Carpenter Mountain
Location - Blue River, OR
Length - 6 miles
Date - 12/31/2006
Length - 6 miles
Date - 12/31/2006
Just before Christmas Michelle and I
decided to head to the mountains in order
to experience winter and get out into the
snow. On the first day of our weekend of
winter we headed out the McKenzie
Highway and into the valley of Blue River
with the intention of making one of three
possible hikes. We tried to drive to the
base of Tidbits Mountain but were turned
around by a fallen tree. Not discouraged,
we turned around and followed a dirt Forest
Service Road up Lookout Creek in hopes
of reaching the snowline and climbing
Carpenter Mountain.
decided to head to the mountains in order
to experience winter and get out into the
snow. On the first day of our weekend of
winter we headed out the McKenzie
Highway and into the valley of Blue River
with the intention of making one of three
possible hikes. We tried to drive to the
base of Tidbits Mountain but were turned
around by a fallen tree. Not discouraged,
we turned around and followed a dirt Forest
Service Road up Lookout Creek in hopes
of reaching the snowline and climbing
Carpenter Mountain.
After ten miles we reached a four way intersection near the Lookout
Creek old growth hike and found about two inches of snow on the
ground. We got out here to put my truck into four wheel drive and were
excited to see lots of fresh elk and mountain lion tracks in the snow.
Once in four wheel drive we continued on up the road and found that it
grew increasingly steeper with snow depths increasing to several inches.
Soon I had to drive in the tracks of the truck that had come before me
and we were reaching the limit of what my vehicle was capable of
handling without getting stuck. Bogging down in the snow here would be
very bad since we were a long ways back in the woods.
Somewhere around 3,500 feet I managed to turn around and park far
enough on the side of the road to allow anyone with a better equipped
vehicle to pass. About six to eight inches of snow were on the ground
here and we geared up in plenty of clothes since the temperatures were
hovering just below the freezing point. Snowshoes were strapped to our
packs since they were not necessary and would have been a burden to
hike with at this point.
We walked for a few miles along the snow covered logging road that was
slabbing up the mountainside with a steep slope rising above us on the
right and a drop off to the left. In about a mile and a half we saw where
the last truck had got stuck and somehow managed to turn around. We
were at about 4,000 feet now, the trail was unbroken, and the snow deep
enough to necessitate putting on the snowshoes. Just beyond this point
we saw a lot of mountain lions tracks of different sizes and some more
elk tracks. I am not usually too worried about cougars when I am out in
the woods, but there were so many fresh looking tracks here that we
were a little more attentive than usual.
Creek old growth hike and found about two inches of snow on the
ground. We got out here to put my truck into four wheel drive and were
excited to see lots of fresh elk and mountain lion tracks in the snow.
Once in four wheel drive we continued on up the road and found that it
grew increasingly steeper with snow depths increasing to several inches.
Soon I had to drive in the tracks of the truck that had come before me
and we were reaching the limit of what my vehicle was capable of
handling without getting stuck. Bogging down in the snow here would be
very bad since we were a long ways back in the woods.
Somewhere around 3,500 feet I managed to turn around and park far
enough on the side of the road to allow anyone with a better equipped
vehicle to pass. About six to eight inches of snow were on the ground
here and we geared up in plenty of clothes since the temperatures were
hovering just below the freezing point. Snowshoes were strapped to our
packs since they were not necessary and would have been a burden to
hike with at this point.
We walked for a few miles along the snow covered logging road that was
slabbing up the mountainside with a steep slope rising above us on the
right and a drop off to the left. In about a mile and a half we saw where
the last truck had got stuck and somehow managed to turn around. We
were at about 4,000 feet now, the trail was unbroken, and the snow deep
enough to necessitate putting on the snowshoes. Just beyond this point
we saw a lot of mountain lions tracks of different sizes and some more
elk tracks. I am not usually too worried about cougars when I am out in
the woods, but there were so many fresh looking tracks here that we
were a little more attentive than usual.
As we hiked farther up the road views of the pine covered Cascade
foothills stretched for as far as the eye could see. Tidbits Mountain,
our original goal, rose above the rest of the hills to the west. Soon
the snow depth increased to two then three then quickly four feet
deep, making our snowshoes absolutely necessary. By this point
there were no more elk or mountain lion tracks. Presumably most
animals stay at lower elevations where it is easier to move around
and access to food is much better. The sun was out and striking the
road now and we were able to hike in vests.
