Rambling round Mt Pisgah

After yesterday’s atmospheric river and cyclone bomb in PNW, today’s weather only had micro-climate type rain showers and possible sun. Time to hike …. The upper foothills (Marys Peak and Hardesty) had more snow.

Hardesty has less snow than before

Mary’s Peak remains snowed

After a quick weather re-check – confirming little, no rain for the day in Eugene, I headed out to Mt Pisgah (Howard Buford Recreation Area) for a morning ramble. The landscape is more open than Spencer so rain and wind can be problematic, even though just across the valley.

The area around Mt Pisgah is what I refer to as So. Oregon Scrub; some meadow, some oak trees and occasional fir stands – it’s not ‘forest’.

The Route

At Pisgah, parking cost $5 daily and an card kiosk is available at the Arboretum TH, where I started around 7:30. From there it was up to the top and then back down around to the East TH and back to the top. Then, down to the North TH and back to the top and then returning to the car.

Trail conditions were wet and muddy, especially trail #3 from East TH to the top of Pisgah – narrow path, water and mud a-penty, and wet, wet grass soaked my lower pant legs. Glad I wore WP shoes! Human traffic was thin until after 9am when it picked up substantially. Met 1 horse rider, too.

Rain, sky and light dances

Rain came and went several times, and there were 3 rainbows. The two best ones

The scenery looking east up the Cascade foothills was equally beautiful as the sun and clouds and fog danced over the hills.

Another deer found me rambling around and was a bit timid, but did hold still for a portrait.

Data Geek Corner

• Shoes: Altra WP Lone Peak lowers
• Pack: Yar.gear Ultra 38L – full shoulder season kit
• Upper Layers: 3 (base layer, med Patagonia tech, fleece vest)
  • Needed wind / mist Copperfield Shell 25% of time in mist / rain
• Upper shell: Copperfield
• Trekking Poles: NOPE
• Approximate Times: 07:30 to 12:30
• Carbon ratio: .5 total driving – 1.5 target, 4.0 actual – 108.6 banked YTD