake but the snow became several inches deep and more work than fun. A nice day, though. I'm excited to get back to this area, though.

January 12, 2014

2 miles / 500 feet gained

Salvaging a drive after the original plan wasn't reachable due to snow.

January 4, 2014

10 miles / 3,250 feet gained

This trip was intended as an overnight backpack, but the cold temps (I was guessing it would get down to the mid-teens) had me change my mind once I got up there. Started up the trail around 1p and made it back to the car around 6p. The lake ice was making incredible sounds. Eventually I want to get up to little Bear Lake. No snow, but ice covering the trail...

January 1, 2014

1 miles / 250 feet gained

Did this little "tourist" hike when the road up to Kerby Peak was iced over. Just outside the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.