Soon glimpses of Carpenter Mountain with its fire lookout perched
on the summit block of hard volcanic rock could be had. The road
grade eventually brought us to an open area that would serve as a
parking lot for people heading up to the lookout in the summer. The
view from this drifted and windswept opening were incredible and
stretched from all three of the snow covered Sisters to Mt
Washington and Mt Jefferson. We rested and took in the scenery
before heading into the woods and route finding uphill through an
awesome grove of moss covered fir trees.
The forest here is very open and we were not concerned about
getting lost since it would be very easy to follow our tracks back
down the steep mountainside. After about forty minutes of steep
climbing we reached the last stretch to summit and found it
impractical to access the fire lookout due to ice. Had we been
determined to reach the top it would not have been too difficult, but
the view from here was just as good and we were happy to relax and
start to walk and slide back to the logging road.
The walk out was quick and easy and soon we were back at my
truck. The drive out was easy and it was really neat to drive below
the snow line and back into the valleys. This was an outstanding trip
and I would return any time of year.
foothills stretched for as far as the eye could see. Tidbits Mountain,
our original goal, rose above the rest of the hills to the west. Soon
the snow depth increased to two then three then quickly four feet
deep, making our snowshoes absolutely necessary. By this point
there were no more elk or mountain lion tracks. Presumably most
animals stay at lower elevations where it is easier to move around
and access to food is much better. The sun was out and striking the
road now and we were able to hike in vests.
Soon glimpses of Carpenter Mountain with its fire lookout perched
on the summit block of hard volcanic rock could be had. The road
grade eventually brought us to an open area that would serve as a
parking lot for people heading up to the lookout in the summer. The
view from this drifted and windswept opening were incredible and
stretched from all three of the snow covered Sisters to Mt
Washington and Mt Jefferson. We rested and took in the scenery
before heading into the woods and route finding uphill through an
awesome grove of moss covered fir trees.
The forest here is very open and we were not concerned about
getting lost since it would be very easy to follow our tracks back
down the steep mountainside. After about forty minutes of steep
climbing we reached the last stretch to summit and found it
impractical to access the fire lookout due to ice. Had we been
determined to reach the top it would not have been too difficult, but
the view from here was just as good and we were happy to relax and
start to walk and slide back to the logging road.
The walk out was quick and easy and soon we were back at my
truck. The drive out was easy and it was really neat to drive below
the snow line and back into the valleys. This was an outstanding trip
and I would return any time of year.
Even before the summit of Carpenter Mountain there are fantastic views of the three sisters wilderness area.
North Sister, Middle Sister, and South Sister each rise above ten thousand feet in elevation.
North Sister, Middle Sister, and South Sister each rise above ten thousand feet in elevation.
At the lower elevations in the Cascades there is often no snow even in the
middle of the winter.
middle of the winter.
Even before the summit of Carpenter Mountain there are fantastic views of the three sisters wilderness area.
North Sister, Middle Sister, and South Sister each rise above ten thousand feet in elevation.
North Sister, Middle Sister, and South Sister each rise above ten thousand feet in elevation.
Once we drove above 3,000 feet the road started to get snowed in. Several
corners ahead deep drifts made additional progress impossible.
corners ahead deep drifts made additional progress impossible.
Michelle stops to enjoy the sun on the upper section of the Forest Service
Road that we hiked in on while climbing Carpenter Mountain.
Road that we hiked in on while climbing Carpenter Mountain.
This gorgeous grove of trees was situated at about 5,000 feet above sea level
where there was roughly four or five feet of snow.
where there was roughly four or five feet of snow.
This gorgeous grove of trees was situated at about 5,000 feet above sea level
where there was roughly four or five feet of snow.
where there was roughly four or five feet of snow.
South Sister rises in the background behind Michelle as she enjoys the
perfect weather that this last day of 2006 brought to Oregon.
perfect weather that this last day of 2006 brought to Oregon.
When the sun was out temperatures rose to the mid forties and made the last
stretches of the hike very nice.
stretches of the hike very nice.
Stands of large trees were scattered across the upper slopes of Carpenter
Mountain, but the open forest allowed us to travel cross country very easily.
Mountain, but the open forest allowed us to travel cross country very easily.
Here is a closeup of North Sister, one of the more difficult peaks to climb in the
Cascades,
Cascades,
Middle Sister is far less rugged that North Sister, but a climb to the top still
requires snow travel and lots of energy.
requires snow travel and lots of energy.