Cascade Range – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Mount Bailey, Cascade Range, Oregon (9-3-21)

Days 29 – 33 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast!

9-3-21, morning, Medford, Oregon –

I thought we were going to California, SPHP! I’ve never been to California.

Intended to, Loop, in fact, we’re almost there, but you see how it is. The smoke is worse than ever! I give up! We’ve been gone nearly a month, and have scarcely seen a drop of rain the entire time. Never gets any better. It’s over. Might as well go home!

Over! My Dingo Vacation is over?

Oh, I don’t know, Loopster. Maybe not, maybe Canada is shipping clean air into Wyoming or Montana? We might find blue skies somewhere along the way back. If we do, we’ll climb some more mountains.

Promise, SPHP?

Sure, but don’t get your hopes up, sweet puppy. The way this summer has gone, I’m really not all that optimistic. Might not be anything other than 1,500 miles of smoke between here and the Black Hills.

9-3-21, 10:57 AM, Diamond Lake –

What do you think, SPHP? Looks pretty good doesn’t it?

Standing on a dock along the E shore of Diamond Lake, the American Dingo was smiling. Beyond the big lake, Mount Bailey (8,368 ft.) was backed by a surprisingly blue sky. Not perfect, still some smoky haze present, but vastly improved from choking white sky not so far away back at Medford.

**Mount Bailey** from **Diamond Lake**. Photo looks W.

What can I say, Loop? I’m shocked, amazed! Who would have believed it just a couple of hours ago? Want to climb Mount Bailey?

Of course! Sky looks blue to me, SPHP! You promised we could!

9-3-22, 12:52 PM, Mount Bailey trailhead – After a lunch of chicken and dumplings shared with the Carolina Dog at the South Shore Picnic Area, SPHP had driven W along the loop road around Diamond Lake to a turn onto USFS Road No. 300 near the lake’s SW end. Less than 0.5 mile SW through the forest on the dusty, unmarked road got Lupe to the lower Mount Bailey trailhead.

Plenty of parking, but only one other vehicle, a white pickup, was here when SPHP parked the RAV4. No amenities, other than a sign for Mount Bailey Trail No. 1451, and another one prohibiting campfires.

About to set out for Mount Bailey on Trail No. 1451. Photo looks NW.

Lupe had barely gotten started, when the trail dipped twice, the first time crossing a bridge over a minor bone-dry ravine. The trail then headed WNW climbing slowly through the forest.

For a long way, there was nothing to see except trees, which wouldn’t have been disappointing at all, except that there didn’t seem to be any squirrels. In excellent condition, No. 1451 eventually steepened, twice climbing more aggressively only to reach much flatter terrain again.

Mount Bailey Trail No. 1451, half an hour from the lower trailhead.

Switchbacks eased the way up to the second flat region. Upon reaching this area, Loopster enjoyed glimpses of Diamond Lake and the dramatic spire of Mount Thielsen (9,182 ft.) off to the NE. Both were quickly lost from sight as the trail continued NW.

The second flats went on for more than 0.5 mile. No. 1451 even dipped slightly. The sky still looked blue when Looper caught sight of Mount Bailey again.

A rare glimpse of **Mount Bailey** from the forest. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.

The flats were incredibly easy going. Progress was great, but, of course, that couldn’t last. Not while climbing a mountain!

More than 2 miles from the lower trailhead, Lupe reached some old logs next to a sandy road that went by the upper trailhead. Once again, no amenities at all, other than plenty of parking here, too, but this time, not even a single vehicle around. The whole place was deserted.

At the upper trailhead where Trail No. 1451 crosses USFS Road No. 380.

After a short break, Lupe continued on. The upper trailhead marked the end of the last flat region. After leaving it, Trail No. 1451 climbed steeply for a little way, then eased up somewhat. That didn’t last, though. For the better part of an hour, SPHP trudged higher after Lupe before the best view yet of Mount Thielsen and Diamond Lake appeared.

**Mount Thielsen** beyond **Diamond Lake**. Photo looks ENE.

The climb continued at a fairly aggressive pace. Every now and then, part of Mount Bailey’s NE ridge came back into sight. At first, it still looked a lot higher, but Lupe was steadily gaining on it.

**Mount Bailey** (R) again. Still a long way up! Photo looks NW.

Much more disturbing was a change in the smoke situation. Lupe had caught sight of Mount McLoughlin (9,495 ft.) far to the S, back when the forest first began thinning out. Should have taken a photo then, but didn’t. Suddenly, smoke was pouring in out of the SW. Half an hour, and the smoke obliterated not only Mount McLoughlin, but all distant views.

Just when things were getting interesting, too! With fewer and fewer trees around, Lupe should have enjoyed some wonderful views, but no. Mount Bailey was all the remained of the world. As the Carolina Dog pressed on, the terrain became increasingly rocky. Happily, the rocks weren’t large, and Trail No. 1451 remained in good shape.

The ding dong smoke was discouraging, dismaying, but nothing to be done about it. Loop was already 2/3 of the way up the mountain.

**Mount Bailey’s NE ridge** (Center) as visibility begins to deteriorate. Photo looks NW.

Starting to get rocky as the trees thin out.

A high point came into view off to the NW. Instead of going directly to it, which appeared perfectly possible, No. 1451 turned W. Soon it became apparent that the trail was destined to sweep around the S and W sides of a huge crater.

A **high point** (R) appears off to the NW.

Near the SW edge of the crater. Photo looks NW.

Oh, I know where we are now, Looper! Read about this crater. It’s just S of Mount Bailey’s summit ridge. We’re only 0.5 mile from the top now!

0.5 mile to go? That’s great! We’ve made a lot of progress, SPHP!

Yup. Still a bit of a climb, though, sweet puppy. Say, want to go take a peek into the crater? It’s supposed to be full of snow.

Snow! You know I’d love a romp in the snow, SPHP!

Briefly leaving the trail, Lupe went over to the rim of the crater. Nada. Although the crater was a cool feature, not only was it not full of snow, there wasn’t even a flake. Loopster was crushed.

Fake news! Why am I not surprised, SPHP? Except for the coast, Oregon is a land of fire and smoke.

Land of global, or at least local, melting, Loop. Sorry about that. Guess a crater full of snow in early September is just too good to be true.

After getting around the W side of the crater, Trail No. 1451 turned NE, finally on its way up to the high point. Before Lupe even got there, the long ridge leading N to Mount Bailey’s summit came into view. A large chunk of the middle looked rugged enough to be a problem.

About to leave the crater behind. Photo looks SSE.

**Mount Bailey** (L of Center). Photo looks N.

**Mount Bailey summit** (Center), and the **S ridge** leading to it. Photo looks N.

By the time Lupe reached the high point at the S end of the nearly 0.4 mile long ridge, a better break than SPHP’s usual short breathers was in order. After briefly getting up on the highest rocks, Lupe tried to doze on the gritty soil immediately below them.

Through the haze, Mount Bailey’s summit was now in view. Smoothly contoured, it appeared pretty much featureless, an easy walk-up, but getting that far might be an issue. From the S high point, Trail No. 1451 headed gradually down a gently rounded pumice ridge toward a jagged central volcanic section that Lupe would have to get past.

On the **S high point**. Photo looks SSE.

**Mount Bailey summit** ahead! Photo looks N.

10 minutes, and the Carolina Dog was underway again. The cinder ridge was a fun, easy downhill stroll. Upon reaching the volcanic spine of the mountain, Loop passed through a break between rock formations.

