Inspired by Gene's trip report http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/vie ... 3&start=10
I decided to head up for a (hopefully) once in a lifetime trip to the top of Lost Lake Butte in January. I took a look at the visible satellite:
I could clearly see the low clouds were covering eastern Oregon, but there looked to be a clear slot around the Lake...
Well, I was wrong. The low clouds and fog hung around and there was nothing to see.
Well, nothing to see at the lake level!
Full gallery:
http://weathercrazy.smugmug.com/Landsca ... utte-13015
I was hoping by the slight glow above, that maybe I'd be able to hike above the inversion and low clouds. Temps were in the upper 20s when I started around 3,300'.
The trees were coated in rime ice, but nothing too thick.
Further up, things were getting more and more coated, and also the light above was getting better
Finally, around 3,800', things were looking good! The sun was breaking through, and I knew I had a few hundred feet of elevation gain to go.
Things were inspiring on the way up! It was hard to stop and take pics knowing the views above were going to be good.
And finally, as temps warmed into the 40s, and the rime ice was dropping off in droves, I stepped up to the summit and this awaited me
Um...I ended up staying at the summit for almost an hour...
The fog was sloshing back and forth, occasionally rolling over the summit. The view of Hood was absolutely amazing.
To the north and east, Adams and a fog bow
Hardly any snow, though there was some above the 3,700' level, but nothing that required spikes or snowshoes.
Look closely here and you can see a halo, well, around my shadow anyway.
More impressive rays on the way down
One section of the trail, right at a switchback, was particularly pretty with the rime ice as the east winds blew through. Everything facing the east was coated with ice.
Hemlock needles:
A note on the road...it was fine, though the road was very wet, so if it does get well below freezing, there could be ice. There was a lot of downed and split trees from what seems like freezing rain.
There is also a ton of logging going up there wow!
Lost Lake Butte (1.30.15)
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Lost Lake Butte (1.30.15)
Last edited by weathercrazy on January 31st, 2015, 8:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Lost Lake Butte (1.30.15)
Nice! For some reason the sun rays really hit good there.
My car still has a nice coating of dried mud from driving thru the logging truck mess. Oh well, the rain will wash it off eventually..
My car still has a nice coating of dried mud from driving thru the logging truck mess. Oh well, the rain will wash it off eventually..
Re: Lost Lake Butte (1.30.15)
Absolutely incredible photography!
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Re: Lost Lake Butte (1.30.15)
Thanks! It was an awesome day to be out!
wsevert wrote:Absolutely incredible photography!
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Re: Lost Lake Butte (1.30.15)
Gorgeous photos! You really lucked out! It's always fun to be above an inversion.
The lack of snow in the mountains is pretty shocking.
The lack of snow in the mountains is pretty shocking.
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Re: Lost Lake Butte (1.30.15)
Very cool! Thank you for sharing this with us.
Greg
Greg
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Re: Lost Lake Butte (1.30.15)
Thanks everyone. I'm sure one of those pics will be in my calendar for next year
greglief wrote:Very cool! Thank you for sharing this with us.
Greg
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Re: Lost Lake Butte (1.30.15)
Thanks!
Ya, it's scary just how snow-free it was. I mean, if things get really dry after being buried by snow until May or June, I can't imagine what it will be like if things completely melt out in March!
I did this trail on October 9th, 2012 and we still hadn't had any appreciable rain that fall. I remember remarking it was like hiking in a tinderbox. Everything was so dry.
Ya, it's scary just how snow-free it was. I mean, if things get really dry after being buried by snow until May or June, I can't imagine what it will be like if things completely melt out in March!
I did this trail on October 9th, 2012 and we still hadn't had any appreciable rain that fall. I remember remarking it was like hiking in a tinderbox. Everything was so dry.
justpeachy wrote:Gorgeous photos! You really lucked out! It's always fun to be above an inversion.
The lack of snow in the mountains is pretty shocking.
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Re: Lost Lake Butte (1.30.15)
I should ask, does anyone regularly hike with a thermometer? I think it's interesting to see the change in temps as you go up or through river valleys etc. Especially during an inversion.
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Re: Lost Lake Butte (1.30.15)
I have cheapo thermometer on outside of pack. One of those you can put on a zipper pull. I glance at it occasionally.