Calendar

Past Activity

Mt Pisgah

  • Start date: 08/13/2017

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 08/13/2017

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

The hike begins just over the Cascade crest on the east side. For the first portion, we will hike steadily uphill through forest. The trail then opens to a meadow where we may see some wildflowers. A significant portion of the trail is on exposed lava flows; near the top twisted whitebark pines hug the mountain. The views from the top are spectacular, including peering over the edge of the crater. Plan to spend at least an hour for lunch at the top of the crater, weather permitting.
The last part of the trail is exposed--be prepared for sun, heat, wind, or cold. Trip will be cancelled for inclement weather or if there is any thunderstorm activity. If we are already on the trail when thunder begins, we will descend immediately. I ask that hikers stay between the designated leader and designated sweep and either hike with someone or be within sight of someone else in our group at all times. You should be in very good conditioning for the uphill climb at this altitude.

  • Event Leader: Jennifer Baer

  • Event Leader Phone: 541-431-0767

  • Event Leader Email: jjobaer@gmail.com

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

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

  • Rating: Moderate

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 167

  • Season: 2017

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: 10 essentials. Plenty of water and food. Hat, sunscreen, sturdy boots for hiking on lava flows.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 7.4

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 2500

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Thanks to an early morning text and e-mail from Dave Cooper, we discovered sooner, rather than later, that a new fire had caused the closure of the Black Crater Trail.
Not to be discouraged, the steadfast 4 remaining hikers braved the torrential mist on the west side of the Cascades and scaled Mount Pisgah not once but twice. We headed up the main summit trail (#1) to the top, then headed down along the powerline road to the Pleasant Hill side, back up to the summit on trail #4, and circled back via trial #3 and #17 to the parking lot. As we descended on the east side (especially on Trial #2), we found frequent bear scat. It was fairly fresh, as our expert Darko determined. The bears obviously were gorging themselves on the blackberries (and with good reason, they were tasty this trip). There was big bear scat and little bear scat. As we descended the west side on trail #17, we saw 2 does and 2 fawns eating blackberry leaves.
We appreciated the cool weather and relatively smoke free air; what a contrast from the prior week of heat and smoke. Thanks to all of the hikers for their flexibility.