Spencer’s first fall foggy fingers

When you wake up in the morning just unwilling to drive a long distance, Spencer Butte is just so close … especially worth considering after recent rains softened up that hard gravel path. Alpine Trail and Hardesty Mt were discarded as too far to drive …

I crossed the Mt Baldy meadows without a headlamp as dawn’s golden light hit … without strong fire influences that golden light was a welcome sign.

Route

Started at Spring Blvd TH leaving with headlamp at 6:00 … up over Baldy and down the multi-use trail to Spencer top; down to S. Willamette TH, back to Spencer top; down to N. Willamette TH and back to Spencer top; down to Cascade Raptor Center, and the back to car around 12:30.

Trail conditions were perfect for September on Spencer – still quite hard over the miles. Too many humans and dogs as expected, but the first trip from Spring to Spencer Top encountered only 1 each, biker, hiker and runner.

A hoot owl cried out when I started and over trip, 3 different deer showed themselves. The solo deer below was standing on the hill and we played a ‘stare down’ game until 2 other humans came along. They were talking so loudly and doing odd things, they never saw the deer. Both the deer and I had a good chuckle and moved on …

From Spencer Top

The air felt like fall, and leaves were on the trail …

Atop Spencer the first time, fall’s first foggy fingers reached up the valley

Those foggy fingers are typically in fall … like next week’s equinox.

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes: Altra WP boots – supination prevention test
• Pack: Yar Gear Ultra 38L Drifter
• Upper Layers: 1 – Patagonia Capilene
• Upper shell: none
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: 06:00 – 12:30
• Carbon ratio: 4.75 hours (.5 hours driving: 6.25 hours hiking); YTD = 146 hours banked
• Notes:
  • Photos: medium
  • Speed: fast
  • Difficulty: moderate – elevation gain