Avoiding rain on Pisgah, and driving less!

A local hiking buddy and I planned on heading to Westfir and hike up Alpine Trail Thursday, Dec 4. We were all set the night before and then in the morning, the weather shifted and Oakridge area would have rain all day, but Eugene very little … We both had the same thought around 5:00am – “why drive an extra hour or more to hike in rain?”

So we stayed in town and I ended up hiking 2x at Pisgah; first 6-10:00 am with buddy and 10:30-2:00 solo. The change of plans was good call, as the rain mid-morning and later stacked up against the cascade foothills – it rained for sure.

At Pisgah, the raindrops were null … once back to the car, they fell consistently, but I never opened the umbrella or put on rain shell.

The first half, we left very early around 6:15 with 1 car in the parking lot (a photographer we met atop later). The first light was awesome with a setting full moon and fog layered everywhere. Black and white photo?

Once atop Pisgah the only sunshine of the day poked thru the cloud layers and eventually just became grey, rain-filled clouds – like every winter day in OR.

On the second trip, I had to visit the rope swing … lonely

The grass has become green again. Deer tracks and highways were well used, but no four-legged animals were out bigger than squirrels.

All in all it was a great day rambling around Mt Pisgah … deciding to avoid the rain and drive less … perfect! Flexibility and the gumption to adapt based on conditions to have the safest and most fun hike with minimal negative carbon karma — perfect!

This was also the first test hike with new shoes and insoles to manage my feet issues. Premature to state results, but the first pass was encouraging.

The Route

Good luck figuring it out … part 1 started from West TH and went up and then rambled around with a 2nd summit; part 2 started at North TH and rambled around the north side of the hill and went up 2x as well.

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes: Altra TIMP 5 (new)
• Pack: Gossamer Gear Grit (New Pack)
• Upper Layers: 3 – base-layer, mid-weight Calpine and FarPointe fleece
• Upper shell: none
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: 6:15 – 14:00
• Carbon ratio: 4.50 hours (2.5 hours driving: 6.75 hours hiking); YTD = 184 hours banked
• Miles hiked YTD: 1141
• Notes:
  • Photos: medium
  • Speed: moderate
  • Difficulty: moderate – elevation gain