Alpine Tr and Tire Mt

Looking for a good hike with miles, elevation gain but little driving from the Valley? Alpine Trail out of Westfir is a great choice.

A full harvest moon greeted me as I pulled out of the driveway at 5:30 … a quick 45 minute drive to the cleanest and safest trailhead in Willamette National Forest, Westfir Covered Bridge. Tuesday’s hike was up Alpine Trail to Tire Mountain and back. Alpine Trail and Tire Mt Trail are MTB routes … the trails are smooth and fast just as you’d expect. Both Tire Mt trail and Alpine are part of Eugene to Crest. (Alpine to Westfir, Tire to Alpine). I hiked Alpine in the spring but just to Tire Mt trail junction (review).

The Route

Left the Covered bridge at 6:30 with headlamp on all way up the ridge. Up Alpine Trail to Tire Mt trail and up to the summit (joke?). From there back down to Alpine and up almost to TH #3 for lunch break, and then back to the car.

Trail conditions were not as good as in the spring; MTB ruts were pretty deep, especially in the steep sections. The Tire Mt summit trail was a mess with about a half dozen big blowdowns that one has to climb over or walk around (all in 1/2 mile). Alpine Trail, though, is a fast hiker trail as long as you can manage the elevation gain.

The entire time 1 hiker, 1 solo biker NOBO and 3 bikers together SOBO. The SOBO group stopped to cluster so I didn’t have to leave trail 3x – very kind!

The full moon caught me as I climbed up to Alpine Trail and sunrise just as I crossed the second ridge and an opening. My camera struggled to capture the full moon – just too little light.

Shortly after, just past the second timbered lot from years ago, a pair of deer scrambled up the ridge above me – they were fast, but big based on what I glimpsed and their noise through the woods, but not Elk. They were probably feeding down in the clearer undergrowth.

Once the sun was up, a look out over North Fork of the Middle Fork, and the extensive forest of the Willamette National Forest foothills.

A new fungi or at least a fungus in weird state caught my attention along here too.

At the junction of Tire Mt, just an old sign hanging on tree to left that one can hardly read

Up near the top of Tire Mt, the meadows are still very brown, and when you get to the top, no view, no vista, just a level clearing with a garbage can.

Coming down, a vista opened up toward Diamond Peak still capped with recent new snow.

Summary

Alpine Trail is similar to Hardesty Trail. The major users are MTBs, but that doesn’t mean hikers cannot enjoy too! Not only are these trails close in and low-carbon burns to get there, they also allow 20+ miles with material elevation gain. The real treat, however, is walking through these foothill forests, watching the deer, listening to the birds and just being there.

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes: Altra WP boots
• Pack: Yar Gear Ultra 38L Drifter
• Upper Layers: 2 – long-sleeve baselayer, and Patagonia Mid-weight Capilene until Tire Mt
• Upper shell: none
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: 06:30 – 3:45
• Carbon ratio: 4 hours (1.5 hours driving: 8.5 hours hiking); YTD = 142 hours banked
• Miles hiked YTD: 1024
• Notes:
  • Photos: low
  • Speed: fast
  • Difficulty: moderate – distance & elevation gain

All Trails Data – miles are closer than before, elevation gain wide delta, and even moving time is different