Trillium Lake

Friday March 7th we skied and skijored into Trillium Lake. This former swampland and meadow was turned into a 65 acre lake in 1960 by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The first picture is from the road atop the dam. A little known historical fact is that the Oregon Trail (AKA The Barlow Trail in this area) headed North toward Summit Pass on land now under this lake. Logs were placed over the marsh to make the route possible for the pioneer wagons. Some distance North of the lake the Trail route angles left towards Summit Meadows and the Government Camp area.






Shadows on Trillium Lake






All of the old Barlow Trail in this area offers good cross-country skiing, some of it demanding, some easy. The section nowadays called The Toboggan Run features a moderately steep sharp angled twisting run, some of it still a single head-high rut left by the pioneer wagons of 130 to 170 years ago. Its a great practice run for anyone wishing to learn quick turns-on-demand with cross-country gear. The easier route down to Summit Meadows connects with the access road to the campground and hence onto the Oregon Trail. This leads to easy access to the high route along the West side of the lake, dropping down to the dam.


We took the road route from Trillium Lake Snowpark. This leads to the campground and boat ramp at the southeast edge of the lake. These are hidden in the trees on the right of the trees in the first picture. Despite being widely touted as a beginners area, Trillium Lake features a steep initial run which can be challenging in fast conditions. Today the ten inches of fresh snow over a dense snowpack was slow and easily managed. The loop around the lake is groomed regularly, and in fact was groomed while we were there in preparation for the weekend.






Trillium Lake Skiers






The grooming is great for skijoring. Let the dogs run to the bottom of that initial hill, and then hook them up. The terrain around the lake is easy to moderate and well within the ability of a trained skijoring dog.


This area with its large parking area sees quite a bit of use. Years ago this was primarily a cross-country area. More recently the slower sport of snow-shoeing has become very common here as elsewhere. Skijoring is the newest variation and is rarely seen. I thought I spotted one on this trip but it turned out to be someone holding their young brittany spaniel on a leash. Most dogs love the snow. Overheating is their great foe and the cold mountain temperatures and snowpack is to their advantage during exercise. Temperatures started out in the low 20’s f. and rose only a little. Trees in bright sun dripped a little but the forest remained snow-covered.


As there is some longer climbing ski routes in the Trillium Basin the area attracts skiers of many abilities. In the second picture two skiers are barely visible seemingly skiing the edge of the cloud-shadow near the North end of the lake. Their shortcut will save a mile or two of road skiing but leads to steep bushwacking on the west side. East of the lake on sideroads you can climb to viewpoints and some moderately challenging downhill return runs. Years ago one such trip lead to a pleasant moonlit ski back. There is nothing better than skiing under clear skies and a full Moon!









This is Tannhauser - trail training name Tanner - cooling off after release from skijoring duties. A chocolate lab - German shorthair mix, he has the stamina and energy to make a great skijoring dog. Husky, Bernese or Swiss Mountain Dog, and general mutt also all can make useful dogs. Avoid dogs with long hair between the pads which will collect balls of snow, such as Golden Retrievers. They otherwise would be great, but snow collecting on the feet makes them a no-go. In Scandinavia where skijoring began a Greyhound-German Shorthair cross is widely used as the ideal combination of traits.


He pulls strongest with other dogs, and needs more training. I’ve only had him a month so this is hardly surprising. The stolen Maya was further along on training but has been gone for over a month. Another dog is in the offing, both for skijoring and a playmate and training partner for Tannhauser.


We were attended to by a small flock of gray jays. These are a restrained white, gray and black combination. I’m more used to seeing the larger, solid gray and more jay-like Clark’s Nutcracker.


After taking photos here, we turned back, and there was a raven inspecting our pack! Tanner made a run at the bird but cut it short as the bird quickly returned to the sky. More interesting were the otter tracks.









This picture is from the dam and shows the outlet of the lake. The long track is that of an otter. Other partially snowed-over otter tracks are visible nearby. The recent track heads directly to an otter den at the far edge of the lake.






The Long Trail





Otters are distinctively thick-tailed creatures, and the track clearly show that. The small roundish footprints were mostly rubbed away by the tail dragging behind.


Doubtful or disinterested or tired otters will drag their tails. We had a demonstration of that on our riverfront in 1996 after the massive floods of that year left bare sand everywhere below about the 40 foot elevation mark. That silty sand recorded well the tracks of all animal traffic. Mink, sandpiper, and weasel tracks were spotted.


Though always present in the Clackamas River, this time of bare earth gave us a chance to observe their behavior though tracks the April following the big flood. Two of them came up out of the river from different locations, tails dragging. They sauntered their individual wandering routes towards a large rock which was then located in what is now our labyrinth. The pair headed uphill across an eroded riverbank to the edge of a flat area with foot-high grass. An area of grass larger than a pair of otters was knocked down. Pleased with this roll in the hay, the pair walked back to the river side by side. The pair was enthused enough to hold their tails high the whole way, leaving only their round footprints.







At Trillium Lake the tracks head one direction, judging from the small sprays of soft snow along the outside edge of the marks. The direction of travel is away from the lake outlet area. The route ends at the otter’s den at the edge of the lake.


