Leaving the **high point at the end of the S ridge** behind. Photo looks S.

About to pass through the gap at the start of the volcanic spine. Photo looks N.

Trail No. 1451 didn’t bottom out until after passing through the gap. By then, Lupe had lost nearly 100 feet of elevation. A short steep climb was now immediately ahead. Hugging the W side of the volcanic spine of the mountain, the trail became a steep trench worn in loose, gray soil.

Regaining at least half of the elevation she’d just lost, Lupe passed a big hole in the wall. Should have been a window with a spectacular view E toward Diamond Lake and Mount Thielsen, but the smoke was too bad see what was out there.

Going up the steep trench. Photo looks N.

Beyond the window, the trail climbed a little more before leveling out. Still heading N right along the W side of the wall, Lupe traveled along a bit of a ledge that wasn’t quite as steep as the rest of the slope below.

Following the spine of the mountain. Photo looks N.

Crossing a minor rock slide. Photo looks N.

For hundreds of feet, both the rocky spine of the mountain and the ledge below it were unbroken, but all the while, suspense was building.

So far, so good, SPHP!

Yes, most encouraging, but somewhere ahead there’s trouble waiting, Loop.

Trouble? What kind of trouble, SPHP?

I’ve read there’s some kind of a scramble move required. Not supposed to be all that big of a deal, and only at one critical spot, but who knows if it’s something we can manage, or not?

Loop was almost all the way to the N end of the wall when the ledge she was following and Trail No. 1451 both appeared to come to an abrupt end. This was it! The Mount Bailey moment of truth! Pass the scramble test, or be denied.

At the end of the ledge where the trail seemed to end, looking up, a notch was visible in the wall of rock. The moment SPHP saw it, the answer was clear.

I can’t see from down here, SPHP! What’s it look like? Can we get up there?

Can you leap 3 times your height? No way Lupe could make that jump. However, although the rock wall was still vertical, it was only 5 or 6 feet up to the bottom of the narrow notch. Plenty of decent pawholds, too!

Luck of the Dingo! You’re golden, sweet puppy!

Hoisting the Carolina Dog in a mighty Flying Dingo move, SPHP got Lupe up to the bottom of the notch, then scrambled up after her.

Loopster above the notch. Photo looks N.

Once above the notch, it was clear that the rock wall had veered away from the ridgeline, but no matter. Trail No. 1451 continued higher from here. One complete switchback, and Lupe actually was up on the ridge.

And that was it! The worst was over. Still a bit of a trudge higher, but no more ledges, rock walls, or super rocky spine to contend with. The trail easily swung around, or went right over, scattered rock formations that presented no further difficulties at all.

5:09 PM, 70ºF, Mount Bailey (8,368 ft.) – A gently rounded summit 30 feet in diameter was as featureless as it had appeared from a distance. Small clumps of diminutive vegetation along the S and W rim scarcely broke the dusty monotony of gray pebbles and soil. Near the center of this forlorn region, Lupe stood on a flat rock at the base of a cairn.

**Mount Bailey summit**. Photo looks NW.

All around her, the American Dingo enjoyed completely unobstructed 360 degree views of smoke. No distant views at all.

Sadly, the entire world still consisted of Mount Bailey, and little else. Lupe did have a hazy view of the high point she’d been to at the far end of the S ridge she’d come up. Toward the W, the mountain sloped more gently along a rounded bulge too short to be considered a ridge.

Looking back along the **S ridge** (R). Photo looks SSE.

Another angle. **S ridge S high point** (Center) in the distance. Photo looks S with help from the telephoto lens.

Looking down the **W bulge**. Photo looks W.

A much larger region extended NE toward a high point 0.25 mile away. In fact, that end of the mountain connected with grasslands sloping away to the NW that looked like an easier route up Mount Bailey than the way Lupe had come. The trail actually continued NE. Looked like it would be fun and easy to explore those relatively nearby highlands, too.

The trail continued on toward the NE highlands. Photo looks NE.

Another look showing more of the grasslands. Photo looks NNE.

These grasslands (L & Center) would have been easy to get to as well. Photo looks SE.

Lupe didn’t, though. Not under these conditions! Wouldn’t see much more even if she did. Besides, it had been a long trek up the mountain, with only a few short breaks. Time to rest! Attempting to relax on the barren ground, the Carolina Dog found it a bit rocky for true comfort.

Resting on **Mount Bailey**. Photo looks SW.

In the meantime, while trying not to think about all the particulate being inhaled with every breath, SPHP had a look around. The cairn harbored a rusty cannister, which might well have contained a registry. Getting at it, though, would have required disassembling so much of the cairn that SPHP didn’t bother.

20 feet NE of the cairn, a bent metal rod stuck 6″ up above the ground. Only half of a survey benchmark attached to the top remained. The part that might have once been stamped “Bailey” was missing.

Unsurprisingly, that was about it for summit highlights. SPHP sat down next to Lupe, stroking her soft ears.

Too bad we didn’t get here a couple of hours earlier, Loop. Might have had a fabulous view of Diamond Lake, Mount Thielsen, Mount McLoughlin, and even Crater Lake.

Keeps happening, SPHP. Looks promising when we set out, but before we can get to the top, the wind shifts and we get smoked out. Remember how blue the sky was down by Diamond Lake?

Yup. Guess there are just too many big fires around, Looper. Wind needs to be perfect to avoid all this smoke.

A chocolate coconut bar had been shared as a morale booster on the way up the mountain. After congratulating Lupe on her successful ascent of Mount Bailey, SPHP now split the second and final one with her.

Despite the annoying smoke, Lupe remained on Mount Bailey for her traditional full summit hour. Mostly she wanted to rest, but whenever SPHP left her side to stroll about, Loop dutifully got up, too.

You know, Loop, there’s a good chance that this ascent of Mount Bailey will be the last summit of all your Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacations. Kind of a sad thought, isn’t it?

Hope there’s more to come, SPHP, but we’ve had a wonderful time, haven’t we? And we did find some blue sky along the West Coast, and a few other places as well!

True enough, but summit hour had fled. A last look around. It was time.

As Lupe started back down the S ridge, the smoke seemed a little better. A bluish tinge was discernable in the sky, and evening light piercing the haze began bringing out the colors of the rocks.

The return was fun! Especially the scenic trek down to the notch, and thence along the ledge next to the volcanic spine of the mountain on the way back to the pumice ridge and S high point.

Heading back down to the notch. **S ridge high point** (Center). Photo looks S.

Safely below the notch, following the ledge along the wall of rock again. Photo looks S.

A particularly impressive section of the wall. Photo looks S.

About to head down the trench. **S ridge high point** (Center). Photo looks S.

By the time Lupe reached the window, its rocky frame was on fire with a diffuse smoke-enhanced orange alpenglow. Visibility really was better! Nothing so grand as a view of Diamond Lake or Mount Thielsen, but at least Loop could see Mount Bailey’s steep E slopes.

The sun set, light faded, and night arrived. At the upper trailhead, it was so dark that the little flashlight came out. Still 2 miles to go. No worries, though. Even at night the trail was easy to follow, but the smoke must have been getting worse again. By the time Lupe arrived back at the RAV4, the smell of burnt wood permeated the gloom. (8:53 PM, 52ºF)

9-4-21 – Mount Bailey was it, as far as Lupe’s 2021 adventures in Oregon were concerned. Morning dawned exceptionally smoky. Time to get out of here! Maybe skies were blue elsewhere?

