Finally, Stacker Butte in the SUN! 1-31-10

[anna in boots]

After my snowglobe experience the Sunday before http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/vie ... f=8&t=3978, I decide to head back to Stacker Butte one week later to have a completely new experience: a view.

I am in luck because all my favorite colors are assembled today--robin's egg blue, 24 carat gold, cotton white. Ironically, after moving to the northwest from the Rockies for a change of pace and scenery, I'm still drawn to these subtle desert hues.

Here, the hills do not roll, they undulate like the ripples of sand at a creek bottom. The view looking south to Oregon brings on memories of Wyoming.

Me and my shadow admire a righteous view of the Klickitat Rail Trail's deep and mysterious Swale Canyon.

Strange flowers are dispersed along yon rise.

They are the rare but spreading Wind Tower anemone, standing several hundred feet tall and blooming year round.

My shadow also points out to me that the radio towers are more graceful and exotic as a reflection.

Way off in the distance, Mt. Adams suns himself like a turtle on a log.

A really big turtle.

I can just spot the bend of the Columbia where she bumps hips with Mosier. Catherine Creek's on the right.

Light's gettin' long, time to go back down. Well, time to think about going back down, anyway.

Some experiences are worth lingering over.

Far off over Portland, a low band of stratus picks up a glint from the setting sun and blazes like a wildfire. My brain has to pause a moment and process the fact that this is not the real thing.

The river wears The Dalles stylishly like a shimmering necklace of fire opal. The city's oranges and reds pulse gently in the deepening gloom like the last embers of a campfire.

In a few months, this prairie will be a technicolor display of penstemon, lupine, and buttercup. And I will be back. And I will bring a larger bag of apple slices this time.

The trail: http://www.nwhiker.com/CGNSAHike68.html
The Preserve: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_ ... ia_bro.pdf
The flowers: http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard ... _shop.html

anna in boots

[Excursionista]

Wonderfully poetic as always, Anna. And inspirational, too - I really like that shot of the Columbia looking west towards Mosier. Stacker's moving up on my list.

[anna in boots]

Wonderfully poetic as always, Anna. And inspirational, too - I really like that shot of the Columbia looking west towards Mosier. Stacker's moving up on my list.

Thanks, Jason. Stacker is a two hour drive that is worth every mile--space, silence, lots and lots of light, and I've never seen more than one other vehicle at the trailhead. Would be a fantastic place for moonrise and star gazing.

anna in boots

[anna in boots]

Here is a list of all the fantastic goodies you can see out there in season. Man, I can't wait to go back for this!

http://science.halleyhosting.com/nature ... /09/15.htm

anna in boots

[rfbolton]

And I will be back.

I've never been there, but it's been on my list for some time, and I plan to visit this spring. I fear you would never forgive me if I told you why, but at least my reason takes me there just as surely as anyone else's does. Anyway, when should I go for maximum flowers?

[anna in boots]

I plan to visit this spring. I fear you would never forgive me if I told you why

As long as your explanation doesn't begin with "You know, the tuba just sounds better outdoors" or ends with "...and now I need more places to bury the bodies," I think you'll be okay. I'm planning on hitting the peak of the petals out there, myself, and I have some allies in the locals. As soon as I know, I'll post a heads up.

anna in boots

[rfbolton]

I think you'll be okay

We list geeks sometimes take quite a beating from "pure" hikers and climbers, hence my hesitance. But you've allayed my fears, so here's my reason. Note that the top 5 have over 1000 feet of topographic prominence, which puts them all on my list. Have you been to any of the others? Of those five I've only visited Indian Rock, most recently with Don Nelsen last fall.

[retired jerry]

Have you been to Simcoe Butte?

[rfbolton]

Drove just below Simcoe Butte each way on all three visits to Indian Rock, but didn't take the time to top out on any of the trips. I guess I'll make it up there when I lower my threshold to 500+ feet of prominence!

[anna in boots]

Note that the top 5 have over 1000 feet of topographic prominence, which puts them all on my list. Have you been to any of the others?

We have a lot in common, rf. I, too, enjoy the vaulted perches and 360 views. That list is awesome--is there a similar one for Oregon counties, et. al.? In Colorado, one 14ner bagger/writer called it Peak Power when something topped out over its neighbors. He even dismissed several 14ners that sat in close-set groups because they didn't have enough rise between them to justify calling each one a "climb." I did four in one day and believe me, they count. (Whew!)

Anyway, what can I say? I'm a girl who's impressed by "prominence." (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

anna in boots