Feeling Fall at Pisgah

After spending last week bopping around downtown Seattle and Bainbridge Island, it seemed too much to head right to Cascade Spine and hike the crest. After a quick Costco gas stop, my Highlander was the first car in Pisgah North lot. Around 6:15 the light was just enough to forgo headlamp.

Soon after heading up Tr 3, a group of 3 large deer slid off into the lower meadow away from people – 2 runners came right behind them. Too dark for photos, like they were near spirits in the pre-dawn dimness.

My first summit was just perfect with the sunrise through all the cloud dances …

After swinging around the summit a couple of times, further along on Tr 3 (above the rock bench at the meadow), a turkey had met a coyote and lost. Then, just down the trail, a group of 10ish turkeys were hiding in a dense grove of brambles – they looked shook. Their peer must have met the coyote earlier that morning … several fresh coyote poo piles were on the trails, filled with pumpkin and plum seeds (from the farm down the road).

Flower blooms were mostly gone and in their place, bundles of dried flowers

Turkey vultures surfaced once the air warmed for updrafts, but other animals were skittish or gone. Well, not all. 4 bunny rabbits from this year bounced on the path … and then there was this little one catching some last good sun

The day felt like fall. Trees and flowers are getting ready for the cold rains, visiting birds are mostly gone, and the coyotes are eating pumpkins and plums … Fall must be right around the corner in Willamette Valley. Catching sunrise over South Sister was just a gift. Pisgah delivers again!

The Route

Started around 6:15 at North TH and took Tr 3 to the first path to summit. Then back down to Tr 3 and around to Tr 2 and back to summit. From there, back down to 3 and around the river meadows and off to Tr 4 to summit again. Finally, from summit down to Tr 4 to 3 and to car.

Trail conditions were perfect! No mud, no dust, … a bit hard, but very fast. Humans were few and scattered beyond Tr 1 … 2x I was at summit alone. The east side was almost human-less. There is 0 water on the hill. All the seep spots remain dry until the rains come in earnest.

Gear Box

One of my favorite hiking pants – Outdoor Research – blew out the seat. Too many blow-downs sliding over and eating my pants. Probably lasted good 5 seasons and other than hole in butt, everything looks nearly new. This pair really held up and has the miles to prove it!

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes: Altra Timp 6 – Currex Insole, T-Form insole pad
• Pack: Gossamer Gear Grit
• Upper Layers: Baselayer, REI Sahara Sun shirt (until 10:30 – then just base layer)
• Upper shell: none
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: 06:15-14:00
• Effort Scale: Today = 169; YTD Avg = 152; YTD Median = 173 (close to median today)
• Carbon ratio: 5.8 hours (.5 hours driving: hours outdoors 7.3); YTD = 200 hours banked
• Miles hiked YTD: 989
• Notes:
  • Light rain and limited visibility

GPS tracker note … first time, GaiaGPS and All Trails tracked the same hike! Except the elevation gain delta 🙁