Since the tracks all head one direction, the otter (or otters) must enter the lake at the den, fish their way over to the drain opening, and return back across the snowy ice. The two openings each may access the lake. The narrow track coming in from the right shows they slide in, legs tucked back, leaving no footprints.


The larger opening has approach slides in three directions. The small root highlighted by the snowy background shows the den is underground.










Tanner, nosey dog that he is, wanted to investigate further, but I would not let him. The photos were taken with a telephoto to avoid disturbing the residents.



Want to visit this area? From Portland proceed up Hwy. 26 past Government Camp and look for signs directing you to the Trillium Lake Snowpark on your right. The parking area is large but can be about full on weekends. In Summer you can drive in.


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White River Run

I've been a busy boy lately and haven't been prompt about posting events I've done, so this one is about two months behind. On March 2nd two of us skied up White River Canyon on Mount Hood. Our route was only about 2.5 miles (4 km) each way but seemed longer with the constantly changing scenery and elevation. The sno-park elevation is just under 4300 feet (1310 meters); we topped out at about 5470 feet (1670 meters). Others that day were much higher on the mountain.


Both the low outwash plain route and the upper bench route up the White River start out from the parking area along the same track. Excess outwash is used to make what in summer is a road, and in winter a broad ski and snowshoe route. Before long the two split and the upper route climbs somewhat steeply to the upper bench while the lower drops onto the windy valley floor.




Near the start before the two routes split





Our route followed the upper bench rather than the outwash plain. Though higher, the partial tree cover and the adjacent White River / Salmon River high divide makes for less wind and exposure. The views are much better with the higher position.


Years back snowshoeing was almost unheard of. Nowadays it has become common, and it appeared that the majority of people at White River today were using them. Compared to cross country skiing its a slow sport but wonderfully stable, low impact and mostly risk-free.


Following snowshoe tracks up to the Upper Bench was simple. This picture is from where the top is reached. The Outwash Plain route is a hundred or so feet below (30 meters). In the upper left of the picture below is an early sign of fog rolling in, spoiling the clear weather we began with.









Partway up from the lip of the Upper Bench, with the other route below.





The snowshoer's track kept close to the steep dropoff, much closer than skiers would habitually go. These routefinders seem unfazed by the potential for unstable cornices. We made plans not to follow this path on the way down.










Closeup of the edge of the Upper Bench



The upper bench has long been home to a tall forest of lodgepole pines. Unfortunately this woodland has been struck by pine bark beetles. The now dead trees still stand, many oozing pitch from the wounds caused by this insect. Judging by the brown but still-on-the-tree needles, these fatalities occurred just last summer. For more details about this situation, see these earlier posts:


Beetles, Fire and Changed Environments

Olallie Scenic Area Highlands









Formerly lively forest of lodgepole pine





Snow conditions were fine for this trip, very deep, easy to grip and climb, and of moderate speed for the downhill runs. Once the bench proper is reached, the slope is easy, with occasional steeper sections into the dry creeks. The open forest is easily negotiated even at higher rates of speed.


The Upper Bench ends abruptly at 5100 feet (1550 meters), after about a mile and three-quarters (2.8 kilometers) travel. Straight ahead and to the left very steep terrain ("as steep as ground can lie") leads up to the high divide between White River and Salmon River, and a little farther via a narrow neck of ridge to Timberline Lodge at 5900 feet (1800 meters). One snowshoe party took off up to the left; later they could be seen at lunch in a clump of trees at the edge of the dropoff. Off to the other side the route drops into the moraine area of White River. This route had already been used, showing the snowbridge over the stream was solid. Making a fun run down and across, we soon were to the small group of trees shown in the picture below. Then it was up the moraine ridge to the left.




I


Skiers at the base of the moraines of White River




The picture above shows the shadow from the continually thickening fogbank. As we quickly gained elevation climbing the small moraine, snow conditions deteriorated. Areas of ski-slowing wind crust alternated with faster soft snow. Dodging the bad patches hardly slowed us at all.


Below is a fog-shrouded shot from our high point. A shallow depression gave us minimal protection from wind; the sun strove to warm us through the fog while we took lunch. The view is to the south along the Cascade Mountains. Without the fog many peaks and ridges would have been visible, as far as Mount Jefferson 48 miles distant.







From about 5470 feet (1670 meters), our high point

Looking to the east and northeast, we spied ski tracks and skiers tackling some really steep slopes with telemark equipment. In the picture below, both the large Triangular Moraine on the left and the smaller one just right of it were tracked from top to bottom.





White River Tracks



We watched a few skiers chew the slopes of Triangular Moraine before they departed down the valley floor. Earlier one had linked turns down the moraine on the right, perhaps coming from Mount Hood Meadows Ski Area. Approaches to the top of either moraine are long, steep and not for the weary; but a spendy lift ticket at Meadows would shorten that route. None of these skiers opted for a second climb and run.


Our own route down involved regaining the Upper Bench where even the steepest sections did not overcome the slow snow. We dropped down the steep upper bowl to the outwash plain to finish.

Snow already on Mount Hood!

Several inches of snow fell at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood last week, and a few more inches are forecast for tomorrow. Flakes fell as low as 3500 ft (1070 m.). This is early, and the newscasts on TV showed folks out on their boards (scratches guaranteed!). Early for serious cross-country skiing is the end of October, with mid-November normal. I'll vote for early - but this early snow is no guarantee of that!