[boot up]

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

We have used up all the snow on Mt Bachelor and everyone is waiting for the next dump, hopefully this week. Even the CONC (Central Oregon Nordic Club) couldn't find enough snow to attempt a ski trip, so I joined them for an obscure Central Oregon hike on Otter Bench. The short and easy 6.9 mile hike worked well with the usual club late start , and it is almost the shortest day of the year. Only a few people at this distant hike, which is a whole 32 mile drive from my house on the edge of Bend. People around here really are spoiled by short distances to everything.

6.9 miles round trip, 600 feet or so elevation gain. 2525 feet high point. 2440 parking lot. Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Lighting was flat, glaring, low winter sun, dull sky which made for challenging photo conditions. Temperatures were mild, pace was relaxed. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

CONC above, Crooked River below. Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

The Sentinels. You can see their faces, arms and legs. Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Bird in flight if you look closely. Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Crooked River closeup. Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Parking was at the edge of a Crooked River Ranch housing development. A good spot for people that want cheap housing and like to feel like they are living in a remote location, albeit with neighbors packed around them.

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

Otter Bench, Terrebonne OR, 12/17/17

There were more people in our group than we saw otherwise on the trail. A few raptors spotted, but only one bird pic in the batch. Look closely at the basalt columns closeup, that I call The Sentinels. Looks like a bunch of standing Cubistic figures. Life is good in the High Desert.

[graywolf]

Thanks for the report. My in-laws live on SW Peninsula Drive, right by the switchback road that goes down to the bench. Besides my wife, none of them hike, so this has never been mentioned to me - I doubt they even know it's there. We visit them every two to three months, so definitely going to hike this sometime.