A sequence of 5 hikes on Spencer Butte (the rambles) started the first week of March.
Yesterday was #5. Trends over that time: Fewer animals and smaller, less mud, more flowers, more green leaves, and way more people as the weather improved.
#5 started out the coldest with temperatures below 32 degrees at the trailhead. Yet, it did not FEEL like the coldest as the air was very dry – no fog, no inversions
The entire color of the forest was different – green, and where there was mud earlier, only hard dirt remained. And finally, a decent pic of tree moss
Wildflowers were explosive on the ground and in the trees – the trillium were huge (the size of my hand)!
This ramble went further on the Ridgeline Trail to Mt Baldy and then back
Distance: 12.96 miles | Elevation Gain: 3,422 ft | Avg Pace 23:36 / miles — Recording
| Gear Type | For this Hike |
| Pack | NorthFace ION 20L |
| Shoes | Topo Trailrunners !!! yipee !!! happy feet |
| Top Layers | Baselayer + cotton L S + Fleece (first hour only) – rest baselayer only |
| Bottom Layer | REI Warm hiking pants Note: temperature was at high range for these pants – time for lighter fabric |
| Socks | Dual layer REI Poly liner + REI lightweight Merino wool |
| Water | Bladder 2 L (1.5 L drank) |