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texasbb Misplaced Texan
Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics Location: Tri-Cities, WA |
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texasbb
Misplaced Texan
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Tue May 10, 2016 5:25 pm
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My habit is to hike the Blues on Memorial Day because that's the date when I can usually move freely without too much snow. This year I went three weeks early and still had less snow than usual. Weather was mostly clear, highs in lower 60s. I couldn't get away for a multiday, so I out-n-backed a dayhike up the Panjab trail to Indian Corral, then south to Oregon Butte (maybe 18 miles rt).
More here if interested.
I drove over early Saturday and was on the trail by 8:20. The fires and whatever else has killed trees along that trail have contributed to an ever more jammed creek:
Going this early I didn't know what to expect with regard to wildflowers, and I really got very little:
Fungus on trail First real flowers
Up at the main junction at Indian Corral. The signpost appears to have finally given up the ghost, and someone seems to have run off with the sign:
Main Indian Corral junction
Often I go down via the Rattlesnake trail, but not today. Wish I'd had time to at least go that way for a ways:
Rattlesnake trail
Instead, I headed south on Mt Misery trail toward Oregon Butte:
South toward Oregon Butte
The grass widows were starting, but not exactly exploding yet:
Grass widows
Before heading to the Butte, I swooped by Dunlap Spring to tank up. When I got there, I saw a most unusual mushroom on the ground, so I grabbed my camera and went to ground for a closeup. Turns out it wasn't a mushroom. What's this doing on the ground at Dunlap Spring?
The rare Onionus Puffballinus
Off to Oregon Butte.
First view of the Butte
Have any of you eastsiders ever found Emergency Spring? There's always too much snow to go looking for it when I'm up here...
Still flowing?
Views from the north end of the ridge:
Northward Northward South toward the Butte Little bit of a cornice Oregon Butte lookout
I went to sign the register, but someone had left the peanut butter jar hanging outside its little hut and it filled with water. The register was completely soaked. I tried to carefully trace my name on it but it didn't really show. But it's still the first name there in 2016. I put it back in the little hut but not in its jar...hopefully it'll dry out and still be usable.
Almost paper mache
Views from the Butte:
Looking north Looking south over Danger Point West Butte
Stopped at Woody's in Dayton...
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fourteen410 Member
Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 2628 | TRs | Pics
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I love Oregon Butte LO! Thanks for sharing.
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RichP Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 5633 | TRs | Pics Location: here |
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RichP
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Tue May 10, 2016 9:38 pm
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Thanks. I'm hoping to visit the Blues for the first time this year.
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glenoid Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2012 Posts: 307 | TRs | Pics
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glenoid
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Wed May 11, 2016 7:00 am
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Nice early season trip to Oregon Butte!
Was up the Tucannon yesterday. Trail there is clear for two miles, then lots of blow downs.
Emergency Springs does exist. It is in the woods past the sign a couple hundred yards. Not that much flow, but ample enough to fill up as much as you want. Last time I used it was in mid July.
Note: A local guide is the one that usually clears the Panjab trail. This year I believe he had some help from the forest service, and I heard from WTA.
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texasbb Misplaced Texan
Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics Location: Tri-Cities, WA |
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texasbb
Misplaced Texan
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Wed May 11, 2016 5:19 pm
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Thanks for the info, glenoid, I'll have to schedule a trip later in the year someday and go find that spring. I've often thought the Emergency camp would be a nice place to stay for a small group doing a one- or two-night semi-loop in the area.
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wamtngal Member
Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 2382 | TRs | Pics Location: somewhere |
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wamtngal
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Wed May 11, 2016 9:34 pm
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Love the Blues!
Yes, WTA did its first ever work party in the Blues a few weeks ago. Panjab and Rattlesnake.
Opinions expressed here are my own.
Opinions expressed here are my own.
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texasbb Misplaced Texan
Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics Location: Tri-Cities, WA |
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texasbb
Misplaced Texan
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Wed May 11, 2016 10:13 pm
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wamtngal wrote: | Love the Blues!
Yes, WTA did its first ever work party in the Blues a few weeks ago. Panjab and Rattlesnake. |
Excellent. Both of those trails are going to need a lot of attention for a while, what with all the dead trees.
BTW, was it a WTAer that climbed that tree to whack it off 12 feet high? (Middle right of photo, just left of the tall black snag...)
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