After work today I went hiking with Melissa at Chip Ross Park. Summer is almost over and fall is fast approaching. You can tell it by the look of the valley and by the leaves on the trees.
Chip Ross, Dimple Hill, and McCulloch Peak in an Afternoon
This afternoon I went on what turned into a 15 mile hike from Chip Ross Park to Dimple Hill then onward to McCulloch Peak and finally terminating at Oak Creek when I ran out of light. Brent was kind enough to pick me up and take me back to my car. On the path between Chip Ross Park and Dimple Hill, I stumbled upon this rather large snake. No clue what species it is. The head didn’t look correct to be poisonous and there was no rattle. I still gave it a wide berth.
After reaching the top of Dimple Hill, I descended down the north face. This was the first time in a number of years that I had taken this route. It is still just as fun as the last time I did it.
A panorama from partway down the trail. Click for a much larger version.
On top of the false summit of McCulloch Peak. There is a gravel quarry operation just below me.
The real summit of McCulloch Peak. After taking this, I ran down the mountain to Oak Creek where Brent came and collected me. 15 miles in four hours is quite good. Next time maybe I will continue onward to Fitton Green and end up at Bald Hill.
Marys Peak Overnight
Last night after Joaquin and I returned from the Scandinavian Festival in Junction City where we helped a dude with MS smoke a cigarette and drink a beer, Joaquin, Matt, and I climbed Marys Peak to watch the Perseids Meteor Shower. We reached the summit in an hour and 45 minutes. In other words, at 1am. While setting up our tent and bivy sack, we saw several good shooting stars even with the full moon directly overhead. As we approached the tippy top of Marys Peak, we interrupted at least one couple mid-coitus. It was rather impressive to see how many people had made the trek to the top. Well, until we found out the road is open again from Harlan.
Just before the sun sneaked above the clouds to the east Mount Jefferson is peaking up above the clouds a bit to the right of center.
Looking northwest toward the ocean.
Joaquin wakes up.
The moon prepares to set in the west.
My new bivy sack. I need to figure out how to keep the sack from touching my sleeping bag as my bag was rather damp this morning. Otherwise, I was very impressed with the performance of the new bivy sack.
Fog and clouds spilling back toward the coast.
When we arrived at 1am, all of the fog was to the west and the valley was clear. Sometime in the night it inverted.
Joaquin and Matt borrowed my two-person tent.
Here comes the sun!
Taking the tent down and getting ready to head downhill.
Absolutely gorgeous. It was one of the more memorable mornings that I’ve had in the last several months.
Heading back down the trail. It took us 1:45 to get to the bottom and find our cars. It appears we were the only people to hike to the top of Marys Peak from the bottom. Matt and Joaquin carried wine with them all the way. I was more practical and carried food and water. I’m thinking that I will have to go back up to the top again very soon with a proper camera. It is just too amazing not to do it again.