Out of the Cascades, heading N to Bend on Hwy 97 before turning E. Smoke, not fog.

If so, Lupe never saw them. Despite gradual improvement, smoke was everywhere on the long drive E. Mountain after mountain had to be dropped from the American Dingo’s list of peakbagging possibilities. At day’s end near Jerome, Idaho, a red sun sank into the murk before even reaching the horizon.

9-5-21, predawn, Hwy 34, Caribou Mountain pullout, E Idaho – Low in the E, Orion was shining brightly as Lupe headed W along the highway. The Carolina Dog was far more interested in cows heard mooing nervously, but otherwise still cloaked by darkness up the hillside to the N.

Those stars promised a clearer sky, and W of the Wyoming Range after daylight arrived, skies actually were blue. However, as SPHP drove on, it became apparent that this was only an isolated smoke-free pocket. Dense smoke visible both N and S. The blue skies weren’t likely to last long enough to climb any of these big peaks.

S of Bondurant, the Kilgore Creek trailhead near Hoback Peak turned out to be occupied. No hanging out here! At least bison seen along the way in had provided some excitement.

A somewhat encouraging sky over the Wyoming Range.

9-5-21, 2:00 PM, Lander city park – Relative clarity over the Wyoming Range had inspired hopes that air quality at the nearby Wind River Range might be even better, but those hopes had been quickly dashed. The Winds were entirely enveloped in smoke.

A stroll along Pine Creek in Pinedale had been a nice break, and after yet another long drive, Lupe was thrilled to be back at the Lander city park, long a favorite with its soft green grass and big shade trees harboring squirrels. She’d get to spend the rest of the day here, while SPHP caught up the trip journal and fretted over what few options remained.

9-6-21, 1:48 PM, 69ºF, High Park Lookout (9,477 ft.), Bighorn Mountains – The great debate was just about over. This is it, last chance! Either the Bighorns panned out, or Lupe’s grand Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast was done.

On the 15 minute trail to High Park Lookout.

W of the Bighorns, hope had pretty much been lost, but during the drive up Tensleep Canyon, air quality had improved. Lupe now stood on the highest rock gazing N toward the spine of the Bighorns.

**Bighorn Mountains** from **High Park Lookout**. Photo looks NNE.

Doesn’t look too bad, does it, SPHP?

Better than I expected, Looper. At least we can see the mountains! Still a long shot, though. Mather Peaks (12,400 ft.) is a 3-day backpacking trip for us. Not eager to take that on unless we’re pretty certain smoke won’t move in while we’re on our way up, and you saw how things were down on the prairie.

So, what are we going to do?

I don’t know, Loop. We should probably call it, but I guess we can wait and take another look this evening.

9-6-21, 6:43 PM, High Park Lookout – Back once more. Maybe a little smokier? Certainly no better. Situation still borderline, inconclusive.

Evening patrol, **High Park Lookout**. **Meadowlark Lake** (L). Photo looks N.

Not much different, SPHP!

Nope. If I knew it wouldn’t get any worse, I’d be willing to try it, Loop.

Can we at least stay to see what things look like in the morning, SPHP?

Yeah. We can come back up and decide then. Going to be our absolutely last chance, though. Not going to stick around dithering forever.

9-7-21, 6:46 AM, High Park Lookout trailhead – Excited by a horse, Lupe wanted out of the RAV4 shortly before sunrise. No need to take the trail back up to High Park Lookout. Within minutes, a pink sun told the tale. Some things aren’t meant to be.

Definitely worse. It was over. Dragging the trip home out for 3 days hoping for a miracle hadn’t accomplished a thing. No truly blue skies since Lupe had left Ophir Beach along the Oregon coast.

Mount Bailey had been the last great peak of Lupe’s month long Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast. What a terrific journey it had been! Yet it was time for the American Dingo to return to the Black Hills, and start dreaming of 2022.

*What? Homeward bound already? But it’s still summer! Do we really have to?*

**Mount Bailey**, Cascade Range, OR 9-3-21

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Brandy Peak, Coast Range & King Mountain, Cascade Range, Oregon (9-2-21)

Day 28 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast!

9:05 AM, SW Oregon, near Agnes – Lupe stood on a bank overlooking the Rogue River.

The river is beautiful, SPHP, but look at how smoky the air is getting now that we’ve left the coast!

Yeah, was afraid of this, Loop. Never, ever rains anymore!

A woman came jogging along the winding paved road that passed for a highway in these parts. SPHP spoke to her.

Hey, are you local? She was.

Can you tell us how to get to Grants Pass from here?

Yes. There’s a bridge around the next bend. Cross it and you’ll find a road to the R. Get on that road and just keep going! Don’t turn off it.

SPHP thanked her, and Lupe was on her way.

10:20 AM – USFS Road No. 23 climbed up onto the steep upper slopes of a very long ridge, sometimes winding along right up on top. Paved, with occasional short gravel stretches, the road was exceptionally narrow, more of a one plus lane affair than two. SPHP drove slowly to prevent occasional oncoming traffic from making life too interesting.

16 miles later, 0.5 mile E of Bear Camp Overlook, SPHP parked the RAV4 at a saddle where a couple of side roads left No. 23.

Let’s have a look, Loop! This might be our turn.

The side road going NE was signed as No. 2300-079. Going S, a better road was marked CBCH17, whatever that meant. A broken yellow gate stood open 100 feet from where this road left No. 23.

Broken yellow gate at the start of CBCH17 *(actually USFS Road No. 2308)*. Photo looks S.

So, is this the road you were looking for, SPHP?

Not entirely sure, Loopster, but I think so. Let’s try it. Back to the RAV4! If this is the way to Brandy Peak (5,298 ft.), 3.5 miles should get us to a trailhead.

11:16 AM, 64ºF – After winding first uphill, then down, CBCH17, which was actually USFS Road No. 2308, widened out where there were views on both sides of Bear Camp Ridge. A hill with a bald summit was visible 0.5 mile NW. To the SE, the terrain dropped away toward a mostly burnt forest. Smoke obscured details of more distant hills and ridges.

No signage, but a dirt path climbed up onto a 10 foot high bank where Lupe found a wooden post. Maybe there had been a sign at one time?

In any case, SPHP was now virtually certain that Lupe really was at the trailhead for Brandy Peak, and that the dirt path was Trail No. 1147.

**Brandy Peak trailhead** along USFS Road No. 2308. Photo looks NW.

Start of Trail No. 1147. Photo looks SW.

Trailhead and USFS Road No. 2308 from the post. Photo looks NE.

Trail No. 1147 climbed at an easy to moderate pace as Loopster set out, going WSW along a ridge. Easy to follow, the trail looked seldom used, covered with sticks, small branches, and occasional deadfall. Sometimes Loop was right up on the ridgeline, but often the trail was a bit down the S slope. A couple of times switchbacks returned the Carolina Dog to the ridgeline again.

The whole region was thickly forested, but early on Lupe did come to a view of the same hill along Brandy Peak’s N ridge that had been visible from the trailhead.

A glimpse of **Brandy Peak’s N ridge**. Photo looks NW.

The trail eventually strayed farther from the ridgeline, again staying S. Lupe came to a flat region that went on for a little way before No. 1147 resumed its climb, this time more steeply than before.

