Shelby Olson
Mountaineers certainly know how to ring in the new year! Read on, dear friends, for perceptive reporting, perseverance, and plenty of camaraderie.
Day Hike - Mount Walker - 1/2
“A great spring-like day to start hiking in the new year!” -Nancy Lloyd
A beautiful way to start off this month’s highlights with some gorgeous summit views. Read on to see how these hikers came up with creative rest stop ideas.
Intermediate Snowshoe - Mildred Point - 1/10
“Leg-busting trail breaking rewards with eye-popping views.” -Colin Chapman
This adventure was a pivot from an initial plan for Castle Shoulder, which turned out to be a change for the better! At Mildred Point, these snowshoers were rewarded with some sunshine, fantastical snow formations, and a kind stranger willing to take their photo.
Cross-country Ski - Silver Star Provincial Park - 1/9-1/11
“Three days of great Nordic skiing in Silver Star Provincial Park.” -Brian Collins
Kudos to these skiers for scouting out Silver Star in these warm weeks! This trip report details not only the conditions, but also some useful specifics about black diamond routes in the area.
Winter Scramble - Mount Lillian - 1/11
“Recent storms have devastated the area with blowdowns of old burnt trees.” -Ananth Maniam
In another example of adapting to the low snow this season, these scramblers switched to trails on Mount Lillian. An attempted summit became an exploratory excursion featuring major blow-downs and some intense tree-hopping.
Sea Kayak - Columbia River: Cape Horn - 1/13
“A great paddle past dramatic cliffs and waterfalls on a bright sunny day!” -Will Greenough
When picturing natural features on the Columbia, one thinks of impressive cliffsides, stand-alone rocks, and shimmering waterfalls. According to this trip report, grass stalks of unreasonable heights make the charts as well.
Winter Scramble - Red Mountain - 1/15
“Sunny summit of Red Mountain North peak and main peak.” -Ananth Maniam
The sunny conditions on Red Mountain gave this crusted snow the appearance of frozen waves. These scramblers were aided along their crunchy path by the tracks of an earlier Mountaineers trip. A beautiful example of how Mountaineers are always helping each other out, even unconsciously.
Basic Snowshoe Field Trip - Paradise Area - 1/17
“An excellent example of The Mountaineers commitment to education, stewardship, and safe outdoor recreation.” -Lisa Elliott
In another great example of The Mountaineers spirit, this successful snowshoe taught students techniques and safety, while also allowing a space for curiosity and connection. This trip report excellently demonstrates the importance of emotional safety, which precludes physical safety.
Winter Scramble - First Top & Point 4795 - 1/18
“A gorgeous day with stunning views, wonderful people, and a great workout to boot (of all kinds, hiking, scrambling, and navigation).” -Dave Morgan
First tree hopping, now brush bashing. This scramble stopped short of “punishing” only by the rewarding views from First Top and Point 4795.
Mount Hood/South Side - 1/19
“Spring-like conditions in the middle of January.” -Martin Fisher
These climbers were surprised to find no Hogsback on Mount Hood’s South Side. As climate changes, detailed trip reports like these are especially important. In more Mountaineers spirit, this trip report captures the camaraderie of, in Martin’s words, a “Mountaineers-mentoring family tree.”
Basic Snowshoe - Obstruction Point Road - 1/17-1/19
“Glorious three-day , two-night snowshoe trip at Hurricane Ridge.” -Colin Chapman
We conclude this highlight reel on a strong note with the panoramic wonders of Hurricane Ridge. Read on for hitch-hiking, the haunting evidence of fire strands, cheerful group meals, and views of Mount Olympus and Baker.
Want to see more top trip reports? Check out our Top Trip Reports Library to get ideas for next week, next month, or next year!
