Mt. Jefferson north ridge to Marion County high point

This forum is used to share your experiences out on the trails.
Post Reply
User avatar
Don Nelsen
Posts: 4377
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Location: Vancouver, WA

Mt. Jefferson north ridge to Marion County high point

Post by Don Nelsen » July 15th, 2017, 5:36 pm

This was my second trip to this oddly placed county high point but a friend was in the area and asked if I wanted to join him on what he hoped would be his completion climbing to the highest point of all 36 counties of Oregon. On July 9th, 2005 I did this hike in cold, cloudy and windy conditions but the forecast was excellent for the planned day so I enthusiastically agreed.

We both car-camped at the TH and got an unusually (for me) early start: 6:24 am!

An hour and a half later, we got our first views of our goal:
Image

We hopped across Whitewater Creek on the rocks (why isn't there a bridge here?) turned onto the PCT a short distance later. After just a quarter mile on the PCT we cut right, into the forest. We immediately ran into snow:

In the forest at only 5,700':
Image

The ridge was steep in places:
Image

Both steepness and snow cover alternated from a little to a lot:
Image

As the trees thinned out, we started getting some spectacular views. This next group of photos were taken between 6,500' and 7,000':
Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

The last of the struggling trees were at 7,400' but the views just kept on coming: Here's Jefferson Park from the 7,600' level:
Image

The route was getting more difficult with large and loose rocks to navigate:
Image

Image

Our goal - the HP of Marion County OR, elevation, 9,000':
Image

The view looking the other way:
Image

All the photos are here:
http://www.fototime.com/users/donnelsen ... th%20ridge


A pretty good day in the woods! 14.4 miles 5,031 EG.

-Don
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly

"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller

User avatar
markesc
Posts: 1530
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: Mt. Jefferson north ridge to Marion County high point

Post by markesc » July 15th, 2017, 6:37 pm

Wow! Excellent!

I woulda tapped out early! Look at bear point way down there, and I thought I did well getting up that thing!

Cool pics, I think that would make for some sweet night shots!

User avatar
K.Wagner
Posts: 652
Joined: June 2nd, 2013, 1:25 pm
Location: Vancouver, WA

Re: Mt. Jefferson north ridge to Marion County high point

Post by K.Wagner » July 17th, 2017, 11:22 am

Don,

A few years ago (OK, a lot of years ago!), Fran & I went up that ridge, probably up to around 7,000 feet, where the going got rougher. I don't remember the specifics, except that it was pretty awesome looking down on the glacier & the views out over the rest of the world.
Kelly
There is no shortcut to anyplace worth going to.

PM me about the soon to be released:
Skamania 231
"How to really get off the beaten path in Skamania County"

Post Reply