The American Dingo passed 2 small cairns shortly before reaching the ridge again. Here, the trail divided. One route apparently followed the ridgeline the rest of the way up the mountain. Lupe took the other route, which climbed more gradually along the S slope.

Before long, the trail broke out of the forest. Brandy Peak’s summit was soon visible less than 150 feet up an open slope. Lupe went right for it.

Out of the trees, already high on the mountain. Photo looks SW.

11:57 AM, 70ºF, Brandy Peak (5,298 ft.) – Not a cloud in the sky, which was a lovely blue overhead, but a dirty gray brown toward all horizons, as Lupe stood atop the highest rock formations near the SW end of a 60 foot long, 15 foot wide, summit ridge running NE/SW. The smoke wasn’t horrible, but definitely bad enough to mar the views.

Atop **Brandy Peak**, the Curry County, Oregon high point. Photo looks NW.

**Brandy Peak true summit**. Photo looks NE.

Congratulations, Loopster! You’ve reached the Curry County, Oregon high point!

Brandy Peak was easy, SPHP. I like it!

Yeah, well, less than a mile to get here, and no significant obstacles made earning your chocolate coconut bar a cinch, didn’t it?

Chocolate coconut bar? Bring it on, SPHP!

The SE end of the summit ridge was rocky, the NE end densely covered with low bushes. Brandy Peak wasn’t as comfortable as it might have been. Lupe tried several spots, while SPHP examined a plaque attached to the side of the highest rock. A glass jar with a red lid and a rusty wire loosely wrapped around it rested below the plaque.

Relaxing on **Brandy Peak**. Photo looks NE.

Huh. Thought there was supposed to be one of Richard Carey’s signature red cans containing a registry up here, Loop, but I don’t see one. Looks like there might be one in the jar, though.

Well, sign me in, SPHP!

Opening the jar, it did contain a registry, a small spiral notebook with a green cover that had been sliced in half.

Wow! Look at this, Looper. There is a registry!

Not all that amazing, SPHP. You were expecting one, weren’t you?

Yeah, but I didn’t expect that you knew who put it here! Your friend Jobe Wymore placed it on 5-25-15.

Jobe has been to all the county high points out W, SPHP. Every, single, one.

Richard Carey’s red can wasn’t the only thing missing on Brandy Peak. SPHP had read that there was a Squirrel survey benchmark up here, and had been excited about showing it to Lupe, but couldn’t find it. Maybe it was hidden among the bushes? In any case, no sense even mentioning it to the Carolina Dog only to disappoint her.

No views to the E due to the forest, but to the extent permitted by the smoke, Lupe could see in all other directions. Brandy Peak was clearly higher than anything else in sight, but some of the other hills and ridges weren’t all that much lower. Sugarloaf Mountain (5,034 ft.) stood out to the SSW.

Interestingly, the topo map actually did show a Squirrel Peak a little over 2 miles SW. However, SPHP didn’t realize it at the time, or Lupe would have been climbing it, too. A crying shame to have been so close to fabled Squirrel Peak and not have gone there!

**Sugarloaf Mountain** (L), **Squirrel Peak** (R). Photo looks SSW.

Zoomed in on **Sugarloaf Mountain** (Center). Photo looks SSW.

Since Squirrel Peak wasn’t happening, Lupe had plenty of time to enjoy her traditional full summit hour on Brandy Peak. Relaxing most of the time, she also sniffed back and forth along the summit ridge multiple times from one end to the other.

On the rocky **SE end of the ridge** where the true summit is. **Sugarloaf Mountain** (R). Photo looks S.

At the bushy NE end. **HP5137** (far L). Photo looks NE.

Taking it easy near the **true summit** (R). Photo looks NE.

Exactly an hour after arriving, Lupe stood again on the true summit. A couple of photos and she was on her way back to the RAV4. This time she followed the ridgeline route back down to the little cairns. The rest of the return was identical. (1:39 PM, 71ºF)

Back on the **true summit**. Photo looks NE.

Final moments on **Brandy Peak**. Photo looks WNW.

Brandy Peak wasn’t it for the day. SPHP drove back to USFS Road No. 23, and the long winding drive E along the ridge continued. Lupe reached the Rogue River again near Galice where No. 23 ended. From here No. 2400 went SE through Merlin to I-5 where SPHP turned N.

4:16 PM, a gravel pit –

Huh. I don’t know, Loop. Pretty certain we were on track when we passed that pond a little way back, but this doesn’t seem right. Maybe I missed a turn?

After leaving I-5 at Exit 76 near Wolf Creek, SPHP had followed a service road NE for 1.5 miles to a R (E) turn onto Speaker Road. 4.1 miles of pavement led to a good gravel road that wound crazily and steeply SE past a bewildering series of side roads.

Everything had been fine. King Mountain (5,264 ft.) was supposed to be a gimmie. Just a drive up, and the turns had all matched up with the map. Until now. Instead of an expected fork in the road, which seemed overdue, Lupe was at a gravel pit.

Well, how much farther is it to King Mountain, SPHP? Can we get there on paw from here?

Don’t think it’s all that much farther, Loopster. No more than 1.5 miles as the crow flies. Of course, actually somewhat more, if we follow the ridge around to it. On the other paw, we ought to be able to pick up the right road again before too long, once we can confirm our position.

Let’s do that then, SPHP!

A jeep trail entered the gravel pit from a bank at the E end, but a better road continued NE past the pit. Hoping the better road might wind its way up King Mountain, although the initial direction seemed dubious, SPHP led the American Dingo that way.

Went well, at first. The tree-lined road climbed steadily at an easy pace. Lupe occasionally enjoyed smoke-impaired glimpses of hills and ridges off to the NW. SPHP began to think a road shown on the map that went almost up to the ridgeline might be the one Lupe was on, but after going 0.5 mile, she came to a fork not shown on the map.

Heading up the mystery road. Photo looks NE.

No matter! The R branch continuing uphill had to be the right choice, didn’t it? Lupe went that way. However, the road soon began to narrow, becoming less substantial before leveling out. The Carolina Dog went a bit further, but the road stayed flat. Hmm.

Hang on, Loop. This can’t be right. No telling where this road is going. We’re way over on the NW side of the mountain, which is the wrong side. The road we ought to be on must be on the other side of this ridge.

Don’t we need to be climbing then, SPHP? We’ll never even get up onto the ridge at this pace.

Yup, guess we’re just going to have to go up and over it, Looper.

Easier said than done. The bank along the SE side of the road was so steep that it wasn’t even possible to climb up into the forest. Lupe had to backtrack a little way before finding a spot SPHP was able to manage.

Even the mountainside above the bank was quite steep. Fortunately, Lupe came to no significant obstacles as she climbed through the forest. Blue sky seen between the trees made it look like the top of the ridge might be only 100 feet higher, but that proved to be an illusion.

A big rock is only an obstacle if you can’t easily go around it.

Farther than it looked, but Lupe got there. Surprisingly, the top of the ridge was not forested, but broad and open. King Mountain’s summit, where 3 towers protruded above a densely forested hill, was in sight a mile SE. A lone tower stood off to the ESE.

**King Mountain summit** (R). Photo looks SE with help from the telephoto lens.

The map showed that the road Lupe was looking for shouldn’t be too far down the other side of the ridge. The plan had been to continue on over to it. However, Lupe had reached the ridgeline at a rocky spot where low, scratchy bushes grew near the rocks. These could be dealt with, but the slope going down to the road, which wasn’t even in sight yet, turned out to be thickly covered with tightly-packed bushes waist high on SPHP.

