Early Overnight at Camp Sherman

A week of sun and 70s for March before equinox? My sister was heading to Camp Sherman so I joined for two days of hiking and an overnight at Camp Sherman Campground. This early heat wave and winter’s dismally low snow pack set up great hiking conditions, but both of us thought we were in a time-warp. The weather was ‘spring’ but all the plants and animals were still in ‘winter’ mode – very odd.

Manzanita was in full bloom in the burn scars – the oldest fire with a sign was from 1991 (and nothing grows there still except manzanita and a few scattered pines).

Sherman Camp Campground is the closest to the “Store” which is only open a couple of days in winter and is a great CG for off-season. We had a site right on river with river sounds on both sides of us on a peninsula. On Tuesday night there were only 4-5 sites occupied, but more arrived Wednesday. Very quiet. For peak season- Pine Rest CG; for off-season – Camp Sherman CG.

Day 1 started around 7:00 with a short drive to Lower Black Butte TH and a 5 mile climb to the top of Black Butte. Along the way, peekaboo views of the central cascades tease you to keep you going up the hill. Only 1 other hiker passed us on the way with 2 dogs. We had the summit to ourselves as dog lady had disappeared

Views were cloudless, fog-less and spectacular! We could see from Sisters and Broken Top to the south – North Sister and Middle Sister seemed so close.

Mt Washington and Jefferson felt even closer in the middle.

Mt. Hood was far to the north and dancing with the clouds more than the others.

Wind on the summit required both of us to put on jackets while we took it all in. On the way down, maybe a dozen hikers were coming from both the upper and lower THs – timing for a summit to ourselves was perfect.

Day 2, I took off around 6:30 with red-light headlamp up the river through Camp Sherman to Lost Creek Trail to again take the Metolius-Windego Trail up to the snowpack. About 2 miles up Windego and the First Creek crossing is a horse ford, no human bridge and I didn’t want to get wet. (I had forgotten about this creek crossing obstacle – same last time)

Walking pre-dawn through the Ponderosa Pine forest was wonderful … so quiet with woodpeckers hammering away everywhere. Coyote poo was quite plentiful as the trail goes right along the snowpack seam between the river and the mountains. Great Horned Owl pellets were also in trail, and at the creek crossing fresh bobcat tracks.

After returning to Lost Creek Tr, I ended up at the Metolius Preserve and went North TH to South and back – what a wonderful place! Recovery in motion with prescribed burns and healthy Ponderosa.

I returned to CG around noon and after lunch we walked up the river to the headwaters. Between the two days we hike the river’s sides from the headwaters to Pine Ridge CG. Belted Kingfishers were out, a few mallards, some very loud Canada Geese, dippers were fishing off the rocks and Turkey Vultures visited at sunset. This poor female mallard is getting too much attention.

Fly fishing is only open downriver from Allingham Bridge, so the up-river was more quiet than normal – below the bridge, people were catching fish though.

Even with the time-warp weather, Camp Sherman once again hit the mark for a great, easy to get to overnight adventure in the quiet off-season.

The Routes

Day 1 – Black Butte Lower TH straight up to the summit and straight back down to TH. I hitched a ride to headwaters and took Metolius Tr back to CG.

Trail Conditions were perfect until the last 200 yards – soft, dry, but not dusty. At the top a bit of snow and ice remained but nothing dangerous – just caution. Human traffic was 1 to the top, but then numerous on the way down after 10:00 ish.

Day 2 – With headlamp, from CG to Lost Creek Tr and to Metolius-Windego to First Creek and then return and further west on Lost Lake Trail to Metolius Preserve … then back.

Trail conditions were perfect! No horse poo on Windego or Lost Creek and dust-less but dry. The entire trip was without any other human.

Gear Box

Altra Timp 5 shoes broken down at the heel – inside cushion wore away on both shoes – 196 miles and a ‘can’t use’ issue. They will be returned to REI.

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes:
  • Day 1: Altra Timp 5 – Currex Insoles, T-Form insole pad
  • Day 2: Altra Lone Peak WP Boots – Currex Insole, T-Form insole pad
• Pack: Gossamer Gear GRIT (Full foothills day hike kit)
• Upper Layers: Lightweight baselayer, mid-weight Capilene, SkyGOAT fleece early
• Upper shell: EE Copperfield Windshell at Black Butte summit
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: different ones
• Carbon ratio: 0 hours (13.5 hours driving: 13.5 hours hiking); YTD = 50.0 hours banked
• Miles hiked YTD: 255.6
• Notes:
  • Photos: low
  • Speed: moderate
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Weather: 40-70 – sun

Day 1

Day 2