Crooked River from top of Chute
These photographs were taken early Thursday morning as we arrived for our day hike at Smith Rock State Park. The photos were taken as we hiked down the short Chute Trail, from the parking area to the trail foot bridge over the Crooked River.
This is looking down river in the direction of the Christian Brothers;
The Dihedrals; and the Morning Glory Wall.
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“Smith Rock State Park” Oregon Road Trip - Dec. 7th - 9th, 2011. These
photographs were taken on a three day looping road trip through
Eastern Oregon. The winter weather was perfect, with sunny clear
skies.
DAY ONE: We drove through the Warm Springs reservation and on our way toward Redmond, Oregon we visited Peter Skene Ogden state park to gaze straight down at a narrow canyon of the Crooked River Gorge (Downstream it the Crooked River joins the Deschutes. Upstream is where we hiked along the Crooked River in Smith Rock State Park). We walked across the old highway bridge for views up and down the river canyon. Next, we drove to Smith Rock state park, near Terrebonne, Oregon, to check out the trailhead for the day hike we had planned the next day.
DAY TWO: We got up early and there was a freezing fog all about. Fortunately it burned off on our drive to Smith Rock state park, where we intended to hike. It was cold but beautiful when we hiked down “The Chute” trail to cross the Crooked River. We then hiked the Wolf Tree Trail to enjoy the lovely warm morning light as the last of the morning freezing fog blew away.
Retracing our hike the mile back to the footbridge on the Wolf Tree trail, we started up the Misery Ridge Trail. In the heat of a summer the trail’s name would probably fit, but the cold air felt great as my wife and I hiked up the ridge, with spectacular views changing by the moment.
We stopped for a water and snack break on top of Misery Ridge and took in the panoramic views to the west of us (the Oregon Cascades). Then above the pillar of rock called “The Monkey Face” (and a challenging route for rock climbers), we started the steep switchback trail back down to the Crooked River.
Enjoying our hike in the sunshine, we took the long route to join and hike the River Trail and eventually hiked counter clockwise, back to the footbridge, where we had started our loop hike. We saw Goldeneyes duck; mallards, Canada geese, falcons, and rock pigeon [Columba livia], the favorite dinner of the resident Peregrine Falcon.
As the sun came out and the cliff faces warmed, a swarm of eager rock climbers began showing up and along The Dihedrals and the Morning Glory Wall, we stopped to watch them climb and rappel. Smith Rock is a well known and popular rock climbing area. The rock is good but many of the faces have no cracks or hand holds so many of the faces are dotted with not only the white chalk marks of climbers’ hands, but the silver ends of protective “bolts”. We saw lots of those.
After completing our day hike we headed out to Cline Falls State Park on the Upper Deschutes River. Didn’t find the falls but enjoyed watching two lovely swans mingling among the resident mallards on the river.
DAY THREE: We left Redmond, Oregon on a sunny morning and drove east toward Mitchell, taking a quick side trip to the Painted Hills unit of the John Day fossil beds. Lighting wasn’t good for photographs, so we drove on. We stopped to check out the Oregon Hotel there for future reference (probably not), then turned north to drive the route north along the along the John Day River (which was trying to freeze over in places). At Fossil we turned west to the Clarno Unit of the John Day fossil beds. A fire had burned all vegetation at this site, but the hike to the cliffs, the fossils, and the intriguing “frozen in time” result of ancient lahars, was fascinating and worth the stop and the short hike.
On to Shaniko from the Clarno fossil beds and I stopped to take some photographs of an old barn, outside of town, that I had photographed a few years back. It has continued to cave in, weather and deteriorate, but is still a worthy photo shoot.
From Shaniko, Oregon we pointed our vehicle north toward home and by the time we reached Moro, we were enveloped in thick fog. That fog bank stayed with us all the way to our home in Eastern Washington. But, aside from the foggy ending, the two of us had more than our fair share of wonderful winter blue skies and sunshine, and we enjoyed every portion of the trails we had hiked.
Winter is not my favorite time of the year but road trips and hikes, like this one, sure help. In a few weeks the shortest day of the year will pass and the days will start getting longer and warmer “poco a poco” and that, for me, is always something to look forward to.
Comments and faves
R. Pahre (6 months ago | reply)
Very nice light.
Bev and Steve added this photo to his favorites. (6 months ago)
Bev and Steve (6 months ago | reply)
Some fabulous lighting! Haven't been to Smith rock in years.
listorama (6 months ago | reply)
Dramatic light and composition.
oldmantravels (6 months ago | reply)
RP - - Morning light is absolutely my favorite and having the fog burning off the higher walls kept me hopping around, clicking the camera button. Thanks for stopping by. OMT
oldmantravels (6 months ago | reply)
Bev and Steve - - I know I want to go back. I would like to check out the "bivouac" (walk in) camp site they have there. How I would love to wake up before dawn and leave my tent for an early morning ramble along the trails there. Oregon really has some top notch scenery and does an excellent job with their parks. OMT
oldmantravels (6 months ago | reply)
Thank you much Dave and wishing you many great hikes, trips and adventures in 2012. OMT
OldDogNewTrick (6 months ago | reply)
Same as what all the others have said. You really caught the morning light and last trace of fog nicely in these shots. We are right out of hiking trails now in our area and have switched to skiis and snowshoes.
Miss Q Pix (6 months ago | reply)
Stunning. One of the most gorgeous places in the U.S.
David Clucas and sunthistles added this photo to their favorites.
oldmantravels (6 months ago | reply)
Bernie - - I took a hike yesterday which ended up in the snow and where snow shoes would have been quite helpful. No more pressing the season this year for me. HA. Enjoy your winter. The short cold days of winter are what make the other three seasons something to look forward to. Thanks for stopping by as always. OMT
oldmantravels (6 months ago | reply)
Thank you much Miss Q. Chicago to Seattle eh? Good move! OMT
Little Lioness added this photo to her favorites. (2 months ago)
buckskin scout (1 week ago | reply)
Awesome shot
oldmantravels (1 week ago | reply)
Shane - - after driving by this cool state park many times, we finally stopped long enough to take a nice hike and really enjoy the area. Another visit is in order. Lovely hiking area. OMT