Mount Beachie Battle Ax Loop…
One of our summer favorites, especially blueberry season. This hike is a figure eight route that starts near the west end of Elk Lake (Marion County) and heads west up an old road to Beachie Saddle, then goes cross-country along a gnarly ridge to the craggy to of the eastern summit of Mount Beachie. From there, head over to the true summit of Mt Beachie, hiking through a severely burned forest. From Beachie summit, thrash down to the trail that will lead you back to Beachie Saddle. This is also the trailhead to Battle Ax, a 1200’ huff to the summit. After tagging the summit of Battle Ax, continue north along the summit ridge, where it will eventually traverse down on the east side of the ridge, to a trail junction. At this junction we head south back towards Elk Lake and the truck.
Today was about big views, lots of wildlife, including mountain goats, and tons of huckleberries.
Great day outside with my lovely wife, Deb.
From just above Beachie Saddle, looking at Battle Ax…
“Put your goat feet on”
We’ve always called this Sharp Tooth Rock.
A bit of winter coat from the local mountain goat…
First look at the craggy eastern summit of Mount Beachie.
A peek over into the Bull of the Woods Wilderness, burnt multiple times in the last two decades. The highpoint in the pic is Schreiner Peak.
Posers…
Phonebooth Rock…
Zoom in and you can see Gold Butte Lookout.
On our way over to the true summit of Mount Beachie…
Mount Jefferson. The black dot, front and center, is Spire Rock. Still closed from the 2020 Lionshead fire.
Mount Washington and the Three Sisters in the far distance, and Bachelor Mountain and Coffin Mountain in the foreground.
Battle Ax’s ear hole cave. I’ve been in there a couple of times…
A nice shot of Elk Lake from the summit of Battle Ax.
Deb got a great shot of the thunderheads forming over Mount Washington.
A partial shot of the gnarly ridge out to the Eastern summit of Beachie.
Today’s figure-8 track…
Was it just the hair of the mountain goats you saw or did you see some? I didn’t know they were up that way.
Nice pictures though. Ophelia and I need to get up that way before summer is over.
Yes, you should go up to at least Elk Lake. Try to go on a Tuesday or Wednesday…less people. The road is still really bad.