{"id":39526,"date":"2022-07-07T08:10:20","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T14:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=39526"},"modified":"2022-07-17T21:28:33","modified_gmt":"2022-07-18T03:28:33","slug":"paulina-peak-columbia-plateau-newberry-national-volcanic-monument-oregon-8-27-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=39526","title":{"rendered":"Paulina Peak, Columbia Plateau, Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Oregon (8-27-21)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 22 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2022 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast!<\/em><\/p>\n

7:30 AM, Cascade Lakes Highway<\/em> –<\/p>\n

Elk Lake!\u00a0 Campground and a beach.\u00a0 Want to try it, Loop?<\/em><\/p>\n

Elk?\u00a0 You mean giant deers, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, yeah!\u00a0 What was I thinking?\u00a0 Giant Deers Lake, Looper!<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, then!\u00a0 Giant Deers Lake sounds fabulous!\u00a0 Let’s go there, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

SPHP made the turn.\u00a0 Great choice!\u00a0 Giant Deers Lake was fabulous!\u00a0 No giant deers in sight at the moment, but there were squirrels in the pines.\u00a0 Lupe was happy with that.\u00a0 Colorful sailboats and catamarans were lined up along the water’s edge, and across the lake were terrific views of both Mount Bachelor<\/span><\/a> (9,065 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and South Sister<\/span><\/a> (10,358 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mount Bachelor<\/strong> (L) from Giant Deers Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
South Sister<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had climbed South Sister only yesterday, so the plan was for a rest and repositioning day today.\u00a0 Beyond that, though, nothing was set in stone.\u00a0 SPHP wasn’t even sure if the American Dingo should stay in the Cascades, or head for the coast hoping to escape the wildfire smoke that always seemed to be hanging around.<\/p>\n

No need to decide quite yet.\u00a0 The trip journal was way behind.\u00a0 SPHP could work on it right here while enjoying the lovely views.<\/p>\n

Some varmint ran under the RAV4.\u00a0 Lupe was thoroughly entertained, watching and waiting for it to emerge for hours.\u00a0 Turned out that Giant Deers Lake was shallow and warm.\u00a0 SPHP enjoyed a refreshing swim.\u00a0 Progress was made on the trip journal, but by mid-afternoon SPHP was sick of that.<\/p>\n

Giant Deers Lake had been lovely, but decision time now.\u00a0 Where to?<\/p>\n

Kind of a risky choice, Looper, but I’ve been thinking.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thinking?\u00a0 That is fraught with danger, SPHP, especially when you’re the one doing it!<\/em><\/p>\n

Uh-huh.\u00a0 No, I mean I’ve been thinking about where we should go next, feisty Dingo!\u00a0 Could maybe do Paulina Peak<\/span><\/a> (7,984 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> yet this evening.\u00a0 Would leave us well within striking distance of Diamond Peak<\/span><\/a> (8,744 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> tomorrow, which is a big climb that we don’t have time for today.\u00a0 Might be our only chance to hit Paulina before heading to the coast.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sounds like a plan, SPHP!\u00a0 But what’s so risky about it?<\/em><\/p>\n

Just that Paulina Peak is off by its lonesome out on the Columbia Plateau E of the Cascades.\u00a0 Might be a lot of wildfire smoke out that way.\u00a0 Could turn out to be a complete waste of time and fuel.<\/em><\/p>\n

As long as this drought holds, isn’t that always going to be the case on this Dingo Vacation, SPHP?\u00a0 Might as well try it!<\/em><\/p>\n

The Newberry Volcanic National Monument<\/strong><\/span><\/a> entrance station was closed when Looper arrived.\u00a0 A sign said visitors should check in at the visitor center.\u00a0 OK, fine.\u00a0 However, the visitor center also turned out to be closed.\u00a0 Huh.\u00a0 Oh, well!<\/p>\n

A R turn onto the road that goes to the Paulina Peak lookout was only a short distance beyond the visitor center.\u00a0 Could have, but SPHP didn’t drive all the way to it, parking instead less than a mile up the road at the Paulina Peak trailhead.\u00a0 Lupe would have more fun exploring Crater Rim Trail No. 57 the rest of the way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Start of Crater Rim Trail No. 57.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

