It's July 8, 2018 and I'm just back from an overnight backpack trip. Loads of wildflowers (couldn't post photos of all), a reliable water source at Oval Lake camp, and two spectacular overlooks.
I started at Fret Creek trail head and hiked in just shy of 2 miles to reach Oval Lake. It's short but there are two *very* steep sections. Oval Lake is lovely, though very shallow, and surely a mosquito's paradise. Luckily, they are only starting to emerge and not really a bother. You'll want bug spray for dusk and morning, but that's all. Oval Lake is a great base camp. There are other spots further up (and I do mean "up") but I didn't see any more water sources.
After setting camp I continued on up and hung a left. Just a bit over a quarter mile to Palisade Point. It's very rocky and dry, and higher elevation,so the wildflowers were of a different sort. Dramatic views of the Cascades and fascinating andesite rock formations.
Next I turned around and headed past my home trail to hike up to Lookout Mountain summit. At 6,536 feet, Lookout Mountain is the highest point in Badger Creek Wilderness. There once was an actual fire watch building there, but you can only see the foundation now. More importantly, you can see Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, the Three Sisters, Mt. Washington, and Mt. Jefferson.
All of this is certainly doable as a day hike. You can also access Lookout Mountain, etc. from other trails. What I like about the route I took is it's pretty much all downhill after the last hurrah. In a good way. By the time I was back to camp, I hiked around 8 miles total, with almost 2,000 feet of net climb. Worth every last centimeter.
Note: I'm fairly certain I heard a bear very near my camp. It was about an hour after sunset. Sounded just like recordings I've heard, but I couldn't locate with a flashlight. Glad I had my food and anything with a scent hung way high up!
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It was seriously hard to narrow down to just 15 photos
NOTE: All plant IDs are my best attempt. Corrections are welcome!
Fret Creek Trail is mostly forested and closely follows the creek. Green, green, green everywhere.
Royal Penstamon
Anemone oregana
A gauntlet of coral mushrooms
Obligatory lake as mirror shot. Oval Lake.
Saw two salamanders - waiting on ID help.
Cistanthe sp. ("pussypaws")
One view from Palisade Point
Mule ears?
Calochortus subalpinus (Mariposa Lily)
There were two wonderfully fragrant plants near Lookout Mountain. I think one was a Ceanothus of some sort, the other is this Fragrant white sage.
Mt. Hood looking good!
I just learned Whitebark pine is a threatened species. Next time, I'll have to look for living examples.
Tall Jacob's-Ladder
Phlox
Overnight Fret Creek to Palisades Point and Lookout Mt.
Re: Overnight Fret Creek to Palisades Point and Lookout Mt.
Great overnighter and one of my favorite areas!
Your salamander looks very much like a Cope's giant salamander, right on the eastern edge of its range. Wow - I've never seen one, but now I know where to look!
Your salamander looks very much like a Cope's giant salamander, right on the eastern edge of its range. Wow - I've never seen one, but now I know where to look!
Re: Overnight Fret Creek to Palisades Point and Lookout Mt.
We camped at Oval Lake just a few weeks ago - the froggy evensong was something special, but no mysterious snuffling in the wee hours. If you go again, I endorse keeping going past the Palisades to the Flag FretPoint lookout tower, which is an active firewatch in the summer. It is manned June - September by a very nice man and his dog who in all likelihood will invite you up - the view is most definitely worth the rickety stairs!
Last edited by walrus on July 10th, 2018, 6:55 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Overnight Fret Creek to Palisades Point and Lookout Mt.
Thanks, Bobcat. I wondered about the Cope's. It was so fun watching the guy/gal swim around. Near the best established camp spot at the north end, by the way.
Re: Overnight Fret Creek to Palisades Point and Lookout Mt.
Wonderful - thanks for the tip, I will definitely do that. And agreed on the froggy evensong. Sigh, I should have stayed.walrus wrote: ↑July 9th, 2018, 6:21 pmWe camped at Oval Lake just a few weeks ago - the froggy evensong was something special, but no mysterious snuffling in the wee hours. If you go again, I endorse keeping going past the Palisades to the Fret Point lookout tower, which is an active firewatch in the summer. It is manned June - September by a very nice man and his dog who in all likelihood will invite you up - the view is most definitely worth the rickety stairs!
Re: Overnight Fret Creek to Palisades Point and Lookout Mt.
UPDATE: according to the Facebook herp ID group, my salamander friend is a Ambystoma gracile. The common name is boringly common: northwestern salamander. Neotenic type. Sorry to say, your search for a Cope’s may have to continue.
Re: Overnight Fret Creek to Palisades Point and Lookout Mt.
Glad you checked on that with the experts - although this one would also be at the very edge of its range. Apparently the neotonic type prevails at higher altitudes.