That weekend, I met up with my friend, Jordan, visiting from Denver. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing a friend from "home." We hit Virtuous Pie, my new go-to pizza joint, as well as three nearby breweries (#11): Hair of the Dog Brewing Company, Cascade Brewing (mostly sours) and Base Camp Brewing Company (a new favorite).
The Salmon Butte Trail is one of the more popular trails in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness. Located one hour southeast along Highway 26 (near Welches), the moderate out-and-back route gains 3,170' over 11.5 miles. It is a mostly shady forest hike with a few small clearings.
Kyle and I got a late start on Sunday, leaving the trailhead at noon. We crossed the bridge over the Salmon River and followed the old road bed shaded by red alder, big-leaf maple, western red-cedar and western hemlock. There are several creeks to cross before entering a dense, dark woodland filled with large old-growth trees. We noted the silence of the forest during this time of year, deepened by the fact that we had the trail to ourselves.
The trail eventually rounds the nose of the ridge at a small opening and traverses up a slope in the Mack Hall Creek drainage. A steep sunny meadow affords a view across to Salmon Mountain and ahead to Salmon Butte.
We continued to ascend via switchbacks before bearing right on an old road bed in an avenue of rhododendrons (June blossoms). The final push to the open summit (4,877') is rewarded by a full-on view of Mt. Hood. Expansive vistas abound with Mt. Jefferson and the Three Sisters to the south, and Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier and the Salmon River valley to the north.
Kyle and I got a late start on Sunday, leaving the trailhead at noon. We crossed the bridge over the Salmon River and followed the old road bed shaded by red alder, big-leaf maple, western red-cedar and western hemlock. There are several creeks to cross before entering a dense, dark woodland filled with large old-growth trees. We noted the silence of the forest during this time of year, deepened by the fact that we had the trail to ourselves.
The trail eventually rounds the nose of the ridge at a small opening and traverses up a slope in the Mack Hall Creek drainage. A steep sunny meadow affords a view across to Salmon Mountain and ahead to Salmon Butte.
We continued to ascend via switchbacks before bearing right on an old road bed in an avenue of rhododendrons (June blossoms). The final push to the open summit (4,877') is rewarded by a full-on view of Mt. Hood. Expansive vistas abound with Mt. Jefferson and the Three Sisters to the south, and Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier and the Salmon River valley to the north.
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| Date hiked: 11/18/18 |