5:05 PM, 68\u00baF, Paulina Peak trailhead<\/em> – The trailhead was vacant, but within minutes, a pickup with enormous knobby tires pulled in.\u00a0 A guy and a brown dog leapt out.\u00a0 Heading straight for the Crater Rim trail, they immediately vanished into the forest.<\/p>\n

Lupe waited for SPHP before she was on her way, as well.<\/p>\n

Heading ESE through the forest, Crater Rim Trail No. 57 started out flat or climbing slowly.\u00a0 Not much to see except trees, which didn’t bother the American Dingo in the least, as she kept a sharp eye and keen nose out for squirrels.\u00a0 Occasional blue diamonds marked the route.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Setting out on Crater Rim Trail No. 57. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Near a blue diamond.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After 0.33 mile, the trail turned S, climbing more rapidly near an edge.\u00a0 Lupe caught glimpses of cliffs high on Paulina Peak’s N face.\u00a0 However, she lost sight of them when the trail veered SW.\u00a0 Ahead, a long straight stretch rose steeply through the forest.\u00a0 Actually, it wasn’t that bad, but sure felt steep after yesterday’s workout on South Sister!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the long straight stretch. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail eventually curved S, then E, climbing more slowly again.\u00a0 Lupe reached a much better viewpoint where the same cliffs were visible.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Cliffs along the N side of Paulina Peak<\/strong>. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For a little way, the trail trended SE near big drop-offs, or behind a low ridge of sandy soil that ran along them.\u00a0 Down in the Newberry Caldera, Paulina Lake was sometimes visible off to the N.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Behind the sandy bank (L). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
SE end of Paulina Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Crater Rim Trail No. 57 made a second foray SW, but this stretch wasn’t as long or as steep as the earlier one had been.\u00a0 The trail turned E again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On another foray SW, away from the crater rim. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loop was somewhere N of Paulina Peak’s lower W summit, when the guy and the brown dog appeared again, heading this way.\u00a0 Lupe got to meet Daisy.\u00a0 Slender and spry, Daisy was 12 years old, and still climbing mountains!\u00a0 She’d already been to the top of Paulina Peak.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Daisy and Lupe.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After bidding Daisy adieu, wishing her happy trails, Lupe kept going.\u00a0 Displays began to appear about disappearing whitebark pine forests.\u00a0 The placards said whitebark pines were dominant on Paulina Peak, but increasingly rare throughout much of their former range.<\/p>\n

As Loop continued up the mountain, it seemed that the displays were in the wrong order.\u00a0 SPHP got an education on the plight of the whitebark pines in reverse.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Lupe came to more viewpoints.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Saving Whitebark Pine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Paulina Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Among the whitebark pines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Getting close to the top (R)? East Lake<\/strong> (L). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Ancient survivors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By now, Lupe was already quite high on the mountain.\u00a0 Climbing more slowly again, Crater Rim Trail No. 57 continued E near the N edge.\u00a0 A high flat ridge jutting out to the N turned out not to be the summit.\u00a0 The trail turned SE.\u00a0 A clearing was on the R (S), when Loopster reached a junction with Paulina Peak Trail No. 51.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Signage at the junction with Paulina Peak Trail No. 51.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Only 0.25 mile to the summit!\u00a0 Abandoning Crater Rim Trail No. 57, which veered off to the SW here, Lupe continued SE on Trail No. 51.\u00a0 Whitebark pine displays appeared at regular intervals.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Upper Watershed Guardians<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Effect of Climate Change<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Clark’s Nutcracker – Whitebark’s Best Friend<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
White Pine Blister Rust Threat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Views N of Paulina Peak kept improving.\u00a0 In addition to Paulina Lake, East Lake could now be seen down in the Newberry Caldera, too, along with the lower end of the Big Obsidian Flow.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Paulina Lake<\/strong> (L). East Lake<\/strong> (R) beyond the Big Obsidian Flow<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Near the end, Lupe could see a railing along the upper edge of the next cliff to the SE.\u00a0 Two more whitebark pine displays were along the final short, steep stretch of Trail No. 51.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Almost there! The lookout parking lot is up on the cliff ahead. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Whitebark Alert: Mountain Pine Beetle Invasion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Disappearing Whitebark Pine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6:49 PM, 63\u00baF, Paulina Peak<\/span><\/a> (7,984 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/em> –\u00a0 Shadows were lengthening when Lupe arrived at a parking lot.\u00a0 Several vehicles and half a dozen people were here.\u00a0 The big views were toward the N and NW, but Lupe’s first order of business was to tag Paulina Peak’s true summit, a collection of boulders capping a 20 foot high hill just W of the parking lot.<\/p>\n

