Redaction Point is a gorge treasure. Close to town, relatively high TH, loop opportunities. Amazing it hasn't been overrun by the instagram idiots.
I was worried there would be too much snow (ditch the car and walk up the last mile of road to the TH) or too little snow (basically a summer hike but with miserable weather). But it was Goldilocks, just enough snow to make it interesting.
I was the first to the TH. Amazed to find it plowed. Followed boot-track up (surprising) until it got a little sketchy. I retreated to a little wind-protected grotto, where I put my spikes on and grabbed an axe in each hand. I was embarrassed to be so over-equipped, where I could see nothing but boot prints (i.e. no evidence of traction devices or axes, or even treking poles). My embarrassment faded when the footprints ended abruptly at a steep icy gully. Ha! They gave up. I continued on, eventually failed, back down, over, up again, success.
Redaction point was every bit as brutal as I expected. I'd been protected from the wind on my ascent, but on top it was savage. Hard to stand, and given the exposure, I was occasionally on knees. I was grateful for the virgin snow, knowing I was the first to stand here this winter. I'm kidding, of course. But I bet I was the first to reach that point in the last week or two. Good enough.
I continued up Redaction Ridge, finding my own way where the trail was buried. Arrowhead Canyon was to my right, so I really couldn't get lost. Even so, I found myself confused when I saw a big snowy opening through the trees. Came to realize it was the powerline corridor. Shocked I was there so soon.
Backtracked and dropped to the top of Arrowhead Falls. Had planned to drop in to Arrowhead Canyon and follow the creek back to (almost) my car, but the drop into the canyon spooked me. I've done it bare, but snow was sketchy. If it was firm consolidated snow and I had crampons, I wouldn't hesitate.
I returned essentially the way I came, but closer to edge of canyon for better scenery. Snow was terrible, very soft/deep. Eventually met up with my ascent route.
Close to my car, followed footprints back up, this time close to creek at canyon bottom, until the footprints stopped at a slide. Wow, I was amazed at how timid people were. But I gave up too, as it was maybe an hour from sunset, and I've been to the falls before. I needed an excuse to turn back.
Redaction Point and Arrowhead Falls
Redaction Point and Arrowhead Falls
- Attachments
Re: Redaction Point and Arrowhead Falls
Oh, I almost forgot, I wanted to share some pics from "nicer" days:
[drat, can't find the one I had in mind, don't know where I filed it]
[drat, can't find the one I had in mind, don't know where I filed it]
Re: Redaction Point and Arrowhead Falls
Found my other pics (still on my phone). The swing seems to be gone.
Re: Redaction Point and Arrowhead Falls
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Last edited by Thuja on March 8th, 2019, 7:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- acorn woodpecker
- Posts: 240
- Joined: January 4th, 2013, 8:35 pm
Re: Redaction Point and Arrowhead Falls
Nice, Chip. It's like January 2017 when every mountain in the gorge became an alpine mountaineering route. Always wanted to at least get to the point (and beyond) in conditions like this, but have been in that area in nearly every other condition. I hauled a metal chair down to the trailhead and dismantled a fire ring from the point a couple years ago. One can still get solitude in the area, but word is getting out about the point (it made it into the latest edition of a guidebook) so your digital cloaking type isn't enough to stem the tide!
Re: Redaction Point and Arrowhead Falls
You complain of "instagramming" yet you disregard the essence of your complaint.
Re: Redaction Point and Arrowhead Falls
I do not believe your "blaze" was a blaze, it's just a section of bark that rotted off the dead alder tree.
Most of the old blazes were a head and torso (to distinguish them from a scrape or some other deformation in the bark)...and nearly all of them were on conifers and not deciduous trees which tend to have shorter lives due to their fast growth.
Most of the old blazes were a head and torso (to distinguish them from a scrape or some other deformation in the bark)...and nearly all of them were on conifers and not deciduous trees which tend to have shorter lives due to their fast growth.
Re: Redaction Point and Arrowhead Falls
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Last edited by Thuja on March 8th, 2019, 7:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- retired jerry
- Posts: 14425
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Re: Redaction Point and Arrowhead Falls
I'm still waiting for someone to reveal where this is, must be west end of gorge. Too lazy to look it up. Some of the best mysteries are left unsolved