Calendar

Past Activity

Dead Mountain Exploratory

  • Start date: 05/12/2018

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 05/12/2018

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

This is an exploratory hike to Salmon Creek road just east of Oakridge. It is a mountain bike trail, and the weather should be favorable, although we may see bike traffic. Remember that they belong here. The average gradient is 6.8%, and the distances could be less, but not likely more. The elevation gain is likely accurate.

  • Event Leader: Mike Smith

  • Event Leader Phone: 520-488-9569

  • Event Leader Email: mssq@comcast.net

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

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

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 80

  • Season: 2018

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Water, food, the key 10 essentials. Gaiters probably aren't needed. Poles might be useful. Weather should be dry, and trail conditions are unknown, except that any running water should be at the beginning.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 12.6

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 2400

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Two of us drove 2 miles past Oakridge on Salmon Creek Road to find the trailhead was off a one way loop on the north side of the road. The trail climbs mostly steadily at a reasonable grade, with some dips, a few bridges, and through a lot of area where the trees were thinned. At four miles, the trail crosses a significant road and climbs with many switchbacks all the way to the same road about two miles and 600 vertical feet later. Dead Mountain has two radio antennae on top; at the west end is a viewpoint of Oakridge and Hills Creek Reservoir in the distance. We saw about ten mountain bikers near the top and none other the rest of the day. The wildflowers were good: I counted at least 27 different species, noting that the Trilliums were in their prime at 2500', whereas they are pretty much done at low elevations. It's a nice trail, good workout, some views, and a relatively short drive.