Early Alpine Tr Morning

Alpine Trail out of Westfir is just one of those magical trails that is so soft and fast … complete solitude without another human being … and a trail that allows your eyes to constantly scan the woods. I left the Westfir covered bridge around 6:30 with just enough light to make headlamp unnecessary.

This section of Alpine Tr – Westfir to Tire Mt – is part of the Eugene to Crest trail- a great idea without backing . Only one deer showed up and few tracks along the route, as there’s just not much food up there. Even the birds seemed to be elsewhere as the woods were very quiet. Coyote poo covered the trail on mile closest to TH, but not higher elevation.

Most of Alpine Tr is under the trees – Doug Firs, Red Cedars – but there a few viewpoints and the first one was the better.

After the Tire Mt junction, a very steep meadow gives views from S. Sister to Diamond Peak.

While S. Sister was distant and almost a peek-a-boo view, Diamond Peak put on a show.

With the snows coming soon, this may have been the last snow-free hike this season. Alpine Trail during the week (to avoid weekend MTBs) is a meditative long and very fast hike. Hiking almost 7 hours without seeing another human is a treat … the different forest ecosystems marking the miles.

The Route

Straight up the hill on Alpine to TH #3 and turnaround … then take Tire Mountain Trail a ways, and then return to Alpine to the bottom. Trail conditions were perfect. There were exactly 2 mud puddles the entire route and not one blow-down to step over. MTB ruts were not bad either …

Not 1 human walking or riding the entire day.

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes: Altra Timp 6 WP Boots – Currex Insole, T-Form insole pad
• Pack: Gossamer Gear Grit
• Upper Layers: Baselayer, SkyGoat mid-weight quarter zip waffle fleece
• Upper shell: none
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: 06:30-13:15
• Effort Scale: Today = 194; YTD Avg = 150; YTD Median = 172 (today = above average)
• Carbon ratio: 2.25 hours (1.5 hours driving: hours outdoors 6.75); YTD = 228 hours banked
• Miles hiked YTD: 1144
• Notes:
  • limited fog early, clear mid-day, and clouds later