Well, our Sepvember is over. Bushwhacking in new snow is miserable, so I looked for a trail for today's hike. Settled on Surveyors Ridge from the north TH. Pine Mont Drive was plowed, but a bit icy, and no place to comfortably turn around except driveways. I figured if I persisted, I could end up having to back down. So I went looking for a way to access the powerline road that goes up to Surveyors Ridge, and stumbled upon Oak Ridge TH. Perfect! Really close to Hwy 35.
I started up the trail with a couple surprises: It really wasn't that cold, and somebody had broken trail for me. Nice. But at 2200 the footprints abruptly ended, in a random place. I guess they got fed up with it, or ran out of time. Just above that, I entered the open ridgecrest. That was fun. Trail was just slightly hard to follow, but getting lost would be impossible. Snow was getting really deep, but when I re-entered the forest, it wasn't so bad.
When I reached Surveyors Ridge, I noticed I had been traveling at about 1mph, a pace that I continued through the hike. I turned left/north and waded through deep snow along the ridge crest until I reached a saddle where I found the utility road. I continued north, in hopes of reaching the open snowy slopes I had seen from Oak Ridge Trail (I came to realize it's Bald Butte). Kinda boring at the top. I had hoped for a distinct high point with a 360 view, but it's elongated, with a gradual drop to the north, and lots of trees.
I dropped back down to the powerline saddle, and started down the utility road. This is where I encountered the deepest snow of the day, about waistband high in spots, usually mid thigh. I don't think it would have been possible to ascend this road as I had originally planned. The powerline corridor was slightly fun and scenic, but not as much as I was hoping for.
Field guide says I should watch for rattlesnakes and ticks. I didn't see any.
Bald Butte via Oak Ridge & Surveyors Ridge
Bald Butte via Oak Ridge & Surveyors Ridge
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Re: Bald Butte via Oak Ridge & Surveyors Ridge
Thanks for the snow level intel. I was just thinking of doing this hike later this week. Guess I will find another, since I am not a big fan of the snow.
MaryannPDX
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Re: Bald Butte via Oak Ridge & Surveyors Ridge
Great report, thank you. What kind of pants were you wearing for this hike?
Re: Bald Butte via Oak Ridge & Surveyors Ridge
Heavy fleece. It seems like smoother material would hold less snow, and thus stay drier, but I've never been uncomfortably damp in fleece. If I spent a lot of time in those conditions, I'd buy some dedicated snow pants, or pair a light fleece layer with a smooth outer layer to block wind and shed snow. Speaking of clothing, I'm glad I didn't wear a parka, as it would have been dragging in the snow. Even my waist-length jacket was brushing the snow at times.vitameatavegamin wrote: ↑December 1st, 2019, 6:22 amGreat report, thank you. What kind of pants were you wearing for this hike?

- retired jerry
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Re: Bald Butte via Oak Ridge & Surveyors Ridge
the snow was waist deep at spots????
Re: Bald Butte via Oak Ridge & Surveyors Ridge
Yep, sure was. On the utility road, along the powerlines. No trees to catch any of it, and too protected to be windswept. One concern is that as I looked downslope, I could see there were places where parts of the meandering road system ascended slightly before more descents. Good luck walking uphill in that! I was mostly able to string together downhill sections, sometimes offroad. It was light and fluffy, and with a little help from gravity it wasn't too hard to walk through. I've never played in a ball pit, but I imagine this is what it feels like.
When I finally cut over to the packed trail down low, it felt amazing to walk normally for the first time in hours. Trail was very narrow, a trough through the snow, as if it had been carefully excavated with a shovel. Maybe about mid-calf at that point.
- retired jerry
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Re: Bald Butte via Oak Ridge & Surveyors Ridge
wow, I guess it's now winter. No more alpine trips unless it's with snowshoes or something.
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Re: Bald Butte via Oak Ridge & Surveyors Ridge
Thanks, Chip. I've found snow pants too hot while hiking or snowshoeing and have been trying to find the right combination. I may give the fleece and a pair of Precip pants a try next.Chip Down wrote: ↑December 1st, 2019, 11:26 amHeavy fleece. It seems like smoother material would hold less snow, and thus stay drier, but I've never been uncomfortably damp in fleece. If I spent a lot of time in those conditions, I'd buy some dedicated snow pants, or pair a light fleece layer with a smooth outer layer to block wind and shed snow. Speaking of clothing, I'm glad I didn't wear a parka, as it would have been dragging in the snow. Even my waist-length jacket was brushing the snow at times.vitameatavegamin wrote: ↑December 1st, 2019, 6:22 amGreat report, thank you. What kind of pants were you wearing for this hike?![]()