I have been eying Raker Point for quite some time motivated in part by its location and appearance in Google Earth and also by a postcard photo Splintercat posted in an article on the photographer on his blog at https://wyeastblog.org/2013/02/.
Here's the card:
So one thing was to see how close I could get to this photo on the card. Answer is sort of close but the location where this photo was taken is overgrown. Additionally there are some FS lookout panos referenced as Raker Point locations but are actually taken further east on Sawtooth Mtn. I had hoped to try to replicate those panos but the ridge is too overgrown to allow that.
There have been mentions of Raker Point on OH and Limey visited Sawtooth Mtn a while back and posted a TR here:
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=15666
Just recently I think there was a Sawtooth Mtn TR but I'm too lazy to look it up. I'm not sure of any other TRs to Raker Point but if there are TRs to Raker Pt out there send me links. I'd like a second opinion.
So the plan was a loop using the old Skyline Trail segment that takes off from the FR-13 Rd and goes north before switching back to head downhill to the creek crossing. I figure this would get me closer before starting the bushwhack to Raker Pt. Then up to Raker Point and turn east to follow the ridge of Sawtooth Mtn and investigate some possible viewpoints I'd scouted in Google Earth. At some point on the ridge I'd turn down hill and close the loop by bushwhacking down from the ridge returning to my vehicle parked at the entrance of a logging road.
Turns out the (slightly overgrown) Skyline Trail segment follows an old logging road just before making the turn down slope and the road actually continues on northward for a short distance. This was good and bad, Travel on the road was easy but when it stopped I had to do a nasty b-whack to get back into the woods.
Buck Peak from the Skyline Trail
IMG_5026 by pauljess999, on Flickr
End of trail and continuation on road
IMG_5038 by pauljess999, on Flickr
End of road, bushwhack to Raker Point began up a steep brushy hillside.
IMG_5039 by pauljess999, on Flickr
After this short but intense uphill b-whack through brush of various kinds and density I was gifted with open forest for most of the way to the top. Parts are quite steep but no brush to speak of.
IMG_5041 by pauljess999, on Flickr
First thing on the talus slope on the south side of Raker Pt was to take a photo of this beargrass bloom.
IMG_5056 by pauljess999, on Flickr
First photo of Hood and Lost Lake from below the top of Raker Pt.
IMG_5059 by pauljess999, on Flickr
Some context at the same location
IMG_5084 by pauljess999, on Flickr
A closer look at Lost Lake
IMG_5090 by pauljess999, on Flickr
No rhodies handy like in the postcard so I used vine maple
IMG_5128 by pauljess999, on Flickr
On the north side of Raker Pt looking northeast-ish to Sunshine Rock and parts east
IMG_5168 by pauljess999, on Flickr
On Raker Pt
IMG_5217 by pauljess999, on Flickr
Indian Mtn from the north side of Raker Pt
IMG_5224 by pauljess999, on Flickr
Top of Raker Point
IMG_5233 by pauljess999, on Flickr
In the saddle on the decommissioned road at the likely spot where the postcard photo was taken - all overgrown now,
IMG_5246 by pauljess999, on Flickr
Looking down the decommed road before heading for a high point of Sawtooth Mtn that looked to have views. Travel was mostly easy on the road although to cool off I ducked into the woods every now and then,
IMG_5250 by pauljess999, on Flickr
From the decommed road
IMG_5276 by pauljess999, on Flickr
Starting the climb to get back on the ridge of Sawtooth Mtn using a meadow I'd seen in Google Earth to get to the top.
IMG_5288 by pauljess999, on Flickr
Looking up the meadow
IMG_5315 by pauljess999, on Flickr
Going east on the ridge of Sawtooth Mtn was mostly like this
IMG_5350 by pauljess999, on Flickr
The final viewpoint on top of a cliff facing north
Wide angle
IMG_5398 by pauljess999, on Flickr
Sunshine Rock
IMG_5406 by pauljess999, on Flickr
Chinidere
IMG_5409 by pauljess999, on Flickr
Lost Lake Butte and Hood
IMG_5437 by pauljess999, on Flickr
IMG_5442 by pauljess999, on Flickr
Looking east to the rest of Sawtooth Mtn. The rock outcrop right and slightly above center could have been a problem, I bailed before then and headed back to the FR-13 road to finish up.
IMG_5445 by pauljess999, on Flickr
Cliffs on the final viewpoint were made of this stuff:
IMG_5460 by pauljess999, on Flickr
The return was a nice steep ramble through clear partial old growth. Again, very little brush.
