Blueberry Bonanza at Dock Butte

Although I haven't posted anything since my PCT hike ended, that has been due more to a combination of technology challenges and lack of time rather than lack of hiking. I did some great central Oregon hikes while I was working at the Warm Springs Indian Reservation running my brother's hand washing station during the Logging Unit fire (same fire that derailed my original PCT hike plans, ironically enough!) and I've also continued to hike once I returned home. I hope to blog about some of those hikes as well, but I've got to figure out how to do the dates so they post correctly.

Yesterday I took the day off work to go to an early morning doctor's appointment. The weather was beautiful so afterwards I continued up the road to Baker Lake, took the Road 12 turn off and went another 11 miles to the Blue Lake Trailhead. Mt. Baker was out in all her glory and I kept catching glimpses of her as I'd round the corners. I was hoping for some fall colors, and there was a bit, but the trees seem to be going directly from green to brown, maybe because it has been such a warm fall. There was a nice pit toilet and a picnic table at the trailhead. I pulled out my pack leaving my down jacket in the car. It was already a sunny warm morning.

A white haired gentleman, named John, was also preparing to head up the trail and we ended up playing leap frog for most of the day and even picking blueberries together. I started up the trail first, deciding to head up the steep trail to Dock Butte first and hoping to catch Blue Lake (.5 miles off the trail) on the way back down. Dock Butte is not a very long hike at only 1.7 miles (3.4 round trip) but it is strenuous, with a 1,700 foot elevation gain.  However, the views along the way kept me motivated to get to the top.

Mt. Baker

Eventually I could see Dock Butte in the distance and it looked like it was a steep scramble to the top but when I got closer I saw that there were switchbacks that I could take that would make it easier. I paused for awhile and took out my map, trying to identify the various geographical landmarks. I eventually figured out the Twin Sisters Mountains and Mt. Loomis were to my north and northwest.

Twin Sisters Wilderness

I continued up until I got to a challenging rock part where I had to scramble up on my hands and feet and then I was at the top. A look out was built here at one time, but nothing remains except the foundation stone and a pile of rusty nails.

Foundation stone with the names of the builders

Up at the top, John and I snapped pictures and enjoyed lunch while we tried to identify the various peaks and ridges. The views were so stunning that I simply sat and stared. My trail mix may have filled my tummy, but the views of Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan, Glacier Peak, Baker Lake, Loomis Mountain and the Twin Sisters Mountains filled my soul.

Mt. Shuksan and Baker Lake

Glacier Peak in the distance

Eventually I started back down and my knees and quads quickly let me know that this was a STEEP trail. Going up was hard, but even with my hiking poles going down was harder.

The descent begins

I took plenty of breaks, though, as I stopped and picked blueberries, managing to fill a quart Ziploc in only an hour. But I decided to leave Blue Lake for another day since I'd spent so much time at the top enjoying the views and picking blueberries on the way back down.

Hiker John found a geocache by this tarn

 

Blueberry bonanza!

This was really a great hike, but be sure to take hiking poles. The trail was a little muddy in spots with lots of roots and uneven places. But those views. Wow. Just, wow.