The true summit was easy to identify.\u00a0 One big rock in particular was a good foot higher than any of the others.\u00a0 Not a roomy perch, but Lupe easily scrambled up there.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Paulina Peak’s summit<\/strong> from the parking lot. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Heading up to tag the true summit. Paulina Lake<\/strong> (L), East Lake<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Paulina Peak summit.<\/strong> Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On the highest rock. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A less glarey view.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paulina Peak was easy, SPHP!\u00a0 Glad we did this!<\/em><\/p>\n

Me too, Loop!\u00a0 Except that now I’m all depressed about whitebark pines.<\/em><\/p>\n

And I’ll be all depressed, too, if you forgot to bring a chocolate coconut bar again, SPHP.\u00a0 Please tell me that you remembered to bring one!<\/em><\/p>\n

Fear not!\u00a0 Not going to fail you twice in a row, Looper!\u00a0 Got one in the pack.\u00a0 Shall we find a spot to split it?<\/em><\/p>\n

More vehicles and people were arriving.\u00a0 Paulina Peak was sort of busy.\u00a0 A very short use trail ran from the NE end of the parking lot over to a small, exposed viewpoint without a railing where both lakes and more of the Big Obsidian Flow were in sight.<\/p>\n

Hoping to find a quiet spot to split the chocolate coconut bar, Lupe and SPHP arrived at this viewpoint moments after a terrible tragedy struck a family with children.\u00a0 Oblivious to the danger, an angry young girl flung her stuffed animal in midst of a tantrum.\u00a0 In shock and horror, she then burst into tears, weeping bitterly after seeing it disappear over the cliff.<\/p>\n

Devastated, the girl and her family quickly departed, before some other unforeseen evil could strike.\u00a0 Seeing SPHP splitting the chocolate coconut bar with Lupe, a much calmer girl asked SPHP if she could give Lupe a piece?\u00a0 Her mother was dubious, but let her do so.\u00a0 Both were surprised by the polite and dainty manner in which the Carolina Dog took it from the girl’s fingers, prior to making short work of it.<\/p>\n

Mom was happy!\u00a0 The girl was happy!\u00a0 Even SPHP was happy.\u00a0 Lupe licked her chops.<\/p>\n

Wow!\u00a0 SPHP, did you notice how happy they were just because I ate a piece of chocolate coconut bar?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yup.\u00a0 The girl thought feeding you was fun.<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, it is fun, SPHP!\u00a0 I certainly enjoyed it!\u00a0 Got any more chocolate coconut bars?\u00a0 We could make money doing this!\u00a0 You provide chocolate coconut bars (at a decent profit, of course!) to anyone who wants to feed a Carolina Dog, and I’ll eat them.\u00a0 Why, we could get rich doing this!<\/em><\/p>\n

And you could be the size of 3 normal Carolina Dogs, and die of chocolate coconut bar poisoning, too!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Along the N rim, heading over to the Big Obsidian Flow viewpoint. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Central Pumice Cone<\/span><\/a> (7,084 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center), Paulina Lake<\/strong> (L). Big Obsidian Flow<\/strong> and East Lake<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
East Lake<\/strong> (L) and Big Obsidian Flow<\/strong> (foreground). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP’s earlier fears that Paulina Peak might be lost in a cloud of thick smoke from wildfires had been partially correct.\u00a0 Especially bad toward the horizons, smoke was visible in all directions, yet the air seemed quite a bit clearer locally.\u00a0 Lupe checked out the rest of the summit region.<\/p>\n

