Yocum Ridge to 6400' 03-Jul-2013
Posted: July 3rd, 2013, 7:15 pm
Karl's excellent TR of his recent hike of Yocum Ridge (Yocum Ridge) inspired me to see if snow conditions would let me get above 6400' on the upper part of the ridge. Maybe the snow wouldn't oblige but the view from 6400' itself is well worth the hike. I was off early from the Ramona Falls TH, over the Sandy River bridge,
past the iconic Falls,
and on up the Yocum Ridge trail to a view point for Rainier and Adams at 5800'.
The trail was in good condition and snow free until 5800'. The trail contours SE at this point and if you try to follow it, you'll reach some good views of the falls on the upper Sandy, as Karl did. But there's a use trail, now obscured by snow, that goes NE up the ridge. It wasn't evident today, so I just turned left (NE) and uphill from the trail (arrow) and headed up.
Within about 0.3 mi, I reached the top of the ridge, with its full-on view of the SW face of Hood.
The only snow I had to deal with on this hike was from where I gained the ridge (arrow) up past the campsites to the 6400' level.
There are a couple of campsites with amazing views tucked into the trees along the ridge - I'd met someone coming up who was eagar to claim one for the weekend.
Once again, I'd come too early in the season to climb safely as high on the ridge as I'd hoped, so I settled for climbing up to the top of the ridge at 6400' and had lunch there along with views of Hood,
the falls,
and Jefferson and Olallie Butte.
I made a small loop out of this part of the hike by descending through the little meadow below the campsites on the ridge,
past a little rapidly drying pond,
and on down to rejoin the Yocum Ridge trail about where I'd left it at 5800', pausing to view the flowers along the way.
The sun had reached the face of Ramona Falls as I passed it on the way back, so I just had to take a few more photos.
Then one last look at Hood,
with a view of my lunch spot (arrow) on Yocum Ridge,
then across the bridge,
and back to the TH. Classic hike (17 mi, 4000' EG), no crowds, bluebird weather, great views - winner! Maybe one of these years I'll time it right with the snow and finally get above 6400'! Or I'll find my ice axe which got packed away during our recent move and hasn't resurfaced yet!
past the iconic Falls,
and on up the Yocum Ridge trail to a view point for Rainier and Adams at 5800'.
The trail was in good condition and snow free until 5800'. The trail contours SE at this point and if you try to follow it, you'll reach some good views of the falls on the upper Sandy, as Karl did. But there's a use trail, now obscured by snow, that goes NE up the ridge. It wasn't evident today, so I just turned left (NE) and uphill from the trail (arrow) and headed up.
Within about 0.3 mi, I reached the top of the ridge, with its full-on view of the SW face of Hood.
The only snow I had to deal with on this hike was from where I gained the ridge (arrow) up past the campsites to the 6400' level.
There are a couple of campsites with amazing views tucked into the trees along the ridge - I'd met someone coming up who was eagar to claim one for the weekend.
Once again, I'd come too early in the season to climb safely as high on the ridge as I'd hoped, so I settled for climbing up to the top of the ridge at 6400' and had lunch there along with views of Hood,
the falls,
and Jefferson and Olallie Butte.
I made a small loop out of this part of the hike by descending through the little meadow below the campsites on the ridge,
past a little rapidly drying pond,
and on down to rejoin the Yocum Ridge trail about where I'd left it at 5800', pausing to view the flowers along the way.
The sun had reached the face of Ramona Falls as I passed it on the way back, so I just had to take a few more photos.
Then one last look at Hood,
with a view of my lunch spot (arrow) on Yocum Ridge,
then across the bridge,
and back to the TH. Classic hike (17 mi, 4000' EG), no crowds, bluebird weather, great views - winner! Maybe one of these years I'll time it right with the snow and finally get above 6400'! Or I'll find my ice axe which got packed away during our recent move and hasn't resurfaced yet!