Dry Creek Trail to the Ridge Camp

I think this is the 37th time I have blogged this trail.. I bet I've hiked this trail more than anyone else..

It was supposed to by dry and sunny on Easter and then the weather would be back to rain on Monday.  So after getting permission from my family I went for a hike.  It has been a while since I went up Dry Creek.  I had been kind of avoiding it after my last trip up there.

This trip was better, but there was some rain, I may as well have hiked it on Monday.  The creek was high but I found a log to cross it on upstream of the trail.

There were a lot of trilliums in bloom before the creek crossing.  There are about 5 blow downs to navigate after the creek, other wise the trail is in good shape in spite of getting so little use.

Pellia was growing in the middle of the trail and producing sporophytes.

I made it to the beautiful ridge at 3pm and took an hour break.  I was tired; this hike always takes it out of me. 

When I got back down to the Lake I saw that a homeowner down there had left a massive fire going.  Fires are not allowed in that area anymore as far as I know.  There is a sign on the trail that says that there is a nature area all along there and camp fires are not allowed.

As always the old growth forest on the ridge was wonderful and the destruction on the Lake Shore was ugly.

11 miles with 2,300 feet elevation gain

 

 

Short video


Long video






Parking




Mount Rose




Where it all went pear shaped last time



It does not make me feel better that they planted one
for every one they cut down.  It will take up to 1,200 years to replace them



Nematoloma



High Speed Chase



Kristen Delaney died here, but why?



Tea time




Lunch time view



Carnivore poop



Hypnum circinale moss on the log in camp



My hand made daypack on the Hypnum covered log



Evidence of very old trail work



The log we chose to cross the creek on



The official log crossing
(no thanks!)



Beautiful Mount Rose, named after  the father
of the mountain that mount Ellinor is named after
his future son-in-law  the cartographer was sucking up I guess



Fire by the lake

Homestead associated with the fire



The fire by the lake
there is a lot of footage of this in the longer video



Track log in Google Earth

Final pictures of my completed daypack

I've tinkered with my day pack a little bit and now I am completely satisfied with it until I shred all the mesh. 

My home made hiking daypack is ultra light

I added some fabric to the back of the shoulder straps to help absorb and prevent sweating.  I also added some green shock cord that I actually paid for.

The final cost for my pack was about $8.00 in materials and thread.  The final weight is 11.5 ounces. Not bad.  I could have gone lighter if I had actually paid for any of the fabric but 11.5 ounces is just fine with me.

Side view

 

Final bit of tinkering added material to the back of the straps
to both absorb and help stop sweating.  I did this with my
new sewing machine so the lines are pretty straight.

 

Final weight 11.5 ounces

Visit this blog post to see how this pack was constructed.

While making my pack I learned that my sewing machine is a total piece of garbage.  My machine was so bad that the shop offered to sell me a different machine for $45, that is $5 less than the price of repairing my garbage machine, but even then the reverse would have been non functioning.

I told that shop that I would like to have a slight upgrade instead of the same model so they sold me a nice old Kenmore 158 for $75.  The older sewing machines are better then anything you can buy in the store as they were made to last.

The Kenmore has been serviced and it runs great.  I love it!  I look forward to doing more projects now that I have a sewing machine that actually works.

My new used sewing machine

Pack for sale

Custom converted to a roll top due to the fussy
top closure system that comes stock

I am selling my 2013 Gossamer Gear Gorilla pack.  My pack was custom converted to a roll top closure.  This pack has about 450 day hiking miles on it.  It is in good condition other than some holes in the mesh pockets and a small round stain on the hip belt pocket and some scribbling I did on the extension collar.  The holes are small and have been repaired.  This pack is freshly laundered so it smells great!

This is a small sized pack body with a medium sized hip belt.  Gossamer Gear packs run very long, so this should fit like a Medium in any other brand of pack.

Buying this pack will give someone a chance to test out an ultralight pack without having to sell their first born child.

$25 OBO plus shipping, local pick up is an option.
This thing sells for $185 plus $35 for the hip belt plus shipping when new.

Some holes in the mesh a prettier repair job could be
done with black colored thread



Freshly laundered so it smells great

This drawing has faded and all that is left is the hand writing
and parts of the tree trunks.  Draw your own design over it with a sharpie.

Planning and training

I've been working on our resupply strategy.  My plan is to resupply often so we don't have to carry too much. 

We have  been on one backpacking trip as training and hope to backpack every weekend that is not rainy until school gets out.

I've been taking some shorter hikes around town just to try to lose weight and stay in shape.  I will have to start taking my daughter on some of those hikes.

My spouse is not being very supportive.  He's depressed because he can't go with us and he will miss us while we are gone.  He is very ill and just can't do it, but I've got to live my life too.

I've already got our next backpacking trip planned it, it will just be a one nighter but will work for training purposes.  I wish we had bus service on Sunday's, then I could save gas by taking to bus to our backpacking trips.

My plan is to mail 4 boxes and do one off trail resupply at Sisters.  We will also do a small resupply at Ollalie Lake.