To the NE, the ridge rose toward a high point. Some bushes that way, too, but not as many.

Let’s go that way, SPHP!

Did seem like the better choice.

Staying on bare ground where possible, or utilizing openings among the bushes presenting the path of least resistance, Lupe wound her way up to a rocky crest at HP5033.

**Saint Paul Mountain (4,280 ft.)** (R). Photo looks SW.

HP5033 really wasn’t much closer to King Mountain than where Loop had reached the ridgeline, but she was now in position to continue E down to the saddle leading to it. Coming to HP5033 quickly proved to have been beneficial. Upon departure, Lupe discovered a trail neatly bordered by stones that got her past all remaining bushes into another stretch of forest.

**King Mountain** (R) from **HP5033**. Photo looks SE.

On the nifty stone-lined path. Photo looks E.

Didn’t take long at all to reach the saddle, where a large dusty parking lot was bordered by boulders. Happily, the road Lupe had been trying to get to went right by it. There was also a sign.

So, what does the sign say, SPHP?

Says King Mountain Rock Garden, area of critical environmental concern.

Rock garden! Rocks don’t grow, SPHP. You mean to tell me that humans think they can grow rocks?

We can under laboratory conditions, Loop. I’m more than a little skeptical out here, myself.

So, where is this Rock Garden? The only rocks I’m seeing are the boulders around the parking lot, but they don’t look like anything too special to me. Hate to say it, SPHP, but they look as cold stone dead as any other rock, and we’re supposed to believe that they’re growing?

Actually, Loop, I think a rock garden is more like a collection of beautiful, exotic flowers and plants merely decorated with rocks. Everyone just sort of understands that the rocks aren’t alive, and that it’s the plants that do all the growing.

Oh, I get it now, SPHP. Like this lovely arrangement of scraggly bushes and dry grass around a central dusty parking lot. Simply superb! What exquisite landscaping skills on display! But I do wish the King Mountain Rock Garden managers were here, because I’ve got a secret gardening tip that might improve their results.

You do? Like what, Looper?

I know this is an odd concept, SPHP, but watering a garden can often work wonders. Might want to try it here next season! See this yellow grass? It’s dead, because it died of thirst. Some of these bushes appear about to kick an apparently empty bucket, too. The current managers can stop worrying about any critical environmental concerns, since they’ve already let everything die. Is it absolutely necessary to have the dry, dead husk of a withered, brown thumb to be made a manager here?

Hmm. Hard to say. As the American Dingo left the rock garden parking lot to take the road the rest of the way up King Mountain, environmental concerns beyond dead grass glinted under nearly every tree and bush.

Well, maybe they’ll catch on to your watering suggestion, Loopster. Looks like plenty of people who come here enjoy a liberal self-administered dose of liquid themselves. Beer drinkers. Lots of Lupe treasures laying around.

Aren’t you going to collect them, SPHP?

Yes, we will, Loop, but not until we’re on the way back.

Heading E, the road climbed at a moderate pace, the grade diminishing once it curved S. Soon Lupe was approaching the lone tower.

Approaching the first tower. Photo looks S.

Dipping slightly after Lupe passed the first tower, the road then started uphill again, going past many smaller towers that hadn’t been visible from a distance. Wasn’t much of a climb. The road flattened out as the Carolina Dog reached a collection of towers and buildings.

A group of towers passed near the top. Photo looks N.

Entering the **summit region**. Photo looks SSW.

6:44 PM, 62ºF, King Mountain (5,264 ft.) – The sun was low by the time Lupe reached a pancake flat summit region a good acre or two in size. Any former natural relief had been leveled to accommodate a bunch of towers, including the 3 big ones that had been seen from a distance, plus several good-sized buildings. The road ended making a loop around all the buildings.

The N and E sides of the summit region were all heavily forested. Lupe should have enjoyed sweeping views to the S and W, but wildfire smoke was now uniformly bad in an otherwise cloudless sky. Reaching the S edge of the mountain, Lupe listened to a blower noisily exhausting air from a building, while gazing out at a dirty sea of smoke.

By the buildings where the blower was operating.

Searching for whatever passed for the true summit now, Lupe wandered W, finding the marginally highest ground in this direction. SPHP also discovered an “Onion 2” directional survey mark embedded in the SW corner of a concrete pad serving as part of a tower foundation.

Out toward the W end at about the highest spot. Photo looks NE.

Taking a seat on the Onion 2 cement pad, SPHP shook the Carolina Dog’s paw, congratulating Lupe on a needlessly long, yet successful ascent of King Mountain. Once the second and final chocolate coconut bar of the day had been consumed, there really wasn’t much reason to stay. Nevertheless, Lupe lingered a little while, bathed in evening sunlight.

Relaxing on **King Mountain**. “Onion 2” (R).

Shadows were long by the time Lupe trotted past the lone tower again. On the way down to the King Mountain Rock Garden, SPHP collected 57 Lupe treasures, stuffing them after compression into a plastic grocery sack at the end of a pole held over the shoulder like a hobo.

Plenty more where those 57 came from, but the bag was full. Trudging past the rock garden, Lupe and SPHP stuck with the road, confident it would somehow lead back to the RAV4.

Approaching the lone tower again on the way back. Photo looks N.

Downhill all the way! The road ahead was getting steeper, stretching endlessly down into an increasingly dim forest, when SPHP suddenly snapped out of a reverie. Nearly dark!

How long have we been going, Loop? Seems like we ought to be there by now.

Sorry, SPHP, I haven’t been paying any attention. You’re the one with the map, and this is just a road hike.

Yeah. Maybe I ought to take a peek at it. Hang on.

The map provided little comfort. Ought to have come to a fork by now. If it had somehow been missed, this road led down into a maze of others that never would lead to the RAV4.

Hmm. Let’s go a little farther, Looper. If there’s no change, we better go back to make certain we didn’t miss a turn.

Going farther didn’t help. Better turn around! Lupe regained hundreds of feet of elevation before finding a couple of fainter side roads. Taking the one that shot off to what would have been the R on the way down, Loopster explored it W through an inky blackness now broken only by the faint, flickering beam of the tiny flashlight.

The side road lost elevation, too, but at a slower pace. It went on and on. When Lupe passed a spot where frogs were croaking, SPHP began to worry. Was Loop already way back down to the pond that had been passed in the RAV4 en route to the gravel pit? How was that possible?

It wasn’t. Everything was fine. Suddenly there was a reflection off to the L, and there was the RAV4, all alone, patiently waiting.

For a drive up, King Mountain was quite the adventure, SPHP! Can’t remember the last time I was so glad to see a gravel pit! (8:53 PM, 52ºF)

Atop **Brandy Peak**, the Curry County, Oregon high point, Coast Range 9-2-21

Links:

Next Adventure Prior Adventure

Brandy Peak GPS Track by Ryan Frome (8-7-20)

Diamond Peak, Cascade Range, Oregon (8-28-21)

Day 23 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast!

Another day, another decision. The question, of course, as always, was how best to avoid the wildfire smoke? Skies were surprisingly blue over Odell Lake as the RAV4 headed NW over Willamette Pass (5,128 ft.) on Hwy 58. Maybe staying up among the higher peaks of the Cascades made some sense?

