Squaw Mountain and the Fanton Trail - Feb 19 2010

[hambone]

I have a rare Friday - Saturday free, and since the weather is going to be REALLY NICE, I'm heading out to the Clackamas to camp and explore old trails, leaving Portland Friday AM.
Anyone want to go?
Snow level over 4000'!

[hambone]

Looking for 1938, but finding only garbage and wilderness


future IAC camp


me








relic, but still functional


magic


Hood-top (tippy)


Squaw Mountain


the coldest camp, ever (with rocking bus in the wind)

[mattg]

Great photos - weather looks nice. I can't wait until the snow and cold is gone here in chicagoland - 6 to 10 inches expected tonight. Has your winter been milder than normal?

[Westy78]

future IAC camp

Where's this at? I've been to a spot similar up above Promontory Park. Were any of the roads snow bound up there?

[hambone]

Winter was full blown until January, and then it's been mild.
Snow level is REALLY high, about 4500'. But it was still freezing cold in the gusty crazy wind, rocking the bus around like a Piper Cub. It did warm up during the day. I sat next to a fire for an hour or so but it was too damn cold so I hid in the bus. Huckleberries are just about to bud out.

The camp was somewhat "bad boys" spot with trash and shooting etc. but I cleaned a lot of it up. Nice that it's so close to town on all paved roads, but right on the wilderness.
Here's a map: (it's right at the bend in the road at 4614)
http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=UTF-8&ie ... 7&t=p&z=15

Also found 2 abandoned trails, so I want to get back up there and explore. And the Fanton Trail #505 is right there, an ancient but maintained route. Only about 3 miles to Twin Springs over the saddle. It may get somewhat busy during summer weekends because of the trailhead.

[Oregon72]

That looks like a beautiful spot. Is it pretty exposed to weather - doesn't seem like much protection from wind, but the view sure is spectacular. Trade-offs

[hambone]

It'll be nicer in the warmer months. Feb, what was I thinking? But I still had a blast.
Old Indian camps nearby too. Very exciting.

[mattg]

Hambone, I get the feeling you could enjoy camping at any time of the year in any condition. Keep the pictures coming. Still have about 5 inches on the ground here but the sun has been out lately which is a bonus.

[glasseye]

Great shots, hammie. Reminds me of why I love Oregon. The one of you in the speedo should be called "Me, happy".

Awready looking forward to Maupin.

[hambone]

Thanks guys, that's heartwarming. Appreciate it.
My images are "as they are", a holdover from my transparency days. I'll bet some photoshopping would really help most. But is that cheating? I guess burn-dodge is cheating too. The darkroom is far removed from the field, like editing changes a movie. I dunno what's going to become of all these zeros and ones anyway. Such a fickle medium.
Glasseye, if you get a wild hair there will be another couple camp trips pre (and post) Maupin. It would be a treat to show ya the real Oregon backwoods "where angels tread" oh gosh geez.