Our rough plan looks about like this. 

Update most recent arrival information:
I arrived at: (none set)Fish Lake ResortCrater Lake (Mazama Village)Shelter Cove ResortSistersBig Lake Youth CampOlallie LakeTimberline Lodge on date: (mm-dd-yy)

Note: This only affects the arrival and departure dates from the selected resupply forward. No other numbers/calculations/totals are affected. Its primary goal is to give you better idea when you will reach future resupplies if you are running ahead/beind schedule.

Start Point: Callahan's Lodge

Trail access desc: .8mi road Guidebook start location: Old Highway 99 Depart: 7-20-14 (Sun) Plan Overview Notes: All rows: [show] [hide]

1. Callahan's Lodge to Fish Lake Resort (3.5 days) 7-20-14 to 7-23-14 [-]

← map 54.1 mi 4,939 ft EG 15.6 mi/day 1,424 ft/day CA guidebook: R OR/WA guidebook: B Adjustments: none Fish Lake Resort resupply exit Exit pt: Fish Lake Trail Detour: 2.0mi trail Arrive: 7-23-14 (Wed) Layover: 0.0 days Depart: 7-23-14 (Wed)

Cumulative distance: 54.1 mi Notes: -none-

Hiking from Callahan's Lodge to Fish Lake Resort: add on-trail "rest" days add mi of hiking distance add ft of elevation gain (note: negative distance/eg values are allowed) Use my default pace/hours/eg Use these settings: mi /h pace hours per day 0 minutes15 minutes30 minutes45 minutes60 minutes75 minutes

At the Fish Lake Resort resupply: always take the rest of the day off after arriving here (currently 0.53 days) add additional layover days notes:

2. Fish Lake Resort to Crater Lake (Mazama Village) (3.2 days) 7-23-14 to 7-28-14 [-]

← map 50.0 mi 4,475 ft EG 15.6 mi/day 1,400 ft/day OR/WA guidebook: B, C Adjustments: none Crater Lake (Mazama Village) resupply exit Exit pt: Highway 62 crossing Detour: 2.0mi road Arrive: 7-26-14 (Sat) Layover: 1.3 days Depart: 7-28-14 (Mon)

Cumulative distance: 104.1 mi Notes: -none-

Hiking from Fish Lake Resort to Crater Lake (Mazama Village): add on-trail "rest" days add mi of hiking distance add ft of elevation gain (note: negative distance/eg values are allowed) Use my default pace/hours/eg Use these settings: mi /h pace hours per day 0 minutes15 minutes30 minutes45 minutes60 minutes75 minutes

At the Crater Lake (Mazama Village) resupply: always take the rest of the day off after arriving here (currently 0.33 days) add additional layover days notes:

3. Crater Lake (Mazama Village) to Shelter Cove Resort (5.2 days) 7-28-14 to 8-4-14 [-]

← map 81.8 mi 7,002 ft EG 15.7 mi/day 1,346 ft/day OR/WA guidebook: C, D Adjustments: none Shelter Cove Resort resupply exit Exit pt: Shelter Cove Trail Detour: 2.2mi trail Arrive: 8-2-14 (Sat) Layover: 1.8 days Depart: 8-4-14 (Mon)

Cumulative distance: 185.9 mi Notes: Diamond

Hiking from Crater Lake (Mazama Village) to Shelter Cove Resort: add on-trail "rest" days add mi of hiking distance add ft of elevation gain (note: negative distance/eg values are allowed) Use my default pace/hours/eg Use these settings: mi /h pace hours per day 0 minutes15 minutes30 minutes45 minutes60 minutes75 minutes

At the Shelter Cove Resort resupply: always take the rest of the day off after arriving here (currently 0.80 days) add additional layover days notes: Diamond

4. Shelter Cove Resort to Sisters (4.8 days) 8-4-14 to 8-11-14 [-]

← map 77.3 mi 5,861 ft EG 16.0 mi/day 1,210 ft/day OR/WA guidebook: D, E Adjustments: none Sisters resupply exit Exit pt: Highway 242 crossing Detour: 15.0mi road Arrive: 8-8-14 (Fri) Layover: 2.2 days Depart: 8-11-14 (Mon)

Cumulative distance: 263.2 mi Notes: -none-

Hiking from Shelter Cove Resort to Sisters: add on-trail "rest" days add mi of hiking distance add ft of elevation gain (note: negative distance/eg values are allowed) Use my default pace/hours/eg Use these settings: mi /h pace hours per day 0 minutes15 minutes30 minutes45 minutes60 minutes75 minutes

At the Sisters resupply: always take the rest of the day off after arriving here (currently 0.16 days) add additional layover days notes:

5. Sisters to Big Lake Youth Camp (0.8 days) 8-11-14 to 8-12-14 [-]

← map 11.4 mi 1,300 ft EG 15.1 mi/day 1,721 ft/day OR/WA guidebook: F Adjustments: none Big Lake Youth Camp resupply exit Exit pt: Big Lake Youth Camp trail Detour: .8mi trail Arrive: 8-11-14 (Mon) Layover: 0.2 days Depart: 8-12-14 (Tue)

