Oregon Hikers

Hiked/Snowshoed up Surveyors Ridge Trail from Pinemont Drive. The snow was very sticky, clinging to our snowshoes. Windy at the top, but otherwise a pleasant although cloudy day. Part way up we came across a deer, recently killed. We also saw prints from a wide variety of wildlife, much more than on our normal hikes. Made it interesting to stop and try to identify the animals.

Sugar Pine wrote:Part way up we came across a deer, recently killed.

I know you said "deer, recently killed" , but are you sure it didn't die of natural causes and then was fed upon (only stomach and insides eaten), or had it been killed by something (damage to neck and perhaps rump/back in addition to above)? Of course at some point so much has been consumed that you can no longer determine how it died. A lot of deer in central Oregon are dying of AHD. Then coyotes dine on them. Any signs that something tried to bury it? Predator tracks? Are the canine tracks from your dog, or possibly a dog with other hikers?

A big reason I love winter in the mountains is that the snow leaves so much evidence of day to day activity and the drama that plays out.

Sugar Pine wrote: We also saw prints from a wide variety of wildlife, much more than on our normal hikes. Made it interesting to stop and try to identify the animals.

Bird tracks are from an eagle. At that location it could have been either bald or golden. Both will feed on carrion.

It looked like it was killed. Just off the trail there were clumps of fur and then on the trail intestines and scat. The body was down the hill and then pulled off the trail, although not buried. Its side was open with ribs showing, but we didn't get close enough to check out the wounds further.

Wow! That is so cool, Sugar Pine! Hoping Bobcats sees this post to help out with the wildlife ID.

Thanks for posting!

Tom

Did you start from the powerline saddle off Pinemont or further north? I went up there for recently and am looking forward to going again.

I don't recall the power line saddle. This image from Basecamp shows where we started the hike. We turned off Pinemont and drove just a short way to another junction where we saw the trail/ATV route start. But, we probably should have stayed on Pinemont as this turn was steep and snowy.

Sugar Pine wrote:I don't recall the power line saddle. This image from Basecamp shows where we started the hike. We turned off Pinemont and drove just a short way to another junction where we saw the trail/ATV route start. But, we probably should have stayed on Pinemont as this turn was steep and snowy.

Thanks! That's where I started as well. But further up you can access a saddle from the east that is to the south of Bald Butte. But it's a bit longer drive. It seems like a great area.
Colette Grace