Spencer Snow Surprise

ByMichael Goatbells

I was watching the weather closely last night and this morning, including precipitation radar and weather reports, to best determine which rain shell to wear. Spencer Butte was the targeted hill – Blanton Ridge and then up / down the butte until tired. On the way, it rained … the closer to Blanton, the bigger the drops …

<– reminder: clicking on images, opens higher quality larger photo –>

This is what it was like near the trailhead and then circling around to see Spencer.

The snow surprised everybody … on the way up the first time, I asked 4 different people if they knew there was snow; only 1 said ‘yes’, and then quickly added, ‘I live 10 minutes away, I could see the snow before leaving’. For the first 2-3 hours it rained, snowed, rained, snowed, … the further up the hill, the deeper the snow-maybe 3 inches at Spencer top. Everybody seemed to love the snow, but especially this one small boy going all the way to the top, and the huskies!

The Route

Started at Blanton Ridge around 7:00 went directly to Spencer top, then down to S. Willamette and back to top; down to Fox Hollow and back to the top. I had energy and time to hike more, but from the last time at top I saw another storm coming, and getting wet again (after almost drying out) was not my best idea – so back to Blanton, car and home.

Trail conditions were perfectly soft … just a tad of mud but my wet shoes were from falling precipitation, not from the ground. Along the trail was absolute magic for March in the valley.

Each of the 3x at the top were covered in snow and snow falling – creating surreal vistas of clouds and snow

On the way down the third time, it was much warmer and all the snow was falling off the higher tree branches in globs of water/snow carpet bombing the trails – kept rain pants and shell on the entire time.

While the snow covered the top and most of the way up, down lower at Fox Hollow TH – just water.

In those lower elevations, flowers are blooming and shy friends were hiding in the bushes watching

Data Geek Cellar

  • Shoes: Altra Lone Peak WP boots
  • Pack: Yar.gear
  • Upper Layers: 2 (base layer, Patagonia mid-weight)
  • Upper shell: Columbia Gortex with zip-pits, Mountain Hardware Gortex pants
  • Trekking Poles: Yes – Gossamer Gear
  • Approximate Times: 07:00 to 12:30
  • Carbon ratio: 1.5 driving karma, 5.3 actual hiking time – 78.2 hours banked YTD
  • Notes:
    • Photos: medium+
    • Speed: medium – did not push
    • Difficulty: easy

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