Mountain – Page 3 – Occidentalist

Wandering the Trout Creek Mountains, 2018

Post author:Occidental
Post published: 2018-06-16
Post category:Hiking Truck Camping
Post comments:5 Comments

Every once in a while plans change. This time around we’ll blame it on the weather. We were all set to head to the lake and then the weather forecast came along saying snow. Well, yeah, it’s possible to fish in the snow, but I know when to cut my losses. And just like that we were off to the southeast corner of Oregon.

A trip to begin exploring the Trout Creek Mountains has been on the list for quite a while, but it takes a while to get there, and time is the typical limiting factor. But we had a tree day weekend on our side, so off we went. The first night we made it as far as Steens Mountain and enjoyed a good camp surrounded by yipping coyotes. Then we were off to the Trout Creeks.

It’s tough to find a lot of information on the Trout Creek mountains. It’s actually a bit of a challenge to even find an accurate map showing which roads are open and passable. But we managed to improvise and get around. This was after all and exploratory mission.

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Southeast Alaska, 2018, Part 4

Post author:Occidental
Post published: 2018-06-04
Post category:Alaska Uncategorized
Post comments:0 Comments

I guess time runs short when you are having fun. Our last (non-travel) day in Southeast Alaska had already rolled around. It was another beauty of a day. Bluebird skies, calm as can be and perfect temperatures. Given all that we decided to head out into the ocean again to see some sights. We made the run out Icy Strait and Cross Sound and it was pretty much glass with a few swirling currents.

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Hager Mountain Lookout, 2018

Post author:Occidental
Post published: 2018-03-29
Post category:Hiking Uncategorized
Post comments:0 Comments

It’s been quiet around this site for a while but not because there has been nothing going on. Since the last post there’s been a trip to the north Oregon coast,

a ski trip to north central Washington to glide through the trees,

and even a stop at Gettysburg.

But now that spring is coming back around its time to get back outside in earnest.

Hager Mountain Lookout is a popular spot. I’ve been wanting to spend a few nights in a lookout for many years, but reserving far enough in advance before all the days are booked is always a challenge. 6 months and two weeks back we got lucky and there was an opening. We grabbed it. In February I was thinking there would be no snow and spring time conditions. Then March came and with it, finally, winter. The week prior to heading out snow was in the forecast again. But by the time we were headed to the trailhead the storm had passed, dumping a bit of snow along the way, leaving us with a nice blue sky day to head to the top of the mountain.

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