Jen
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Hikes by Jen in 2024
22.5 miles / 4,750 feet gained
Hiked every day while in Tuscon: 1) Wasson Peak in Saguaro NP 8 miles, 1800 eg 2) Little Elephant Head, Santa Rita mtns, 4 5 miles, 1000 ft eg 3) Cochise Stronghold Trail, Dragoon Mtns, 6 miles, 1400 eg 4) Pima Canyon, Catalina mtns, 4 miles, 500 gain
7 miles / 750 feet gained
I drove up to the winter gate(closed) on Larch Mountain road with my skis, expecting snow. None. Went hiking instead. Took Palmer Mill down to Multnomah Basin Road and wandered around. Looks like folks are carrying on Red Shorts' projects.
13 miles / 1,750 feet gained
Crazy route finding adventure in the sandstone. Had a blast navigating slabs and dryfalls, gazing in wonder at all the sculptural features around us. We failed on our first attempt, but spotted a viable option on the way out. Not enough daylight left to try it. We also hiked up the nearby petroglyph trail- tons of images! We wondered why there, and we didnt ...
9 miles / 1,750 feet gained
Cool approach via the Petroglyph Trail in the Sloan Canyon NCA. I really enjoyed scrambling around inthe Canine Crag area. Did not see anyone all day.
9.5 miles / 750 feet gained
Spent two nights at Cottonwood Canyon SP in the cabins. Such a great desert getaway! Enroute, we stopped at Deschutes River and biked up that canyon for about 7 miles, then my partner got a flat tire. We imagined spending a night there doing some winter camping at one of the rafters sites, now on the list! Cold starry nights in the canyon- no wifi, blissful....
16 miles / 2,500 feet gained / 2 nights
Had two more days at Smith, camping at Haystack Reservoir. Friday was ethereal, with little cirrus clouds flowing across the sky. This place is so beautiful. Met up with friends on Saturday for climbing, and we visited multiple crags in the park. The rain came in overnight and we woke up to a drizzling Sunday morning, decided to just head home. But the weath...
4.5 miles / 250 feet gained
Just a pleasant day of wandering in the woods, perfect timing for the golden chanterelle bloom.
8 miles / 2,500 feet gained / 2 nights
Spent multiple days hiking and climbing. Camped at Haystack. Saturday and Sunday trips were to the Marsupials where I led several students on multipitch routes. Birds in a Rut on the Wombat and Living Blindly on the Possum.
10 miles / 2,500 feet gained
Started early to beat the crowds, but they never showed up! Just me and the pikas. Had the lakes to myself and just saw a few folks coming in on my return trip. Would love to return for a backpack and scramble up the local summits. The only drawback to this hike is it takes quite awhile to get away from the drone of I-90. It's like the gorge, but louder.
3.5 miles / 1,250 feet gained
My intention was to hike up to Mt Thomas via the Domerie Divide trail. When I was gearing up at the trailhead, a fish and wildlife officer came along and told me there was a report of an aggressive mountain lion up on the ridge where I was headed. I decided I wasn’t concerned and started the hike. After crossing SilverCreek, a big fat, fuzzy bear jumped on t...
5 miles / 2,500 feet gained
It seemed like all of WA state was out with their dogs on this perfect fall day. 100s of cars lined the highway near the Blue Lake trailhead. Climbing was also busy and we had to wait to get onto the Beckey Route. Lovely to climb on granite.Got benighted again, but luckily it was after we had rappelled and then down climbed the "unpleasant gully".
7 miles / 1,500 feet gained
East of Smith Rock, north of Skull Hollow Campground. Pleasant day of wandering. Winter gates are closed, keeping the ATVs out. Great trail system out here! Desert sageland hiking is very restorative.
5 miles / 1,000 feet gained
Mushrooms are popping, understory warm and barely moist. pretty good haul today.
16 miles / 6,000 feet gained / 1 night
We stashed a bike at the Putvin TH, then drove back down the Hamma Hamma road and started up the Lena Lakes trail. Continued to Upper Lena where we were supposed to camp and climb Mt Bretherton. We were inside a cloud with limited visibility so we decided to skip the climb and continue on the Scout Lake Trail. This was heavenly terrain, undulating through he...
