Jeanette and I hiked Bald Mountain on Sunday. This was a hike I had not done before but I had heard about from a number of sources. It is noted for it’s Spring flower display if you get there at right time. We missed the best flower display by a couple of weeks. But we had great views of Mt. Hood and Hood River Valley and still some pockets of wildflowers. From the top we could see Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams though the trees. I got the hike at about 9 miles and 2500 ft elevation gain. It was great weather for a hike.
Not many cars in the Parking lot.
There was good signage.
We started in oak trees and still green under growth.
You pass through a open section that had already browned out.
Mt. Hood with orchard below it.
A Mazama hike group with played tag with on the hike.
Mt. Hood at the end of the open area switch back. Lots of great views of Mt. Hood on this hike.
Jeanette had problem with her water bladder. We had to spot several time to work on it.
Oak Ridge trail climbing up through the open section.
Lots of great views of Mt. Hood from many sections of the trail
The lupine was in full bloom and had not gone to seed yet.
After going through an open section and getting hot is was nice to enter into a cool wooded section.
You come up the Oak Ridge Trail to the junction with Surveyors ridge trail that you take to Bald Mt.
Following the road up the top of Bald Mt.
One of the few balsamroots still flowering at the top.
View of Mt. Hood from the top of Bald Mt.
View of Hood River Valley from the top of Bald Mt.
Mt. St. Helens is one of the four mountains you can see from the top of Bald Mt.
We took a lunch break at the top.
Heading down off of Bald Mt. Looks like everyone had the same idea.
One of the patches of wild flowers that was still blooming.
Heading back and getting to the power lines
One unpleasant part of the hike is passing under power lines.
For those with off road vehicles you can drive to the top of Bald Mt.
Finishing up the switch backs then back to the car and off to get a beer.
After the hike we went to have a beer and grub at a brewpub Parkdale
Inside of the pub. I like that they have free popcorn.
We went through our food and beer so quickly that all I got a photo of was the last of chip.