Mazamas — For the Love of Mountains
For a hike that gains almost exactly 4,000 feet, this excursion seems relatively forgiving for those in decent shape. The gain is, in fact, constant, and usually not steep enough to quicken your heart beat once you set your pace. The goal is the volcanic plug at the top of Larch Mountain known as Sherrard Point. The mountain itself is one of the three Boring stratovolcanoes (the others being Mount Sylvania and Highland Butte) and is the highest point in the west Gorge; thus, the views are expansive. In addition, throw in some imposing old-growth Douglas-firs and hemlocks, and a variety of Gorge blooms at Sherrard Point in the summer. The lower 4 1/2 miles of the route was scorched by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, with the understory burned out in lower sections and areas of crown fire as you get higher up. The Larch Mountain Trail crosses the westernmost tongue of the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. A car shuttle will make this a seven-mile traverse hike. More info: http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Larch_Mountain_Hike
Activity Notes
LARCH!
This is a very tough hike. Long, Steep, HARD.
If you doubt your skills, let me know, but this is not for the faint of heart.
Please bring at least two liters of water, plenty of snacks and maybe a lunch, NO COTTON at all, plenty of warm clothes, and trekking poles. As always, bring waterproofs; both jacket and pants. Please make sure you review the required gear list.
Let's meet at the Mazamas MMC Parking Lot at 6:30am, set up carpools at get out within ten to fifteen minutes, so we can have plenty of time to get food and beverages afterward in Cascade Locks, and still get back to town hopefully before it's too dark. I think depending on the hustle of the group, we could do all that and be back by 7ish.
The trail head is actually at Multnomah Falls. This will be an exploratory hike for me, and I look forward to discovering it with you all.
Any questions, call, text, or email me: (360)440-9830, dforestation@gmail.com
| Other Information | |
|---|---|
| Driving Distance from Portland | 48 miles |
| Distance - Round Trip | 13 miles |
| Expected Duration | Car to car in one day |
| Relevant Maps | CG2 |
| Awards Qualified | Awesome Ridges Award, Gorge High Points, Wild Ones |
| Useful Links | GPS Coordinates Map |
