Stacker Butte, Sun. Jan 19th 2020

This forum is used to share your experiences out on the trails.
Post Reply
User avatar
Don Nelsen
Posts: 4377
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Location: Vancouver, WA

Stacker Butte, Sun. Jan 19th 2020

Post by Don Nelsen » January 21st, 2020, 3:22 pm

Sunday turned out to be great day for a hike though we had to drive a bit for it.

Stacker Butte is across the Columbia from The Dalles and I'd never hiked it due to how barren and sunburned it looked from afar. However, add a few inches of snow and misty swirling clouds and what might be a boring gravel road hike becomes something else altogether. The clouds parted at about 3,000' and revealed a wonderful blue sky and a four mountain view. Clouds obscured Mt. St. Helens or we would had another to enjoy.

Image

There were deeper drifts in the road cuts and near the communication tower structures but never more than 4 or 5 inches in general. I wore my spikes but didn't need them and Kelly had no problem in only her regular hiking boots.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

As we got ready to start back we met mountainkat. Always nice to meet a fellow Portland hiker on the trail. She totally out did us too: She started all the way down on Hwy 14 so must have hiked at least 12 miles RT! Way to go Kathy!!

The map:

Image

5.0 miles, 1200' EG

dn
Last edited by Don Nelsen on January 22nd, 2020, 11:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
"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

Ron Goodwin
Posts: 132
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: Stacker Butte, Sun. Jan 19th 2020

Post by Ron Goodwin » January 21st, 2020, 3:42 pm

Great place to find unusual wildflowers in June.

User avatar
mountainkat
Posts: 110
Joined: March 4th, 2015, 6:12 pm

Re: Stacker Butte, Sun. Jan 19th 2020

Post by mountainkat » January 21st, 2020, 10:17 pm

It was very nice to see you again, Don. And nice to meet Kelly, as well. The gps said 14 miles, but I could never outdo you by any measure. I am a fan of your many adventures, especially the ones wandering through the history of Larch Mtn.

I had planned to "sort of" cross country ski up to Stacker Butte, because of the gentle grade. But, when I saw the amount of snow at the TH, I had to leave the skis in the car. I'm still hoping we get some more river level snow this winter. :)

User avatar
BigBear
Posts: 1836
Joined: October 1st, 2009, 11:54 am

Re: Stacker Butte, Sun. Jan 19th 2020

Post by BigBear » January 29th, 2020, 9:16 am

Brrr. It looks rather wind-swept.

Golden Bear hikes are looking rather cozy by comparison. :)

Post Reply