Calendar

Past Activity

Tait’s Loop – Exploratory

  • Start date: 03/14/2017

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 03/14/2017

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Latest weather forecast is looking positive for doing this. Warm rain and no snow may make the trail "interesting."

**NOTE - This trip may or may not go depending on snow conditions. Several of us tried to do this hike last week but the snow was so deep we had to abort about 1/3 of the way in because we were totally exhausted breaking trail. If this trip goes, it is advised for only the fittest of the fittest. Be forewarned.**
**YOU CAN LOOK AT THE RECENT SNOW AT WILLAMETTE PASS SKI RESORT. THERE ARE SEVERAL WEB SITES THAT WILL SHOW THIS. IF WE HAVE SEVERAL DAYS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION, IT WILL MAKE THE POSSIBILITY OF DOING THIS A LOT BETTER.
Our snowshoe begins at the Willamette Pass downhill ski parking lot. We will snowshoe along the snowcat road to the back side downhill chairlift where we will stop for a snack before climbing a steep ridge via the marked winter trails that lead to Pulpit Rock and views overlooking Rosary Lakes. We will eat a late lunch at the overlook above Lower Rosary Lake. Be sure to bring extra snacks as we will not eat lunch until 1:15-1:30pm. After picture taking and lunch we continue along the marked trail towards a beautiful view of Diamond Peak and Mt. Yoran. From this Vista we head back down via a ski run to the parking lot.

  • Event Leader: Mike Smith

  • Event Leader Phone: 520-488-9569

  • Event Leader Email: mssq@comcast.net

  • Assistant Leader: David Lodeesen

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: Lane Community College, parking lot nearest stoplight

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 145

  • Season: 2017

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: 10 essentials, rain gear, extra clothing layers, hat, gloves, snacks, lunch and water (2 liters)

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 8

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 1484

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Five of us went up to Willamette Pass to do Tait's Loop on snowshoes. Two weeks ago to the day, two of us on this trip were part of a group of three who bailed after 3 strenuous miles uphill in heavy snow, and after 3 hours were still 3/4 a mile from the chairlift. Had we even succeeded, there was no way we would have found the trail past there, for the blue diamonds would have been buried by the snow. And even had we, there wouldn't have been any views. Today was in the 40s, headed for the 50s, and the graders had been at work on the trail upward. We got to the chair in about an hour and a quarter, took a break, then headed up the somewhat difficult grade doing a lot of side hilling in moderately deep snow, but nothing like what we had seen 2 weeks earlier. We topped out and had lunch shortly afterwards, then taking Tait's Loop past beautiful views of Middle and Lower Rosary Lakes, Pulpit Rock, before looping back into the woods and to the ski area. We had great views of Diamond Peak and saw only one other person out there. This was an Explora hike, since I had not done it, but Lyndell Wilken gave me good directions and we had no problem doing this very nice trip.