A hazy plain beyond low forested hills was about all there was to see to the S or E, and trees hid the views to the W.\u00a0 Close to where the road came up, there was an outhouse, and a Paulina Peak Overlook sign.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Best view to the S or E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
By the Paulina Peak sign.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Half an hour before sunset, a small crowd eagerly awaited the big event along the N rim of the lookout.\u00a0 Evidently, sunset from Paulina Peak was a big deal.\u00a0 Half a dozen people had fancy, expensive cameras with huge lenses and tripods.\u00a0 Best views locally were of Paulina and East Lakes plus the Big Obsidian Flow, but that wasn’t what they were here for.<\/p>\n

A clear day would provided a terrific view of the Cascade Range.\u00a0 Off to the NW, Mount Bachelor<\/span><\/a> (9,065 ft)<\/span><\/strong>, South Sister<\/span><\/a> (10,358 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Middle Sister<\/span><\/a> (10,047 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, and North Sister<\/strong><\/span><\/a> (10,085 ft.)<\/strong> <\/span>were all lined up.\u00a0 And way off to the N, Mount Hood<\/span><\/a><\/strong> (11,239 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> stood barely detectable in the smoke on the edge of vision.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, drifting in from the W, the smoke seemed to be getting worse.\u00a0 As the sun sank toward the murk, Lupe visited various vantage points for scenic effect.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From near the true summit<\/strong> L to R on the L: Mount Bachelor<\/strong>, South Sister<\/strong>, Middle Sister<\/strong>, and North Sister.<\/strong> Mount Hood<\/strong> barely detectable (R). Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Down at the parking lot. Paulina Lake<\/strong> (R). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Mount Bachelor<\/strong> (L), South Sister<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I don’t know, Loop!\u00a0 Not a cloud in the sky, and smoky.\u00a0 Too bad, but I think everyone is waiting in vain tonight.\u00a0 Doubt there’s going to be much of a sunset at all.\u00a0 Want to head back while we’ve still got some light?<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Height of the evening’s glory. Mount Bachelor<\/strong> (L) and The Three Sisters<\/strong> (Center & R). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another big day tomorrow, SPHP?\u00a0 Like South Sister was?<\/em><\/p>\n

Hope so, Loop!\u00a0 Depends on the smoke.\u00a0 Might just drive to the coast.<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, I suppose we may as well head back then.<\/em><\/p>\n

15 minutes before sunset, while the crowd still waited, Lupe took a final look at South Sister, where she’d been only yesterday.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog then started back down to Crater Rim Trail No. 57, where twilight faded among the ancient whitebark pines of Paulina Peak.\u00a0 (8:29 PM, 61\u00baF)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Paulina Peak<\/strong>, Columbia Plateau, Newberry Volcanic Monument, Oregon 8-27-21<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

GPS Track by T J Kodras (8-16-21)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose from Lupe’s Summer of 2021<\/span> Dingo Vacations to New Mexico, Wyoming & the West Coast Adventure Inde<\/strong><\/span>x<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 22 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2022 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast! 7:30 AM, Cascade Lakes Highway – Elk Lake!\u00a0 Campground and a beach.\u00a0 Want to try it, Loop? Elk?\u00a0 You mean giant deers, SPHP? Oh, yeah!\u00a0 What was I thinking?\u00a0 Giant Deers Lake, Looper! Yes, then!\u00a0 Giant Deers Lake sounds fabulous!\u00a0 Let’s … Continue reading Paulina Peak, Columbia Plateau, Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Oregon (8-27-21)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39514,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1416],"tags":[105,106,1551,1552,26,104,1549,524,1550],"class_list":["post-39526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1416","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-columbia-plateau","tag-crater-rim-trail-no-57","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-newberry-national-volcanic-monument","tag-oregon","tag-paulina-peak"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/IMG_2393-scaled.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39526"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39526\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41199,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39526\/revisions\/41199"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/39514"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}