8/31-9/2 Breitenbush Lake to 3 Fingered Jack
Posted: September 3rd, 2019, 8:25 pm
Having never been to the Mt Jefferson area, I talked my girlfriend, and her son (both of whom had never really gone backpacking) into hiking into Jefferson Park with me from Breitenbush Lake via the PCT. We left my car down by 3 Fingered Jack off the Santiam Hwy, so I could get more miles in, and they wouldn't have to suffer as much as I seem to enjoy.
We hadn't researched the road from Detroit to Breitenbush and how terrible it was. If we had, we might have changed plans, but I'm glad we didn't!
We got to the Breitenbush Lake TH around 330 PM, and prepped, and took off around 4 PM. The 3 miles up to Park Ridge were easy for me because both of my compatriots took lots of breaks, and so the climb wasn't too bad. The view was pretty amazing when we got to the top.
We camped down by Russell Lake. We were around that magic 250' ring, but it was just hard packed soil near the trail surrounded by trees. We got there around 7:30, so the hike down went pretty smooth, but slow.
The next morning, we loitered around camp for a few hours, where I was antsy for hiking, but did my best to get some good photos in, and be a cooperative boyfriend, so they weren't scared off from my interests.
After leaving them around 9:30, I bombed down the first few miles until I hit a nice creek, admired the sound, the sight, and the solitude. Crossing it was easy as can be, though, I did have trail runners and trekking poles, so I just walked across the 18" deep water that was 6-8' feet wide.
Plenty of good imagery in the burnt out section between Pamelia Lake and Whitewater Creek. This seemed to be where an avalanche(?) trashed all the trees in a very noticeable streak.
After climbing up from the Milk Creek/Pamelia Lake area, I hit Coyote & Shale Lakes, and there was water, and I took a nice afternoon siesta and cameled up. Most of my pictures seem to be of water, but theres lots of other pretty features too I swear.
After climbing a little bit more, I saw some impressive campsites on Cinder Butte(?) that looked back on Jefferson. From this photo, the table is visible on the right, and the giant cliff face isn't visible. If you can pack in extra water, these spots would be amazing, but if you're not planning for it, its 4-6 miles to water downhill each way to it, so be aware.
Plenty of impressive views from the ridgeline between Mt Jefferson & Jack. But here is a photo of some lava rocks, and some bleached white trees.
Yet another gorgeous view in the middle of nowhere. I ended up camping at Rockpile Lake on Sunday night. After having done approximately 20 miles between 9:30 when I left them, and 7:30 when I strolled into camp. I promptly fell asleep.
I've already been to 3FJ a couple times, and probably posted a bunch of those pictures on other trip reports, so here is a picture of my shoes from the parking lot. The last like 4 miles coming down from 3FJ was super dusty and quick. At this point on Monday, I wanted to get home and relax.
More general trip report info:
No bugs anywhere on the trip. No mosquitos, flies, etc etc. Water was plentiful for the first half, but the second 20 miles, the water options Shale Lake & Rockpile Lake & Koko Lake & the 3FJ TH hiker cache. I rarely went more than an hour without seeing other people, so, with a greater concentration around Jefferson Park, and next to the TH at Jack. There were rangers in the park giving people tickets/making them relocate for those who had set up their camps right next to 'closed for rehab'. Nice they're trying to keep the crowds respectful of the area. None of the stream crossings were sketchy (the only 2 notable I think were Milk Creek and Russell Creek, and both were fine). Plenty of open campsites south of the Park, even with the "crowds". Definitely was warm in the afternoons, and cool at night, but nothing froze, and nothing was too hot to walk in. Lots of easy cruising sections interspersed between the uphill grinds. About 7800 down and 7400 up overall as per Halfmile maps on the 38 miles between Breitenbush Lk and Santiam Hwy, so about a 7% slope overall, with plenty of good views, plenty of hard miles, and plenty of time to get sweaty and dirty.
I have tons more pictures if there is anything in particular anyone is interested in. Otherwise, happy trails!
We hadn't researched the road from Detroit to Breitenbush and how terrible it was. If we had, we might have changed plans, but I'm glad we didn't!
We got to the Breitenbush Lake TH around 330 PM, and prepped, and took off around 4 PM. The 3 miles up to Park Ridge were easy for me because both of my compatriots took lots of breaks, and so the climb wasn't too bad. The view was pretty amazing when we got to the top.
We camped down by Russell Lake. We were around that magic 250' ring, but it was just hard packed soil near the trail surrounded by trees. We got there around 7:30, so the hike down went pretty smooth, but slow.
The next morning, we loitered around camp for a few hours, where I was antsy for hiking, but did my best to get some good photos in, and be a cooperative boyfriend, so they weren't scared off from my interests.
After leaving them around 9:30, I bombed down the first few miles until I hit a nice creek, admired the sound, the sight, and the solitude. Crossing it was easy as can be, though, I did have trail runners and trekking poles, so I just walked across the 18" deep water that was 6-8' feet wide.
Plenty of good imagery in the burnt out section between Pamelia Lake and Whitewater Creek. This seemed to be where an avalanche(?) trashed all the trees in a very noticeable streak.
After climbing up from the Milk Creek/Pamelia Lake area, I hit Coyote & Shale Lakes, and there was water, and I took a nice afternoon siesta and cameled up. Most of my pictures seem to be of water, but theres lots of other pretty features too I swear.
After climbing a little bit more, I saw some impressive campsites on Cinder Butte(?) that looked back on Jefferson. From this photo, the table is visible on the right, and the giant cliff face isn't visible. If you can pack in extra water, these spots would be amazing, but if you're not planning for it, its 4-6 miles to water downhill each way to it, so be aware.
Plenty of impressive views from the ridgeline between Mt Jefferson & Jack. But here is a photo of some lava rocks, and some bleached white trees.
Yet another gorgeous view in the middle of nowhere. I ended up camping at Rockpile Lake on Sunday night. After having done approximately 20 miles between 9:30 when I left them, and 7:30 when I strolled into camp. I promptly fell asleep.
I've already been to 3FJ a couple times, and probably posted a bunch of those pictures on other trip reports, so here is a picture of my shoes from the parking lot. The last like 4 miles coming down from 3FJ was super dusty and quick. At this point on Monday, I wanted to get home and relax.
More general trip report info:
No bugs anywhere on the trip. No mosquitos, flies, etc etc. Water was plentiful for the first half, but the second 20 miles, the water options Shale Lake & Rockpile Lake & Koko Lake & the 3FJ TH hiker cache. I rarely went more than an hour without seeing other people, so, with a greater concentration around Jefferson Park, and next to the TH at Jack. There were rangers in the park giving people tickets/making them relocate for those who had set up their camps right next to 'closed for rehab'. Nice they're trying to keep the crowds respectful of the area. None of the stream crossings were sketchy (the only 2 notable I think were Milk Creek and Russell Creek, and both were fine). Plenty of open campsites south of the Park, even with the "crowds". Definitely was warm in the afternoons, and cool at night, but nothing froze, and nothing was too hot to walk in. Lots of easy cruising sections interspersed between the uphill grinds. About 7800 down and 7400 up overall as per Halfmile maps on the 38 miles between Breitenbush Lk and Santiam Hwy, so about a 7% slope overall, with plenty of good views, plenty of hard miles, and plenty of time to get sweaty and dirty.
I have tons more pictures if there is anything in particular anyone is interested in. Otherwise, happy trails!