I decided to head up Archer Mountain on a fine but windy day to inspect the newest improvements that have been going on these past many months. All the work here is performed by a gang of reprobates and ne’er-do-wells with much time on their industrious hands; nonetheless, they deserve our most sincere appreciation – the trail system at Archer is the finest and most organized it has ever been.
I took the trail down to Archer Creek, now indicated by an artistic sign of historical import. Archer Mountain is named after Finch R. Archer, an Englishman who homesteaded above the current trailhead in 1901. Quite obviously, the sign portrays Finch in his cosplay raiment, complete with blonde hair extensions and steel-eyed concentration.
Down at the creek, I crossed the two-log bridge and began the ascent of the south face of Archer. As you get higher, the views extend across High Valley to the St. Cloud promontory and farther west to Cape Horn. In a couple of places, cable lines have been bolted to the rock as hand holds. I made the foray to Scott Point, where Archer Falls, sequestered up High Valley’s sheer canyon, was getting blown away by a very stiff easterly.
Then I picked up the Quiver Point Trail, the newest trail remodel on the plateau and also artistically illustrated. This version of the Quiver route is a much more professional effort than the brushy track that existed before the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. (For those who weren’t around then, Archer was the only place on the Washington side of the Gorge affected by that conflagration.) Quiver Point was incinerated more than any other spot on Archer. There’s a very steep, narrow, slippery track down the spine of Quiver Point. I stood near the end, buffeted by the strong easterly, and then took out my pruners and cut back a little brush on the way back up. Things haven’t leafed out fully yet, and future visitors should pack a pair of loppers/pruners to help out with this effort.
The Quiver Point Trail continues to join a trail across the face of Archer to reach Arrow Point. A summit trail branches off, and then there’s a somewhat sketchy traverse before you reach a graphic Danger sign. I went out on Arrow Point as far as the 15 foot downclimb, but felt rather exposed in the buffeting wind and turned back there. There’s a good view to Quiver Point from Arrow Point’s spine.
I took the Summit Trail to Archer’s summit, also burned in the fire, which opened up the views to the east a little. The Summit Trail continues down the west side of the summit to enter an old-growth woodland of Douglas-fir and western hemlock. I passed above a couple of springs before rejoining the Quiver Point Trail and then descending the mountain.
Back near the trailhead, I took the figure of eight loop around the site of the old hippy commune (1970-199?) at High Valley. The commune dissolved acrimoniously over a period of years due to infighting and quarrels over resources. There’s a neat stone wall, either from the commune or Archer’s time, and other signs of a human settlement, including an electrical box, apple trees, cherries, a flowering quince, and daffodils.
From this figure of eight, an unsigned trail leads up High Valley to Archer Falls. Another trail heads up to St. Cloud Point on the cliffs above. Both of these areas are in Washington DNR’s Columbia Falls Natural Area Preserve and are off-limits to casual hikers (they’re open to researchers and group tours).
Archer Mountain 4-6-22
Re: Archer Mountain 4-6-22
Northwesterners sure do have a creative sense of humor!
I'm originally from Tennessee, and I'll never forget learning of the "Bridge of the Gods." There's only one God down in Tennessee, and the idea that any landmark would be named after a plurality of Gods... well, that just wouldn't fly. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think people up here are just looser and have more fun with stuff.
Believe it or not, I barely ever ride a mountain bike.
Re: Archer Mountain 4-6-22
My favorite was the "danger" sign
- Don Nelsen
- Posts: 4377
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Re: Archer Mountain 4-6-22
I think this is the best Archer Mt. TR I've ever seen! Thanks! Nice photos, too.
dn
dn
"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
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
Re: Archer Mountain 4-6-22
Wonderful report and photos! I'm endlessly fascinated by this area and love seeing reports from those of you who know it well.
Here's a link to an Archer trip report from the September 16, 1901 edition of the Oregonian:
https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn8 ... d-1/seq-9/
Does anyone have any information on the "Indian mounds" they reference at length (or what they might be referring to by the matching ones directly across the river)? I don't think I've ever heard any mention of 'vision quest' artifacts in the Archer area, and I'm certain I've never encountered what they're describing.
http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/ ... ntain.html
I figured I'd stop going down the same old rabbit holes and just ask the experts
Here's a link to an Archer trip report from the September 16, 1901 edition of the Oregonian:
https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn8 ... d-1/seq-9/
Does anyone have any information on the "Indian mounds" they reference at length (or what they might be referring to by the matching ones directly across the river)? I don't think I've ever heard any mention of 'vision quest' artifacts in the Archer area, and I'm certain I've never encountered what they're describing.
Here's another link with an easier to read blurb from the article (bottom of the page, "first ascent") :A short and easy climb brings one to the Indian mounds, about half way up the southern slope to the summit. This is the dumping ground of the mountain. A huge cliff, bare and bleak, towers up in a straight line several hundred feet toward the sky. Acres of loose, rolling rocks and pebbles lie at its base. Here the frowning mountain, in grim humor, throws stones at itself. But it is easy to see that the hand of man has also had a part in the wild play. The whole place looks like the ancient cemetery of some forgotten race. The mounds face toward the river. They are arranged in set rows, trenches, and winnows. Here and there, square and round hillocks of stones are thrown up without regard to the points of the compass. Altogether there are between 20 and 30 mounds, but farther on around a spur of the mountain are other groups of these mounds. The order and regularity with which they are placed, leave a profound impression upon the observer, and this is deepened when one is told that directly across the river a neighboring mountain has a similar collection of mounds, which also face toward the river.
http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/ ... ntain.html
I figured I'd stop going down the same old rabbit holes and just ask the experts
- retired jerry
- Posts: 14395
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Re: Archer Mountain 4-6-22
aren't there some Indian mounds south of Silver Star Mountain?
Re: Archer Mountain 4-6-22
Good thought! I don't think that's what they're describing in the article though, unless they were way off course . The pits at Silver Star are a beautiful destination!retired jerry wrote: ↑June 7th, 2022, 2:03 pmaren't there some Indian mounds south of Silver Star Mountain?
- retired jerry
- Posts: 14395
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Re: Archer Mountain 4-6-22
that's right, they're pits
- Don Nelsen
- Posts: 4377
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Re: Archer Mountain 4-6-22
I believe the features described can be found directly below Quiver Point. A gas pipeline runs across the area and there are a couple of cat tracks on the jumble of rocks but most of the area is intact. It's easy enough to reach from existing trails.
Here's a photo I took from Quiver Point that fits the description in the article: And, a google earth image:
Here's a photo I took from Quiver Point that fits the description in the article: And, a google earth image:
"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
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller