BCEP 2023 Team 09: Horsethief Field Session

Activity Notes

No Rest For the Wicked!  Another full weekend back-to-back.  Normally I try to give some time in-between the field sessions. but alas the schedule dictates to us all.

Horsethief Butte is a magnificent rock plateau on the WA Columbia Gorge that offers a proper rock climbing practice.  It is here that you will test all your knowledge against the rock.  It is here that you will defy gravity.  It is here that you will become known no longer as mere SnakePups, but to ascend to legendary SnakeDoge status.  Steel your nerves, for you are about to experience rock Nirvana.

We will meet at the Horsethief Butte Parking lot, geared up with all equipment on, ready to rock at 8am sharp.  https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Horsethief_Butte_Trailhead

Therefore you will need to arrive by 7:30am at the latest because there is absolutely no room to park at the trailhead, most of you will need to park at the Crawford Oaks trailhead a quarter mile down the road and shuttle back to the Horsethief trailhead. https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Crawford_Oaks_Trailhead

For this reason, carpooling is required: (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_XbDR-5Rni42fupxs21c2Plmq0bwPFh7XhU2C7xE5U4/edit#gid=1560353440)

We will work on all of the rock climbing skills we have been drilling into you, but this time in a real rock atmosphere.  I suspect you will find the rock skills lessons already drilled into you enough that you can mostly just enjoy the climbing.  Let's just be safe!  As for the climbing gear, no chalk is allowed since this is a heritage site.  So please leave your chalk bags at home.  Obviously, do NOT touch any areas marked no climbing.  You may bring your rock climbing shoes if you wish to try more challenging routes, a vast majority of the routes will be easy enough to climb in your hiking boots.  There will be three other BCEP teams out here, and we will allow you to rotate thru their stations in the afternoon to try out as many rock climbing routes as you can possibly handle.

We will spend the night at Maryhill campground for a potluck dinner and car camping.  More in this in the separate activity.