Barrett Spur via Cathedral Ridge 2021/10/03
Posted: October 5th, 2021, 7:37 pm
Photo of the Day:
I had all day Sunday free, and figured I should be spending as much time as I could as high as I could before these trails get snowed in for the season. This was my third trip to Barrett Spur, and for one reason or another I didn't go all the way to the southern tip either of the first two times.
I started from Mazama Trailhead right at 8am. Mine was the fourth car there, the other three belonging to backpackers. The Mazama trail up Cathedral Ridge was completely logged out, save the one well-flagged detour around a large tangle of blowdown. Huge thanks to those who did the work. I finally saw another hiker after a few minutes on the Timberline Trail, and saw my first patch of snow for the season soon after at about 5800'.
The plan was to make a little lollipop loop, going up via Dollar Lake and back down to Wy'East. I took the Cairn Basin trail to Wy'East Basin and continued around toward Elk Cove until I hit the Dollar Lake cutoff trail. I found the junction easily, and the short distance up to the lake was much more pleasant than my first time, when I missed the junction and bushwhacked up to the lake about 30 feet from the actual trail. Dollar Lake looked the same ever, and the views really started getting good on the slog up to the saddle below Barrett Spur.
About half the people I saw all day were on top of Barrett Spur. It's very clear why folks want to go there.
I was not expecting was how broad and flat the spur is on the southern end. The middle section is narrow and crumbly, and I had just sort of assumed that as you went along it got narrower and crumblier until you turn around.
After spending nearly an hour taking in all the views from the top, I headed back down. The light kept getting better and better as the afternoon progressed, which really slowed me down.
This might be my favorite time of the year to be around Mt. Hood. It's that wonderful shoulder season when the fall colors have started and there's fresh snow on the upper slopes, but the trails are still clear. Mt. Hood at its most beautiful.
I had all day Sunday free, and figured I should be spending as much time as I could as high as I could before these trails get snowed in for the season. This was my third trip to Barrett Spur, and for one reason or another I didn't go all the way to the southern tip either of the first two times.
I started from Mazama Trailhead right at 8am. Mine was the fourth car there, the other three belonging to backpackers. The Mazama trail up Cathedral Ridge was completely logged out, save the one well-flagged detour around a large tangle of blowdown. Huge thanks to those who did the work. I finally saw another hiker after a few minutes on the Timberline Trail, and saw my first patch of snow for the season soon after at about 5800'.
The plan was to make a little lollipop loop, going up via Dollar Lake and back down to Wy'East. I took the Cairn Basin trail to Wy'East Basin and continued around toward Elk Cove until I hit the Dollar Lake cutoff trail. I found the junction easily, and the short distance up to the lake was much more pleasant than my first time, when I missed the junction and bushwhacked up to the lake about 30 feet from the actual trail. Dollar Lake looked the same ever, and the views really started getting good on the slog up to the saddle below Barrett Spur.
About half the people I saw all day were on top of Barrett Spur. It's very clear why folks want to go there.
I was not expecting was how broad and flat the spur is on the southern end. The middle section is narrow and crumbly, and I had just sort of assumed that as you went along it got narrower and crumblier until you turn around.
After spending nearly an hour taking in all the views from the top, I headed back down. The light kept getting better and better as the afternoon progressed, which really slowed me down.
This might be my favorite time of the year to be around Mt. Hood. It's that wonderful shoulder season when the fall colors have started and there's fresh snow on the upper slopes, but the trails are still clear. Mt. Hood at its most beautiful.