Stacker Butte: 12/31/16
Posted: January 1st, 2017, 3:09 pm
What: Stacker Butte Hike in the Snow
When: 12/31/16
Who: Me (Born2BBrad), Dawn (Forest Panther)
Opening picture:
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General Information
Total miles: 8.5
Total EG: 2500’
Number of other hikers: 0
Estimated top wind speed: 45-50 mph
Google Earth overview:
Topographical overview:
Elevation profile:
Google Earth 360 video overview (31 seconds):
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Narrative
If you have ever driven I-84 east through the Columbia River Gorge to Eastern Oregon, you certainly have noticed the hills on the Washington side spanning from Lyle to Rock Creek. This 45 mile long range is known as the Columbia Hills.
Many people are familiar with the annual springtime balsamroot and lupine flower show of The Dalles Mt. Ranch, now part of the Columbia Hills Nature Area Preserve.
The high point of the Columbia Hills is Stacker Butte (3220’), which is within the Columbia Hills Nature Area Preserve. An easily walkable road, closed off to traffic, leads to Stacker Butte.
Having been to The Dalles Mt. Ranch and Stacker Butte in the spring, Dawn and I thought it would be interesting to see it in the winter, covered in snow. Now that we live in The Dalles, it’s only a 20 minute drive to the trailhead.
With the forecast for the last day of the year being favorable, off we went!
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Pictures
View from the trailhead. Notice the low clouds hanging over the Columbia River:
Trailhead sign and gate:
No ticks or rattlesnakes today. Attention Grammar Police, do you see anything wrong here?
It looks like each government agency has their own key to unlock the gate:
The road started out mostly clear of snow in the tracks:
Soon it was all snow. The snow cat tracks made for easy walking:
Almost as pretty as the big yellow blooms in spring, eh?
Looking east, with the low clouds still hanging around:
The first communication structure in sight. This is where we noticed the wind beginning:
The snow cat cut the switchback, so we did too:
Lots of white snow and low clouds:
Looking east back at the first communication structure:
The north side of the Columbia Hills had low clouds too:
Swale Canyon:
Mt. Adams:
FAA beacon on Stacker Butte:
Old fence post:
The last of the communication structures:
After making it to the last communication tower, the snow cat tracks ended. Looking west, at Peak 3045, we thought, “Hey! Let’s see if we can make it over there! It doesn’t look that far away.” Famous last words.
Feline tracks on the way to Peak 3045:
To get to Peak 3045, you must lose 360’ and then gain 345 of those feet back. Not too difficult on a groomed trail, but breaking trail with a headwind that was now 30+ mph is another story. We made it halfway there before deciding to turn around. Note: from the last communication tower to Peak 3045 is just under two miles one way.
On the way back after trying to make it to Peak 3045.
To get out of the incessant wind, we took shelter behind a wall of one of the buildings next to a communication tower. The sound the wind made blowing through the tower was eerie. The sideways blowing snow added to auditory display.
Video of wind noise and blowing snow (19 seconds):
With the winds picked up, the low clouds hanging over the Columbia River began to get scoured out:
Mt. Adams framed by old fence posts:
The ridge of the Columbia Hills are known for channeling high winds. We almost got blown over a few times on the way down. It was the highest wind I have ever experienced while hiking.
Here I am leaning into the wind:
Keep on hiking,
Brad
When: 12/31/16
Who: Me (Born2BBrad), Dawn (Forest Panther)
Opening picture:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Information
Total miles: 8.5
Total EG: 2500’
Number of other hikers: 0
Estimated top wind speed: 45-50 mph
Google Earth overview:
Topographical overview:
Elevation profile:
Google Earth 360 video overview (31 seconds):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Narrative
If you have ever driven I-84 east through the Columbia River Gorge to Eastern Oregon, you certainly have noticed the hills on the Washington side spanning from Lyle to Rock Creek. This 45 mile long range is known as the Columbia Hills.
Many people are familiar with the annual springtime balsamroot and lupine flower show of The Dalles Mt. Ranch, now part of the Columbia Hills Nature Area Preserve.
The high point of the Columbia Hills is Stacker Butte (3220’), which is within the Columbia Hills Nature Area Preserve. An easily walkable road, closed off to traffic, leads to Stacker Butte.
Having been to The Dalles Mt. Ranch and Stacker Butte in the spring, Dawn and I thought it would be interesting to see it in the winter, covered in snow. Now that we live in The Dalles, it’s only a 20 minute drive to the trailhead.
With the forecast for the last day of the year being favorable, off we went!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pictures
View from the trailhead. Notice the low clouds hanging over the Columbia River:
Trailhead sign and gate:
No ticks or rattlesnakes today. Attention Grammar Police, do you see anything wrong here?
It looks like each government agency has their own key to unlock the gate:
The road started out mostly clear of snow in the tracks:
Soon it was all snow. The snow cat tracks made for easy walking:
Almost as pretty as the big yellow blooms in spring, eh?
Looking east, with the low clouds still hanging around:
The first communication structure in sight. This is where we noticed the wind beginning:
The snow cat cut the switchback, so we did too:
Lots of white snow and low clouds:
Looking east back at the first communication structure:
The north side of the Columbia Hills had low clouds too:
Swale Canyon:
Mt. Adams:
FAA beacon on Stacker Butte:
Old fence post:
The last of the communication structures:
After making it to the last communication tower, the snow cat tracks ended. Looking west, at Peak 3045, we thought, “Hey! Let’s see if we can make it over there! It doesn’t look that far away.” Famous last words.
Feline tracks on the way to Peak 3045:
To get to Peak 3045, you must lose 360’ and then gain 345 of those feet back. Not too difficult on a groomed trail, but breaking trail with a headwind that was now 30+ mph is another story. We made it halfway there before deciding to turn around. Note: from the last communication tower to Peak 3045 is just under two miles one way.
On the way back after trying to make it to Peak 3045.
To get out of the incessant wind, we took shelter behind a wall of one of the buildings next to a communication tower. The sound the wind made blowing through the tower was eerie. The sideways blowing snow added to auditory display.
Video of wind noise and blowing snow (19 seconds):
With the winds picked up, the low clouds hanging over the Columbia River began to get scoured out:
Mt. Adams framed by old fence posts:
The ridge of the Columbia Hills are known for channeling high winds. We almost got blown over a few times on the way down. It was the highest wind I have ever experienced while hiking.
Here I am leaning into the wind:
Keep on hiking,
Brad
)