Mount Hood National Forest, OR
DatesAug 23rd - Aug 29th 2009 Service ProjectSalmon & Steelhead Habitat Restoration Free DaysSpectacular day hiking and exploring Mt Hood AccommodationsTent camping near cars Trip RatingActive : hiking to worksites, digging, hauling, lifting LeadersJanet Johnson Equipment |
Located twenty miles east of Portland, Oregon, and the northern Willamette River valley, the Mt. Hood National Forest extends south from the strikingly beautiful Columbia River Gorge across more than sixty miles of forested mountains, lakes and streams to Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes of Mt. Jefferson. The Forest encompasses some 1,067,043 acres. Mt. Hood, Oregon's highest peak at 11,240 feet, defines the Portland skyline and is the heart of the 47,160 acre Mt. Hood Wilderness. Mount Hood is a dormant volcano covered with 11 active glaciers. This snow covered peak is covered with forested slopes and alpine meadows. A forest of Douglas fir covers much of the lower elevations, supported by an understory of Oregon grape, salal, rhododendron, and huckleberries (they ripen deliciously in August). More than a dozen waterfalls brighten river valleys that lie in the shade of the deep forest. Listen for the chirps and whistles of pikas and marmots on the rocky slopes at the tree line. Our work project is habitat restoration and recovery on developed sections of the Sandy River and Salmon River, both of which originate from glaciers high on Mt. Hood. The Salmon and Sandy Rivers and their tributaries are important spawning grounds for coho salmon and steelhead trout. This ongoing work project is supported by the U.S. Forest Service and the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife. We'll spend the week restoring riarian habitat, wetlands and streamside vegetation, and day hiking in our free time. Our camp is at the forest service McNeil Campground and we'll hike to our work sites each day. We plan two days of spectacular hiking in the Mt. Hood Wilderness including the 10 mile (round trip) hike through Elk Meadows to Lamberston Butte at the base of the spectacular Newton Glacier and eight miles (round trip) to subalpine flower meadows of Cathedral Ridge. Non-hiking options include exploring historic Timberline Lodge and sections of the historic Oregon trail, mountain biking, swimming and fishing in Trillium Lake. This trip is suitable for beginners to camping and service work who are in good shape.
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