After a good night’s sleep in the Hotel Prairie City, we headed up the Strawberry Mountain trailhead. Our original plan was to tag the summit then go off trail and explore the ridge with Indian Spring Butte and Rabbit Ears…but after yesterday’s adventure…our plans changed.
The trail to the summit was a pleasant one, with lots to look at, including three mountain goats. Once on the summit we took a long rest and thought about our original plans… We decided to scramble off the summit via the south ridge, then continuing along the ridge until finding a spot to drop off the ridge down into the Strawberry basin. After the steep descent into the basin, Deb did a great job leading us off trail directly to Little Strawberry Lake. After a nice break at the lake, we went off trail directly to Strawberry Lake, where we caught the trail back to the trailhead.
Fun day…and pretty easy off trail travel.
After only 1.5 miles we arrive at Strawberry Lake…
Looking back at the lake as we gain elevation…
A nice view along the way…
Just below the summit, a resting Mountain a Goat…
Nearing the summit, looking out over the John Day Valley…
Looking down about 5000′ to the valley floor…
After a nice break at the summit, we scrambled down the south ridge…looking back at where we came from…
At the trail junction looking at Strawberry Mountain…
Rabbit Ears rock formation…
This is where we dropped off the ridge, down into Strawberry Basin…
Looking up at Rabbit Ears from the shore of Little Strawberry lake…
Easy cross-country through the forest back to Strawberry Lake…
Today’s Route…
