Indian Heaven (Red Mtn) 31-Aug-2011
Posted: August 31st, 2011, 6:18 pm
Having done some hikes in the northern parts of the Indian Heaven Wilderness, it seemed about time to see what was in the southern part. Portland was under a cloud deck when I left, but I was hoping that the clouds would dissipate by the time I got to the TH. No - my weather mojo failed completely and the whole day was spent under clouds, with wind, mist, and occasional drizzle, with temps in the 50s – felt like a tryout for Fall. Pulling on extra layers (August??), I started from the Crest Horse Camp on FR 60 and took the PCT N into the wilderness. First stop were the Sheep Lakes, at about 4000’.
Indian Heaven in summer means bugs – lots of them – but there were none today [a couple of mosquitos did throw off their parkas and head toward me, but they were felled by hypothermia before they had a chance to bite ].
I crossed into the wilderness,
and soon passed Green Lake.
I continued N on the PCT to where it reaches 5000’ just W of Berry Mtn. No snow anywhere but no views either.
There were, however, quite a few very ripe – and very tasty – huckleberries in bushes along the PCT just N of Pt 4996. Rest assured that I did my best – despite the weather – to see to it that they didn’t go to waste. Once the berries were gone or unreachable, I headed back S and took trail 171A over to the Indian Race Track.
Then Trail 171 S to the top of Red Mountain and a view of the lookout, done in the classic squat box style.
Only because I wanted to do a loop, I took the lookout service road (FR 6048) down to FR 60 and then followed that back to the car. If I did this particular route again, I'd skip the road and back-track on trail 171. While it certainly wasn’t the best day weather-wise, I always enjoy hiking in the Indian Heaven area and will have to try this hike again when the weather is better. All told, 12.4 mi, 2300’.
Indian Heaven in summer means bugs – lots of them – but there were none today [a couple of mosquitos did throw off their parkas and head toward me, but they were felled by hypothermia before they had a chance to bite ].
I crossed into the wilderness,
and soon passed Green Lake.
I continued N on the PCT to where it reaches 5000’ just W of Berry Mtn. No snow anywhere but no views either.
There were, however, quite a few very ripe – and very tasty – huckleberries in bushes along the PCT just N of Pt 4996. Rest assured that I did my best – despite the weather – to see to it that they didn’t go to waste. Once the berries were gone or unreachable, I headed back S and took trail 171A over to the Indian Race Track.
Then Trail 171 S to the top of Red Mountain and a view of the lookout, done in the classic squat box style.
Only because I wanted to do a loop, I took the lookout service road (FR 6048) down to FR 60 and then followed that back to the car. If I did this particular route again, I'd skip the road and back-track on trail 171. While it certainly wasn’t the best day weather-wise, I always enjoy hiking in the Indian Heaven area and will have to try this hike again when the weather is better. All told, 12.4 mi, 2300’.