Cumulative distance: 274.6 mi Notes: -none-

Hiking from Sisters to Big Lake Youth Camp: add on-trail "rest" days add mi of hiking distance add ft of elevation gain (note: negative distance/eg values are allowed) Use my default pace/hours/eg Use these settings: mi /h pace hours per day 0 minutes15 minutes30 minutes45 minutes60 minutes75 minutes

At the Big Lake Youth Camp resupply: always take the rest of the day off after arriving here (currently 0.24 days) add additional layover days notes:

6. Big Lake Youth Camp to Olallie Lake (3.5 days) 8-12-14 to 8-15-14 [-]

← map 52.2 mi 6,170 ft EG 15.0 mi/day 1,774 ft/day OR/WA guidebook: F Adjustments: none Olallie Lake exit Exit pt: Olallie Lake Arrive: 8-15-14 (Fri) Layover: 0.0 days Depart: 8-15-14 (Fri)

Cumulative distance: 326.8 mi Notes: -none-

Hiking from Big Lake Youth Camp to Olallie Lake: add on-trail "rest" days add mi of hiking distance add ft of elevation gain (note: negative distance/eg values are allowed) Use my default pace/hours/eg Use these settings: mi /h pace hours per day 0 minutes15 minutes30 minutes45 minutes60 minutes75 minutes

At the Olallie Lake exit: Note: This is a trail exit point only, not a resupply always take the rest of the day off after arriving here (currently 0.52 days) add additional layover days notes:

7. Olallie Lake to Timberline Lodge (2.4 days) 8-15-14 to 8-19-14 [-]

← map 54.2 mi 4,885 ft EG 22.5 mi/day 2,025 ft/day OR/WA guidebook: F, G * Adjustments: 2.25 mi pace 11 hours/day 30 minutes added per eg comp Timberline Lodge resupply exit Exit pt: Timberline Lodge Trail Detour: .2mi trail Arrive: 8-17-14 (Sun) Layover: 1.1 days Depart: 8-19-14 (Tue)

Cumulative distance: 381.0 mi Notes: -none-

Hiking from Olallie Lake to Timberline Lodge: add on-trail "rest" days add mi of hiking distance add ft of elevation gain (note: negative distance/eg values are allowed) Use my default pace/hours/eg Use these settings: mi /h pace hours per day 0 minutes15 minutes30 minutes45 minutes60 minutes75 minutes

At the Timberline Lodge resupply: always take the rest of the day off after arriving here (currently 0.11 days) add additional layover days notes:

8. Timberline Lodge to Cascade Locks (3.0 days) 8-19-14 to 8-22-14 [-]

← map 47.8 mi 4,140 ft EG 15.7 mi/day 1,360 ft/day OR/WA guidebook: G Adjustments: none Cascade Locks finish Exit pt: (on trail) Detour: on trail Arrive: 8-22-14 (Fri) (finish)

Cumulative distance: 428.8 mi Notes: -none-

Hiking from Timberline Lodge to Cascade Locks: add on-trail "rest" days add mi of hiking distance add ft of elevation gain (note: negative distance/eg values are allowed) Use my default pace/hours/eg Use these settings: mi /h pace hours per day 0 minutes15 minutes30 minutes45 minutes60 minutes75 minutes

Cascade Locks finish: notes:

Callahan's Lodge to Cascade Locks

7-20-14 to 8-22-14

(northbound hike)

Days

26.4

days walking

0.0

on trail layover days

6.6

in town layover days
(5.0 in town "zero" days)

33.0

Total days

Averages

without layovers:

16.2 mi/day

1,469 ft/day

with layovers:

13.0 mi/day

1,173 ft/day

Trail

Base Distance:

428.8 mi

Extra Distance:

0.0 mi

Total Distance:

428.8 mi

Base Elevation gain:

38,772 ft

Extra EG:

0 ft

Total Elevation gain:

38,772 ft

Resupply count:

7

© 1997-2014, Daniel Craig Giffen

Urban "hikes" Coffee Creek trail

I'm feeling a bit anxious and out of sorts this week, also I think I am suffering from all the pollen in the air. I don't really feel like going out and doing a big hike in the Olympics, so I've been doing little hikes here in town.

Yesterday I went 5.5 miles and today I went 3.5 miles. There is a beautiful trail near my house that I can't access without either trespassing or driving a mile. A trailer park blocks the way and they won't let people pass to reach the trail. I think that is such a shame, I hope the city finds a way to make that trail accessible.

In the mean time I've been exploring some wastelands above highway 101. This is the dumpster diving of the hiking world. Hiking on ugly trails because they are close to home.

Abandoned glue sniffers camp

Abandoned glue sniffers camp

Abandoned glue sniffers camp

Trilliums

Neighborhood on the trail

tires

Most of the "trail" looks like this