Saddle Mountain Foggy Breakdown

The forecast online looked good.  The actual weather was somewhat less positive as I headed from the Portland metro area west into the Coast Range.  Clouds began to dominate the sky. The forest around the Saddle Mountain trailhead was dripping wet, but I had high hopes. Surely this was just a morning fog that would burn off.   Or not.  No matter; I would hike regardless, since I’d driven over an hour.

http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=45.90623,-123.745565%20(Saddle%20Mountain%20State%20Natural%20Area)s seven miles off Highway 26 on a road that won’t win any awards for smoothest rides.  I remembered coming here as a teen a couple times in conjunction with a trip to the nearby Sitka Spruce which some people claimed was the world’s largest.  Good times.

For the first third of the trail, the mixed forest is heavy on the moss, and the beginning is rather steep as it heads toward the Humbug Mountain junction in the first half mile.

A smell of smoke hung in the air; as a former firefighter, I debated whether it might have emanated from anywhere besides the campground.  Eventually, the smell dissipated.  Paranoia again.

The trail climbed gradually for the most part, the surroundings typical of a western Oregon forest for the most part, until the path started winding around a number of cliffs and sheer, mossy promontories.

I passed a few people, and the higher the elevation, the more people were descending.  I was surprised to see that, as it wasn’t even eleven a.m.  Some people obviously camped at the park, and others must have come from the beach towns at Cannon Beach or Seaside, significantly closer than Portland.   The ubiquitous fog was like a bad haircut.  There was nothing you could do about it right now, but it would be okay in time.

I got to various points where spur trails had been stomped out over time, so I knew there must be terrific views.  All I could see, however, was foghorn worthy.   On paper, Saddle Mountain appears to be the most aesthetic peak in the Oregon Coast Range, but I missed most of the highlights thanks to the fog straight out of a forties noir film.

Still, the geology, the wild flowers, and the popularity of the trail made the ascent interesting, along with the ridiculous chain link mesh wrapped around small rocks underfoot, apparently to prevent erosion. Trail erosion can obviously be an issue, yet so  is hiker safety, and this mesh alternated between slick at one moment, and dangerously catchy, so a foot could twist unexpectedly .  I slipped twice and almost twisted my ankle once.  Not a fan of the mesh, Oregon State Parks.

Railings and cables were frequent, which detracted a bit from the setting, but safety is an issue with the steep open terrain.  At least one person has died on Saddle Mountain.   The summit was anticlimactic, since the views I knew must be spectacular were obscured by a grayish-white wet blanket, our dear friend, the fog.  I sat there on  square bench with Jackie for a bit, contemplating life.  Life is good.

a

Jackie barked when another hiker reached the peak in five minutes.  That was when I saw the pup shivering, and I realized I was fairly chilly myself.  Besides, a bit of actual mist was now falling , so I donned my lightweight rain jacket, and that did the trick.

Another couple arrived on top.  Time to go.  Many people were heading up as we descended.   We had to pull over a lot to let other hikers pass.  It’s funny how some people are very appreciative of this sort of gesture, thanking me and commenting on how cute my dog is; others won’t even look at me.

I don’t always like to leash Jackie, but it was necessary for much of the descent, until we were below the slick rock mesh debacle.    Below that, we could motor, and near the end, we noticed a giant stump right next to the trail; it’s too bad we don’t see many trees of that size in the 21st century.

While the trip was not what all I’d hoped given the weather, I was still happy to have summited this iconic coastal peak.   The fog had made for some interesting photos that made me think I should be meditating.   My round trip on a slick trail, going two and a half miles up with 1600 feet of elevation gain, was under three hours. The drive took almost as long as the hike, but I definitely got some exercise.   On such a day, the Saddle Mountain trail gets a seven out of ten on the fun meter.  In good weather, I think it might approach maximum fun.  Crowds might be the only deterrent.  So, as the Terminator said, “I’ll be back.”