Coming into Oakridge, the deciding factor was dead ahead. A partial view NW beyond the Cascades looked very smoky.

Kind of the opposite of what I expected, Loop! Good thing we’re flexible.

So, we’re not going to the Oregon coast, SPHP?

Oh, we will, but not today! I’m thinking Diamond Peak (8,744 ft.)!

Diamond Peak! Think we’ll find any diamonds, SPHP? You know what they say, diamonds are a Dingo’s best friend!

What? I thought I was your best friend, Looper!

You’re highly rated, SPHP, but don’t let it go to your head!

S of Oakridge, Diamond Road (paved USFS Road No. 21) wound along the Hills Creek Reservoir for miles, then continued up the Middle Fork of the Willamette River valley. A scenic drive to be sure, but a time consuming one, too. Indigo Springs campground was something like 30 miles from Oakridge, and the turn onto USFS Road No. 2154 came 3 miles later.

At the L turn onto USFS Road No. 2154 off Diamond Road.

After a few miles, No. 2154 turned to gravel. A couple more miles, and No. 2160 appeared on the L, followed by a R turn onto No. 380, which went to Emigrant Pass, but Lupe never got that far.

No. 380 was narrow, but good for only about a mile. Beyond a pond, the road became deeply rutted. SPHP had no intention of submitting Lupe’s new RAV4 to such abuse. This would have to do.

12:53 PM, 69ºF, USFS Road No. 380 – The RAV4 was safely stashed near the pond. A smoke-tinged sky, but not bad at all. Looked quite blue.

Let’s check out the pond, SPHP!

Parked near the pond a mile E of the turn onto USFS Road No. 380.

Kind of a mucky shoreline, but the remote little pond was nice.

What do you think, SPHP? I like it! This is a great spot!

I like it too, Loop. Hidden serenity! Have a question for you, though. We got here so late in the day, that we’re kind of forced to gamble one way or another. Diamond Peak is not a trivial undertaking. Over 6 miles one way from here, and close to 4,000 feet total elevation gain. Think we can get there before sunset. Still want to go for it?

Sunset on Diamond Peak would be awesome, SPHP, but that means we’d get back awfully late! Wouldn’t we be better off waiting until tomorrow? We could leave early in the morning, and be back before dark.

Yes, ordinarily that would be the thing to do, Looper. However, we also have to consider what tomorrow might bring. If the wind shifts tonight, and all the smoke we saw rolls in, then what? We might have missed our shot at Diamond Peak entirely. The smoke is minimal right now. Who knows how long that will last?

Extended debate was out. Decision time! The Carolina Dog was willing to give it a shot. Diamond Peak (8,744 ft.) was a go!

Could have walked the road another mile plus E over Emigrant Pass to the Pacific Crest Trail near Summit Lake, but a Diamond Peak trailhead had been passed on the way in only 1/8 mile back W along No. 380. The trailhead didn’t amount to much, scarcely a wide spot in the road, but it didn’t take long to get there.

On the N side of No. 380, a sign saying Diamond Peak Trail No. 3699 stood on a sandy bank. Next to it a trail headed up into the forest.

Above the little sandy bank, the trail leveled out. Almost immediately, Lupe came to a registration station. Registration and a free, self-issued permit were required. Paperwork complete, SPHP consulted the posted map. Lots of trails shown, but only the Pacific Crest Trail actually got close to Diamond Peak.

Beyond the registration station, Diamond Peak Trail No. 3699 was fairly level, an easy stroll N, then NW, through the forest. Less than 10 minutes got Lupe to a small pond. W of the pond, the trail gained elevation, then lost it again going past a large rock formation.

Diamond Peak Trail No. 3699 beyond the registration station. Photo looks N.

Once past the pond, Diamond Peak Trail No. 3699 continued N, most of the time gradually gaining elevation. Unlike other trails Lupe had been on in Oregon and Washington, No. 3699 looked seldom used, and had a fair amount of deadfall. Along a 50 foot stretch almost entirely hidden beneath deadfall, SPHP briefly lost the route.

However, other than that one point, the trail was easy to follow. Lupe leapt over, or snuck under, whatever deadfall she came to. Nothing to see but trees. The forest went on and on, but progress was good.

At a small clearing. Lupe came to no significant ones.

Diamond Peak Trail No. 3699 eventually steepened and turned NW. Nothing major, but Lupe gained 300 feet of elevation before it leveled out again. A short rest break was taken at a rotten log. Continuing on, the trail soon started downhill.

Seemed like the Carolina Dog had been on No. 3699 for nearly 2 miles now. SPHP was starting to worry that a junction with Rockpile Trail No. 3632 might have been missed, when Lupe came to it. No. 3632 was a broad well-traveled path with nice new signage. Actually would have been hard to miss!

At the junction with Rockpile Trail No. 3632.

After another short break at the intersection, Lupe headed E on Rockpile Trail No. 3632. Still in the forest, the trail climbed steadily at a moderate pace. No deadfall at all now. Even the forest had a groomed look to it.

The trail soon turned NE, and before too long began to level out.

Huh. Diamond Rockpile (6,323 ft.) sure isn’t what I had envisioned. Just another hill in the forest.

Diamond Rockpile? Where’s that, SPHP? Is that different from Diamond Peak?

Yes, entirely different. Think we just passed Diamond Rockpile, Looper. This must be the saddle between it and the next hill NE, HP6310. Trail went within 100 feet of the top. If we had more time, we would check it out, but we better keep going.

Wait! We’re close to a diamond rockpile, and we aren’t even going to spend a few minutes filling your pockets with diamonds? That’s crazy, SPHP!

Sad, but true, Loopster. Price of our late start. We’ll have to be content with whatever diamonds we scoop up off Diamond Peak. Shouldn’t need tons of ’em, anyway. Even a single small diamond is pretty valuable.

Beyond the saddle, Rockpile Trail No. 3632 climbed modestly, topping out while traversing HP6310‘s upper S slope. This high point provided the first distant view of the day, Cowhorn Mountain (7,664 ft.) and Sawtooth Mountain (7,301 ft.) beyond Summit Lake.

**SW of HP6310**, only minutes from the viewpoint. Photo looks ESE.

**Cowhorn Mountain** (L) and **Sawtooth Mountain** (R) beyond **Summit Lake**. Photo looks SSE with help from the telephoto lens.

Upon reaching the E end of HP6310, Trail No. 3632 started downhill. Lupe saw water in a clearing down in the valley the trail was heading for. Looked like what was left of a pond that was drying up.

Another nicely signed trail junction was at the bottom of the hill. Marie Lake Trail No. 3632.2 went NW (L) bound for Marie Lake, which was less than 0.25 mile away.

However, Lupe was destined to miss out on Marie Lake, too. Rockpile Trail No. 3632 went S (R) here, passing through the clearing Loop had seen earlier. The water was actually what remained of a stagnant stream, not a pond.

Initial glimpse of the clearing in the **valley E of HP6310**. Photo looks E.

In the valley, at the junction with spur Trail No. 3632.2 to Marie Lake.

Following the stagnant stream through the clearing. Photo looks SSE.

Lupe followed the stream through the clearing, but it soon veered off to the SE. Near the top of a sandy rise, the Carolina Dog came to another junction. Trail No. 3632.1 went SW (R) to Rockpile Lake.

On the sandy rise at the junction with Rockpile Lake Trail No. 3632.1. Photo looks SE.

