Forum Index > Trip Reports > 1/1/18 Post Apocalyptic Hike
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Old Not Bold Hiker



Joined: 12 Dec 2006
Posts: 4745 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bend Oregon
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Old Not Bold Hiker
PostTue Jan 02, 2018 2:06 pm 
Making Lemonade out of a crappy hike, in snowless Central OR...... Ever watch The Walking Dead? I had to giggle often on this scouting mission hike, after thinking the crappy conditions would make it a nice solitary hike, but instead ended up with herds of zombie Walkers ambling down the road, made to look even more zombie like with stiff Winter garb. It really looked like scenes from The Walking Dead.
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Adding to the atmosphere was the anti-Zombie fortifications near the waterfall.
Anti-Zombie fortification. 
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Anti-Zombie fortification. Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
I haven't checked out the Winter Route to Tumalo Falls yet since moving here. Our Central Oregon snowfall this season has gone from bad to abysmal, but I figured that is a good time to scout out Winter routes with nice light hiking boots, such as this gated road. So I parked dutifully at the designated sno-park with my pass. Then walked the quarter mile to the gate, past 70 or so cars that were packed in around the gate and along the road in the signed "No Parking" zones.
Mostly illegal parking. 
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Mostly illegal parking. Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Ridiculous number of cars. This is a no parking zone by the way. 
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Ridiculous number of cars. This is a no parking zone by the way. Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
More "no parking" parking.  Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
More "no parking" parking. Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Definitely NOT a "hidden gem" for the area, even in an extended slightly muddy and very icy "shoulder season". The potholed, gravel and light mud road was just patches of ice with nice views of rock walls, and would have been a lot more scenic and fun with a foot or two of snow.
Road was patchy ice instead of the usual snow for this time of year. 
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Road was patchy ice instead of the usual snow for this time of year. Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Nice views of rock faces along the hike. 
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Nice views of rock faces along the hike. Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
A surprising number of people made it to the falls lower viewpoint which was covered with a sheet of ice, but at least was not steep.
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Even more surprising was the number of people without traction devices or hiking poles that made it up the very steep sheet of ice to the upper viewing area. Even with traction devices it was sketchy and one spot even the carbide tip of my hiking poles could not get a grip. Very entertaining to watch people though. eek.gif Definitely worth the view. But dang, we need more snow!
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
Easy 6.4 mile RT almost flat hike with 479 feet elevation gain.
6.4 miles round trip. 
Only 479 feet elevation gain. 
4748 feet elevation parking 
5102 feet max elevation. 
Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
6.4 miles round trip. Only 479 feet elevation gain. 4748 feet elevation parking 5102 feet max elevation. Tumalo Falls Winter Road walk, Bend OR, 1/1/18
There is one other route to get there from the sno-park, but it is longer, hillier, is in constant shade all winter(literally) and is one long sheet of ice right now.

friluftsliv
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Just_Some_Hiker
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Just_Some_Hiker
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PostTue Jan 02, 2018 2:35 pm 
I think there was more snow on the ground when I was down there a few months ago. Crazy.

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Old Not Bold Hiker



Joined: 12 Dec 2006
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Location: Bend Oregon
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Old Not Bold Hiker
PostTue Jan 02, 2018 6:17 pm 
Just_Some_Hiker wrote:
I think there was more snow on the ground when I was down there a few months ago. Crazy.
We had an early burst of snow......then nada. I managed to squeeze in a few snowshoe and xc ski trips but it kept getting sparser until now I am down to booting it. Even the Spin Masters on the Mt Bachelor commercial site are having a challenge keeping it positive, and they are very creative.

friluftsliv
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