16.5 miles / 6,000 feet gained / 2 nights
Climbed Pinnacle peak with friends and stayed one night at La Wis Wis. On the second day we went up Tatoosh Peak trail to the most amazing spot, as wonderful as my visit 3 years ago, and weather was perfect. We should have stayed two nights there.
8 miles / 1,250 feet gained
Relaxing day. Sat in the dynamic streambed of the Sandy River and skecthed for awhile. The mountain is very colorful this time of year.
11 miles / 3,750 feet gained / 1 night
Great trip in the alpine. We had a gorgeous campsite with Mt Stuart looming above us. Beautiful evening with alpenglow and pika song. Saw a pair of goats at the lake. This is a busy area, and can be extremely crowded during the larch peak time. Started early for our ascent of Ingalls Peak and had it to ourselves for awhile. Congestion on the way down because...
6 miles / 1,750 feet gained
Took the Prindle Mountain trail up. Lots of bear scat down low, and elk duds up on the pleateau. Love the big cedars, firs and hemlocks of the enchanted forest.
3 miles / 500 feet gained
My son came with me on a camera check for Cascadia Wild. A lot of critters visited our site(bears, bobcat, deer and coyote), but none of the target species. It was a hot day, but we enjoyed some relaxation in the shade near the creek. We also found a patch of ripe huckleberries.
12 miles / 5,250 feet gained / 2 nights
Started out with an attempt of Sloan Peak in the North Cascades. We were bushwacking in steep terrain when one of our climbers sustained an ankle injury and could not bear weight on it. Successfully used iphone SOS feature to get 911. SAR rescue ensued, took 10 hrs and 18 volunteers to carve a path and haul them out on a litter. Great learning experience. We...
12 miles / 4,250 feet gained / 1 night
Highest point in the William O Douglas Wilderness. We started early and got to the top at 11am. Lovely ridgetop, flowers going strong. Bugs not too bad. Fun summit scramble.
15 miles / 2,750 feet gained / 1 night
This was supposed to be a Mt Jefferson climb. We weren't sure of the summit conditions but had suspicions it would not be tenable. About four miles in, we were able to see the final approach to the summit block. A storm last week resulted in rime ice on the summit, precariously wind loaded on the western face. The warm temps would make the "terrible traverse...
6 miles / 2,750 feet gained
Took up a group of 10. First time leading trad on alpine rock in mountain boots! Luckily it was very easy climbing. The moat has opened up but is just a slightly spicy hop-over. Fun glissades down. We did not glissade the couloir, careful plunge stepping, it is melting out and was posthole city. We caught the tail end of the weather window, started to rain w...
12.5 miles / 5,250 feet gained / 1 night
It took us all day to get up here. 10-12 inches of new snow, got soft in the afternoon. Breaking trail from Glacier Basin Camp all the way up the Interglacier, was quite exhausting. We were supposed to have an acclimation day at Camp Schurman before a summit attempt, but the weather window closed up so we headed back down.
6 miles / 500 feet gained / 1 night
I was meeting friends in the evening at the Steelhead Falls campground, so I explored some trails at Crooked River Ranch and along the Deschutes. There are long trails along both river canyons. Went climbing at Smith the next day.
4.5 miles / 500 feet gained
I go out every year and usually find a few. This year, we hit the jackpot!
7.5 miles / 1,750 feet gained
Nice loop hike enjoying the filled out understory.
4 miles / 750 feet gained
Came up to climb nearby at Royal Columns. Had a nice evening hike before cragging. Beautiful canyon in bloom.
6.5 miles / 2,250 feet gained
Spectacular Day! Came up to check on the wildlife camera. No critter shots, but we saw all the big volcanoes and some ravens and bluebirds
15 miles / 3,000 feet gained
We stayed at the Ochoco Ranger House for two nights. Snow at higher elevations. On the first day we got to ski on frozen Walton Lake. Hiked up the Lookout Mountain trail to Duncan Butte on day 2. Stopped at Lake Billy Chinook on the way home and hiked the Tam-a-Lau Trail.
7 miles / 2,000 feet gained
17 miles / 2,750 feet gained
Stayed in a cabin for two nights for Galentines Day. Saw lots of sheep. Explored an old homestead. On the second night a storm came in and we awoke to snow in the desert. Magical!