Ignoring this spur as well, Loopster stuck with Rockpile Trail No. 3632, which wound SE through a gently rolling region of fine, dusty soil where virtually nothing grew. This region was thinly forested with numerous small clearings.

No. 3632 soon turned NE. By the time Lupe reached the next junction, the clearings and dusty soil were gone.

Made it to the Pacific Crest Trail, Looper!

Lupe saw no one, but voices could be heard off to the S. Kind of creepy! A clear plastic bag hung from the signpost.

What’s in the bag, SPHP?

Dunno, Loop, I’ll take a look. Hmm. Appears to be donated supplies for hikers on the PCT. A note says “Enjoy your day!”

Supplies? Like what? Any goodies for American Dingoes in there?

Not really, unless you like powdered soup. Oh, wait! Here’s something, a nice big blueberry fig bar.

Do I like blueberry figs, SPHP? Can’t remember what they taste like.

That’s because you’ve never had any, Loop. I don’t know. You might like them. Sounds intriguing to me!

Well, break a piece off for me then, SPHP. I’ll give blueberry figs a try.

Oh, maybe we shouldn’t do that, Loop. From the looks of this stuff, most of it is intended for through hikers on the PCT, not just day hikers like us.

Could have told me that at the start, SPHP! Now here I am salivating over blueberry figs, and I don’t even know what they are!

Tell you what, Loop. We’ll leave the blueberry fig bar here for now. If it’s still here when we come back this way after our adventure on Diamond Peak, we’ll nab it then under cover of darkness! How’s that?

Under cover of darkness? You make it sound like we’re leading a life of crime! It’s just one blueberry fig bar!

Sure about that, Loop? Might be the start of something big! Our career haunting the PCT as diamond and blueberry fig bar smugglers!

At the intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail.

Leaving the junction, Lupe took the heavily-traveled Pacific Crest Trail N. At first it was flat. Glimpses of Diamond Peak began to appear as the trail headed NNE. Before long, though, the trail began a gradual ascent, and forest hid the mountain again. 0.5 mile from Blueberry Fig Bar junction, the PCT curved WNW.

On the Pacific Crest Trail. Photo looks NW.

We’re not all that far from the S end of Diamond Peak now, Looper. We’ll be climbing it from the S, so we need to start looking for where we should leave the PCT.

The PCT doesn’t go up there, SPHP?

No. It by-passes Diamond Peak to the E, so we can’t just stay on the PCT. Let me know if you happen to sniff out any kind of use trail. Thought it would be easy to tell where to start up, but didn’t realize we wouldn’t be able to see the mountain.

After going 0.5 mile WNW, a clearing on a rocky hillside appeared. The Pacific Crest Trail began a steeper climb. 4 minutes farther, and Lupe reached a viewpoint. To the SSE, Summit Lake, Cowhorn Mountain, and Sawtooth Mountain were all in view again. Loopster could even see the dramatic summit spire of Mount Thielsen (9,182 ft.).

Approaching the rocky hillside. Photo looks WNW.

**Cowhorn Mountain** (L), **Sawtooth Mountain** (R), and **Mount Thielsen** (far R) beyond **Summit Lake** from the PCT viewpoint. Photo looks SSE.

That wasn’t all, though! This same viewpoint also had somewhat of a view to the N, where a high ridge was in sight not too far away.

**S end of Diamond Peak** from the Pacific Crest Trail. Photo looks N.

That’s where we need to be, Loop! That’s the S end of Diamond Peak.

Not as high as I thought it would be, SPHP.

That’s just the beginning, sweet puppy. Anyway, we aren’t going to be able to stick with the PCT much longer. Keep that sniffer to the ground! Would sure be nice if we can find a use trail instead of having to bushwhack our own route.

The PCT curved NE. Lupe didn’t have to sniff hard for long. 2 minutes past the viewpoint, the American Dingo did find a use trail! Even SPHP might have spotted it. A candy cane ribbon was wrapped around a rock that was part of a small cairn. More ribbons were tied to nearby trees.

Start of the Diamond Peak climbers trail where it leaves the PCT. Photo looks W.

*So easy, I could have found it with my eyes closed. Maybe I did!*

The long slog higher began. The Carolina Dog was soon heading up a steep, sandy slope that supported little vegetation other than trees. Above the sand, Lupe reached a curve where there actually was some ground cover, already sporting fall colors. A rock slide came next, yet for the most part, the trail remained relatively easy to follow.

The slope eventually opened up. Rocky and loose. Trees were scarcer. The trail was braided along in here with no clearly favored main route. Angling slightly toward the W, Lupe made it up to a minor ridgeline where the terrain wasn’t quite as steep.

Base of the rock slide. Photo looks NNE.

Starting to open up. Fewer trees. Photo looks N.

Just below the ridgeline. Photo looks NE.

Up on the nearly as steep ridge. More trees again. Photo looks NE.

Once on the ridge, the going was easier, but no major improvement. The ridge went N, angling slightly back toward the E again. Lupe finally got up to where she could see what lay ahead.

5:50 PM, Diamond Peak, S slope – Ugh! The view was distressing. A vast, barren, rocky slope, devoid of life except for small, scattered stands of stunted pines, stretched endlessly skyward toward an impossibly distant rocky high point at the far end.

Holy smokers, SPHP! It’s another 1,000 feet, easy!

On the long slope, heading higher. Photo looks N.

The situation was starting to look hopeless. Running out of time! Another couple of hours, and the sun would be down. Sure would be nice to get to the summit with enough daylight to spare in order to be able to enjoy it. No telling, though, what might still be ahead.

Lupe was high enough now to see a new threat, too. All day long, the sky had been blue. Not crystal clear, but decent. Unfortunately, thick smoke was now pouring in from the W. Views were rapidly disappearing.

No choice. The Carolina Dog had already come so far, she had to keep going. Maybe it would all work out?

Onward! Puppy ho!

Nothing technically difficult about it, just a long, steep trudge higher. Loose sand and scree generally meant slippage with each step, although some stretches were firmer. Still a braided trail situation, so choose your favorite route!

Looking somewhat more feasible after a considerable climb. Photo looks NNW.

Wildfire smoke pouring in from out of the W. **Cowhorn Mountain** (L) and part of **Summit Lake** still in sight. Photo looks, SSE.

Already tired, short breathers, and a few longer breaks had to be taken. During one of them a small bird landed on top of a nearby tree.

Hey, Loop! Look at that! These must be whitebark pines. That’s a Clark’s nutcracker! Saw a picture of one yesterday on one of the displays on the way up Paulina Peak (7,984 ft.).

A real, live Clark’s nutcracker! True friend of the whitebark pines!

Clark’s Nutcracker – Whitebark’s Best Friend

That’s cool, SPHP! Glad to see that there really are some still around. Gives me hope! By the way, have you seen any diamonds yet? I haven’t seen a one.

Diamonds? No, not yet, Loop, but I haven’t been paying close attention. Just trying to keep moving. Most diamonds are tiny. Think we’d have to look pretty closely to find them, study each little rock on the ground.

Shouldn’t diamonds sparkle, though, SPHP?

Maybe, but probably not all that much until they’ve been cut. To tell you the truth, Loopster, in my whole life, I’ve found shockingly few diamonds laying about. Not entirely sure what a diamond in the rough looks like.

Well, all I can say is Diamond Peak is an impressive mountain, SPHP, but it’s not nearly as much glitter, bling, and sparkle as I thought it would be.