KMZ file of track:
Map of the day: about 5 miles, 1700' cumulative EG.
TOPOMap by pauljess999, on Flickr
Raker Point/Sawtooth Mtn - June 25, 2017
Raker Point/Sawtooth Mtn - June 25, 2017
Last edited by pablo on July 3rd, 2017, 11:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
The future's uncertain and the end is always near.
Re: Raker Point/Sawtooth Mtn - June 25, 2017
Wow! You got some really great shots of Hood & Lost Lake from your Google Earth meadow climb.
Stunning! I hiked Lost Lake butte last weekend for the first time. It was actually my first visit to Lost Lake since around 2009, before I even started hiking much. I was disappointed with the butte hike, since you really can't see the lake at all, or anything to the North. View of Hood is nice though.
Great job. I was curious about that Skyline trail segment, since you cross it for a brief few steps on the way to the Butte from the Campground @ Lost Lake.
Stunning! I hiked Lost Lake butte last weekend for the first time. It was actually my first visit to Lost Lake since around 2009, before I even started hiking much. I was disappointed with the butte hike, since you really can't see the lake at all, or anything to the North. View of Hood is nice though.
Great job. I was curious about that Skyline trail segment, since you cross it for a brief few steps on the way to the Butte from the Campground @ Lost Lake.
"The top...is not the top" - Mile...Mile & a Half
Instagram @pdxstrider
Instagram @pdxstrider
Re: Raker Point/Sawtooth Mtn - June 25, 2017
I think you found the spot, you just need to go back when the rhodies are in bloom.
Re: Raker Point/Sawtooth Mtn - June 25, 2017
Another classic "Pablo adventure"! Thanks for sharing Paul that looks like a lot of fun!
Re: Raker Point/Sawtooth Mtn - June 25, 2017
Hey miah66, thx, a lucky shot. Wish I had the photoshop skills to soup it up.miah66 wrote:Wow! You got some really great shots of Hood & Lost Lake from your Google Earth meadow climb.
Stunning! I hiked Lost Lake butte last weekend for the first time. It was actually my first visit to Lost Lake since around 2009, before I even started hiking much. I was disappointed with the butte hike, since you really can't see the lake at all, or anything to the North. View of Hood is nice though.pablo wrote:
Great job. I was curious about that Skyline trail segment, since you cross it for a brief few steps on the way to the Butte from the Campground @ Lost Lake.
At one time that Skyline segment connected to the present PCT at a location north of Buck Peak in the saddle there. First class trail back in the day and it was on my list to explore but I got lazy and left it for another day.
--Paul
The future's uncertain and the end is always near.
Re: Raker Point/Sawtooth Mtn - June 25, 2017
You know, I looked at this intently in Google Earth before I went up and the best match to the postcard was from the saddle. But the view from Raker Pt proper is certainly good enough. No rhodies on the south side though.BigBear wrote:I think you found the spot, you just need to go back when the rhodies are in bloom.
The future's uncertain and the end is always near.
Re: Raker Point/Sawtooth Mtn - June 25, 2017
Thx Guy, It was a lot of fun and turned out better than I expected. I think your crew would like this one, apart from some minor inconveniences a nice offtrail adventure hike.Guy wrote:Another classic "Pablo adventure"! Thanks for sharing Paul that looks like a lot of fun!
--Paul
The future's uncertain and the end is always near.
Re: Raker Point/Sawtooth Mtn - June 25, 2017
Soupy enough?pablo wrote: Hey miah66, thx, a lucky shot. Wish I had the photoshop skills to soup it up.
Re: Raker Point/Sawtooth Mtn - June 25, 2017
Yes, nice - the changes to the sky and contrast in the forest make a difference. I should learn some skills...Webfoot wrote:Soupy enough?pablo wrote: Hey miah66, thx, a lucky shot. Wish I had the photoshop skills to soup it up.
...
Thx,
--Paul
The future's uncertain and the end is always near.
- Splintercat
- Posts: 8334
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Portland
- Contact:
Re: Raker Point/Sawtooth Mtn - June 25, 2017
Hey, Paul - loved this report! But the freaky part is that was working on a blog article on Raker Point at almost the same time in June... great minds think alike? I wish I would have seen this, as it would have asked to include some of your photos and recon in the article. For now, I think I'll just add a postscript and link at the bottom.
Thanks for posting! Your legend continues to grow..!
(BTW, the blog article is over here.
Tom
Thanks for posting! Your legend continues to grow..!
(BTW, the blog article is over here.
Tom