menagerie wilderness/rooster rock

[Aardvark]

A convenient nearby trip for me just 7 miles up the road to the trailhead. this area is a hot spot for rock climbers, otherwise not many established trails - and pretty steep, fun area to X C to the various pinnacles and rock formations. Most of the area was burned probably 100-150 years ago - on the steep S. slopes not many OG trees survived.

pretty sloppy until about 2200 feet, slushballs falling from the treetops kept thing interesting






Higher up things were nicely frozen, ran across some bobcat and elk tracks -








beyond rooster rock, the ridge continues north - with some faint paths accessing some of the other rock formations - kind of gorge-like following the ridge back..









The pinnacle here at 3600' has a nice view to the WSW - but today was best for cloud watching, the mist rising from the valley and the mid level clouds going 2 different directions made for a ever-changing scene....







The actual Rosster Rock pinnacle is hard to photograph, being hidden by the trees. Here it is, through the trees from the upper viewpoint..











from a rock ledge nearer the rock, the view is SE toward the Sisters, Jumpoff Joe Mtn, etc. - just teasing clouds today....











back to reality, civilization, mind restored for another week

[Stevefromdodge]

Love the last shot!! Thanks for sharing.

[justpeachy]

Yeah, that last shot is pretty sweet!

I wasn't familiar with where this was, so I had to look it up. (Here's a map if any of you don't know either.) I'll have to check it out next time I'm in the area!

[Waffle Stomper]

A lovely set of photos especially number 3 and the last shot.
New (or not so new area) to explore.

[Aardvark]

Thanks for linking that map - thats a great idea. Short enough (2.5 miles one way) to make a late afternoon trip up one of the 2 trails for a sunset-watching hike if your heading back to the valley from the Santiam pass area. Enough elevation gain (2100 feet) to make you feel it. And thanks for the props on the photos - pretty weak shots though, compared to many on this site. With my keeper-to-reject ratio, I was a lost cause before the advent of digital photography