The climb went on. Bit by bit, step by step, progress. Even so, gazing back down the mountain, what had been accomplished didn’t look like any great shakes. Took a while for the hill above to start looking like that, like maybe sometime soon Lupe would actually be there.

Diamond Peak was dry as a bone. A gentle breeze was enough to stir up the loose dust from every step. Breathing an unhealthy mix of dust and whatever smoke was already here, the trudge higher continued.

On a particularly rocky stretch. Still more to go. Photo looks NNW.

*We’ll get there, SPHP! Follow me!* Photo looks NE.

**Diamond Peak’s S slope** as smoke obliterates the views. Photo looks SSE.

At last, Lupe was close to the end of the long climb! The smoke situation wasn’t good, but at least the sun remained well above the horizon. Still some time left. What was ahead? Loopster would know in a moment.

Just below the top of the long slog. Photo looks NNW.

6:38 PM, HP8421 (Diamond Peak’s S summit) – Streaked with shades of gray and rust running down its flanks, Diamond Peak was beautiful! For the first time, the true summit, still 300+ feet higher, was now in sight 0.33 mile N. The more distant part of the ridge leading to it didn’t look bad at all. Cake!

However, the part of the ridge already close at paw was another matter. Rugged volcanic rock formations capped much of the ridgeline.

Hoo, girl! Let’s hope this doesn’t get technical, Looper.

At **HP8421**, **Diamond Peak’s false S summit**. **True summit** (L of Center). Photo looks N.

Most of it really wasn’t bad at all. One of the first formations was among the hardest to get past. Staying up top was impossible. The W side of the ridge was too steep. Braided use trails along the E side were only a little better.

Trying to stay too high, SPHP wound up crawling along a narrow pumice ridge with exposure, Lupe right behind. Once past that one, none of the other gendarmes were as bad, but getting by them was still chewing up a bunch of time. Occasionally, the W side of the ridge was best, but staying E was usually better.

View along the **E side of the ridge**. Photo looks NNE.

Same spot. **True summit** (L of Center). Photo looks N.

On the **E side ledges**. Photo looks N.

Successfully past the gnarliest gendarme. Photo looks S.

More fun ahead! **True summit** (L of Center), Photo looks N.

Right up on the ridgeline again. Photo looks N.

Another stretch along the **Dingo-recommended E side**. Photo looks N.

Difficulties behind her, evening sunlight streamed over the mountain as Lupe followed an easy, winding path toward the summit. Near the end, the path went through a gap filled with a jumble of rocks, but nothing to it, really. An eerie orange alpenglow influenced by smoke hung over the mountain as the Carolina Dog approached the true summit.

Suddenly looking like a win! Photo looks N.

Last Dingo of the day on **Diamond Peak**!

Going through the gap. Rocky, but short. No problemo.

Almost there! In the orange alpenglow. Photo looks N.

7:30 PM, 60ºF, Diamond Peak (8,744 ft.) – No diamonds sparkled in the alpenglow as Lupe reached the true summit, a flat, barren hilltop 20 feet in diameter covered with small, reddish-brown volcanic stones.

Three ridges radiated from the top – NE, NW, plus the S ridge Lupe had come up. The NE ridge was long, and led to impressive, wild-looking subpeaks. A small glacier lay hidden from the sun on the NE side of the much shorter NW ridge. Between these ridges were huge expanses of much lower territory.

The **NE ridge**. **HP8629** (beyond Lupe). Photo looks NNE.

**NW ridge**. **HP8306** (R). Photo looks NW.

A better look at the **NW ridge glacier**. Photo looks NW.

**S Ridge**. **HP8421** (Center). Photo looks S.

And that was about it as far as what Lupe could see from Diamond Peak. The mountain was surrounded by smoke that seemed to top out at about the same level. To the S, only the tips of Cowhorn Mountain, Sawtooth Mountain, and the spiky summit of Mount Thielsen were visible floating on a white sea. No other distant views except straight up, where the sky still looked blue.

**Cowhorn Mountain** (L), **Sawtooth Mountain** (R of Center), and **Mount Thielsen** (R). Photo looks SSE with help from the telephoto lens.

On the summit itself, Diamond Peak offered little of interest. No registry, no survey benchmark, not even a cairn.

Not a single diamond, either, SPHP! Might want to mention that!

Or blueberry fig bar, which was starting to sound mighty good.

Lupe was tired, or perhaps disappointed. Reluctantly, she posed for a few photos, then laid down to rest. A good idea, actually, since the time remaining before sunset was short. Loopster willingly split a chocolate coconut bar with SPHP, then had some Taste of the Wild and water, but displayed little enthusiasm when SPHP shook her paw to congratulate her on the successful ascent.

Relaxing on **Diamond Peak**. **HP8629** (R). Photo looks N.

Good thing the American Dingo hadn’t started out any later, or taken any of the possible side trips to Diamond Rockpile or the lakes! Time was short enough as it was. Refusing to budge, Loop rested as long as she could, enjoying the fading alpenglow on the ridges while the sun sank toward the smoke.

**NE ridge** as the alpenglow fades. **HP8629** (L). Photo looks NNE.

Too tired to search for diamonds, Lupe refused to budge from her gritty resting place. 25 precious minutes on Diamond Peak ticked away. The sun was now on the smoke horizon.

Smokeset beyond the **NW ridge**. **HP8306** (R). Photo looks WNW.

Hate to say it, Loopster, but we better get back to HP8421. Not too keen on creeping along exposed ledges in the dark.

Can we at least stay until the sun is gone, SPHP?

Oh, sure, Loop! That’ll be fine.

Smokeset from **Diamond Peak**. Photo looks WNW.

A few minutes more, and sadly, already time to go. HP8421 appeared to be above most of the smoke, as Lupe started back.

About to leave the summit. **HP8421** (R of Center). Photo looks S.

Took a while, but the return to HP8421 went well. Cake all the way down to the saddle. Then staying lower on the E side of the ridge this time, SPHP managed to avoid the exposed ledge crawl. Still very steep, and rather slow, but a bit of caution was all that was required.

Returning to **HP8421** (L of Center). Photo looks S.

Lupe often wanted to rest during the rocky descent of Diamond Peak’s long S slope. SPHP often obliged her. No smoke above, a million stars glittered in the night sky. The little flashlight’s beam was very weak and acting weird, sometimes going into strobe mode. Changing the batteries helped tremendously.

The dark descent into the black void seemed endless, but at long last the cairn with the candy cane ribbon appeared.

Back at the Pacific Crest Trail, a longer rest in the shadows beneath the tall spruce trees worked wonders. Or maybe Lupe was just glad to be out of all the rock, and back on smooth trail again?

Taking the lead, but always careful to make sure SPHP was still coming, the Carolina Dog no longer wanted to rest. Every time SPHP shined the flashlight on her, Lupe stared back with a big smile, eyes sparkling like diamonds. Miles to go, but even toward the end, back on Diamond Peak Trail No. 3699, she leapt over all the deadfall without hesitation.

At long last, dinner, followed by soft blankets and Dingo Dreamland at the RAV4. However, a rare delicacy was not on the wee hour menu. When Lupe had reached the junction of the PCT and Rockpile Trail No. 3632, plenty of powdered soup remained, but the coveted blueberry fig bar was already gone. (End 1:13 AM, 58ºF)

**Diamond Peak**, Cascade Range, Oregon 8-28-21

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