Tag Archives: Mt. Jefferson

Timberline Trail Day 1

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MOUNT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST

Activity: Multi Day Backpacking Trip

42 miles, 10,630’ elevation gain, 4 days out, rated HARD

Date: 6/7-10/22

I soldiered through the blisters, blood, sweat and tears. The panting with each footfall became moaning with each step by each day’s end.  The accomplishment of the endeavor and the beauty of the mountain made up for the pain and suffering which of course just added to the adventure of it all. 

Although this was my most aggressive backpacking trip as far as days out, distance and elevation gain, I was with a fellow adventurer so at least I was not alone.  The other person on the trek, a Through Hiker who has hiked over 800 miles on the AZ Trail this year and a year or so ago completed the PCT, is a hiking friend from LA.  Anthony King a Bar Tender and Photographer flew in for the event and I picked him up at the Portland Airport. I have backpacked with Anthony once before. He is much younger than I so I was a little apprehensive about hiking with him, not wanting to hold him up.  Turns out he hikes at his own pace.  You either keep up or fall behind, your choice.  So the way that we handled it was we hiked together some of the time, but generally we enjoyed oneness with the mountain.  We met up for some of the breaks, as Anthony would take an extended break to allow me to catch up and I would have an abbreviated stop.

Day 1

10 Miles with 2,800’ Elevation Gain

Wednesday, Sept 7th, at 8AM we set out past Timberline Lodge to circumnavigate Oregon’s magnificent Mt Hood counterclockwise on the amazing Timberline Trail under mostly sunny skies. The days were to be mild and the nights just a little chilly so really tremendous conditions to take on one of the best backpacking trips in America.  Meandering through fields of wildflowers, in and out of wooded areas, spectacular views of Mt Jefferson, passed a couple small crossings of rushing water and waterfalls was how we spent the day.  Hoping across rocks is a little tricky with a heavy pack, but we managed to stay dry.  Now we climb… 10 miles and over 2,800’ elevation gain much of it up loose, steep, sandy, and crumbly material known as scree. We bedded down past Lamberson Butte near an old shelter with unreal views of the peak of Mt Hood right out my tent flap. 

Make sure to CLICK THE PIC and see the water features in motion.
Pursuing Balance Through Adventure YouTube Channel.
Our Timberline Trail adventure began at Timberline Lodge.
Majestic Mount Jefferson
Rock hopping trying to keep my feet dry. (Photo by Anthony King)
A rocky, sandy, steep hike out followed each water crossing.
Anthony crossing one of many water crossings along the Timberline Trail.
Sundown on Mt Hood
The mountains!  They call to us so we can conquer them.  But in reality we conquer our fears, our struggles, our weakness, and we come out victors.  Go conquer your mountain!

Thanks for joining Anthony and I on this awesome adventure, the circumnavigation of Mount Hood where we found ourselves ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’. This is the beginning of a four part expose of our backpacking trek of arguably the Best Hike in America. You can checkout Timberline Trail Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 here. You will want to stay tuned and you can do so by a few simple tasks: LIKE, COMMENT, FOLLOW and SHARE. If you care to peruse the menu above you will discover that PBTA travels extensively throughout the great West in hopes of inspiration and recommendations of glorious outing in nature, as we can all use a little break from our everyday ho hum lives. If you have a thirst for top quality Adventure Wear then quench it at SHOP APPAREL.

Happy Trails-

Roger Jenkins

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure

Tam McArthur Rim Trail

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SISTERS, OREGON

DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST- THREE SISTERS WILDERNESS

Activity: Day Hike

Date: August 24, 2019

5+ miles, 1,276’ elevation gain, 3 hour duration, rated Moderate

Tam McArthur Rim is a must do, but then again there are some many stupendous hikes in this area, can you really say that? One thing is for certain if you venture to the Rim the only thing that you will be sorry about is that you did not do this earlier.

I drug my friend and fraternity brother Marcus Walker away from his work, (as owner of Secure Storage with 6 locations including local Bend, and Redmond, btw no finer storage), to guide me to a captivating view of the Cascade Mountain Range as we clambered atop Tam McArthur Rim near Sisters Oregon.

The trailhead is across from Three Creek Lake, which looks like a delightful place to spend the day boating, swimming or fishing. We were entering into the Three Sisters Wilderness area of the Deschutes National Forest and we were able to fill out the necessary permit right at the trailhead. It is a moderate hike through green pines and when you get to the top, an elevation of 7,732’, you have a multitude of mountains to enjoy. Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, Three Sisters, Mt Washington, Three Fingered Jack, Mt Jefferson, and Mt Hood, on display in all their splendor.

I whole hardly recommend this hike. I need to mention the top is snow free only a few months out of the year, so you will need to plan accordingly, but in late August it was a marvelous hike.

  • Cascade Mountains
When I saw the mountains my weight lifted and my restless spirit calmed. I knew this was were I belong.
  • A long distance shot of me standing on Tam MacArthur Rim.

Thanks for joining Marcus and I ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ on Tam McArthur Rim in Sisters, Oregon with an outstanding views of the Cascades. You do not want to miss the next episode of Oregon Hiking so take a moment and LIKE, COMMENT, FOLLOW, AND SHARE.

Roger Jenkins, Pursuing Balance Through Adventure

It was a little windy, but Marcus, after complaining about me dragging him up the mountain on the opening day of college football goes on to name the Cascade Mts in view from the Rim.