Whetstone Mountain via the Santiam side. Another great Winter conditioner, especially this Winter with the lack of snow.
I carried snowshoes just in case there was enough snow. I really didn’t need them until I got close to the summit of Whetstone, and then on the boundary ridge heading east. I think I wore them for a total of about a mile…it was worth it though as the snow on the ridge was 2’+ deep and not very consolidated.
As I dropped down into the Battle Ax drainage the temps went down and the vegetation was still holding a lot of moisture. Crossing the creek by shimmying the log is still the best way…just don’t slip!
The last 5 miles is always interesting and enjoyable, passing a few old mine sites, through Jawbone Flats, and people watching back out to the gate. I didn’t see another human till I got to Jawbone.
The old growth forest I hiked through between the ridge and Battle Ax Creek is some of my favorite.
Across the Gold Creek drainage, the Chemeketan Nasty Rock…
Dry forest on the ridge…
This one’s for Deb, she loves this kind of shit 🙂 Damn good aim this Coyote had, wouldn’t you say?
Remnants of the communication line that went up to the Whetstone Lookout. Interesting how small the tree is…??
At the junction, still not enough snow for snowshoes…
Silver King, Mother Load, Pansy, Bull of the Woods, and Schreiner Peak way off in the distance (right to left)
Finally snow…just below the summit of Whetstone…
Summit rest…
So many peaks out there in this playground…
Battle Ax and Mount Jefferson…
3FJ, Mt Washington, Three Sisters, and The Husband (far right)
Mount Hood…
Table Rock…
This is where I needed snowshoes…for about a mile along the boundary ridge…
This old growth forest is some of the best around…
Here’s the trail 3369 junction, that will take me down into the Battle Ax drainage…
Lots of cold water in Battle Ax Creek…and that’s the wet log i’ll need to shimmy across.
Back on the main trail that gets me to Jawbone Flats…
…past the Ruth Mine site…
Looking up at Whetstone Mountain…
On my drive out, a nice view looking at the Opal Creek Wilderness…
Today’s route…
