Wednesday, January 17, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 7
Off-season winter hiking
By Craig F. Eisenbeis
Correspondent
As is often the case, I
planned an extensive vacation
trip for late fall to escape the
dreary days between hiking
and skiing seasons. I returned,
however, only to find that the
snow season has yet to mate-
rialize. So, my hiking friend
and I have been out on the
trails again; and I’ve had quite
a bit of feedback that indicates
we are far from alone in mak-
ing some lemonade out of a
lemon of a snow season.
In November of 2016, we
were snowed out of a planned
hike in the Badlands east of
Bend. That certainly has not
been a problem this season,
and the nearly 30,000-acre
desert wilderness should be
a top destination for hikers
looking for some winter trails
this year.
If you have not hiked
the area, the Bureau of
Land Management main-
tains many miles of trails
here. Popular Badlands
trails include Flatiron Rock,
Badlands Rock, The Castle,
The Ancient Juniper Trail,
the Larry Chitwood Trail,
and many others. The area
is lightly used, and we have
often been the only hikers
in sight. If trudging up and
down hills is not to your lik-
ing, you will like it here; this
is flat country. One negative
about the Badlands is that trail
signage throughout the area
is rather poor; so maps, com-
pass, and orienteering skills
are vital, particularly since
scattered user trails can lead
the hiker astray.
Most trails along Whychus
Creek can also be good go-to
hikes at this time of year.
That includes the Whychus
Trail and its connectors south
of town, as well as Alder
Springs farther downstream.
The Deschutes Land Trust’s
Whychus Canyon Preserve
offers some excellent nearly
all-season hikes, and the
Trust’s Metolius Preserve
— with its ever-expanding
network of trails — has been
mostly snow free so far, too.
We hiked there last week;
and, if it ever does snow, the
Metolius Preserve can also
PHOTO BY CRAIG F. EISENBEIS
This very large frost-enhanced mountain lion track was observed on the
north slopes of Black Butte.
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“Enriching the lives of those we serve, one day at time”
offer some pleasant cross-
country skiing in an area that
is mostly flat.
Also, don’t forget about
the local trails maintained by
the Sisters Trails Alliance.
The Sisters Tie Trail is an eas-
ily accessed local trail; and
Peterson Ridge offers many
opportunities, including some
that you may not have tried
yet! Sadly, a recent car break-
in in this area has caused the
Forest Service to remind trail
users not to leave valuables in
their vehicles.
The Suttle Lake Trail
may be another local pos-
sibility if the dearth of snow
persists. Plus, winter trails
are often accessible along
the Metolius River and near
Camp Sherman. The Lower
Crooked River is another
possibility, along with vari-
ous spots along the Deschutes
River, such as Steelhead Falls.
And don’t forget Fryrear and
Dry (Deep) Canyons, which
are just east of town on the
way to Redmond.
Hikers should always be
properly equipped; but, if you
are planning to do some win-
ter hiking, keep in mind that
conditions are very different at
this time of the year. Carrying
the Ten Essentials, extra pro-
visions, and other appropriate
emergency equipment — such
as a bivy bag — is always
important, because potential
dangers and problems are
magnified in the cold weather.
As a result, due diligence and
safety precautions take on
even greater importance.
Keep in mind that you
may encounter icy areas, so
PHOTO BY CRAIG F. EISENBEIS
Winter conditions can give rise to delicate frost formations on trailside
vegetation.
be sure to consider the need
for proper footwear, traction
devices, and trekking poles
— particularly on slopes.
Instead of preparing only for
what you expect, always seek
to be over-prepared for unex-
pected conditions. A few extra
pounds of gear can make a
big difference in your safety
or survival if things suddenly
go wrong. Remember that
winter weather conditions
can change rapidly and with-
out warning; and it is always
a good idea to let someone
know where you are going
and your expected return time.
Hiking in the off-sea-
son can produce some big
rewards in terms of seeing
different things and enjoying
new experiences in Central
or
A lab
Oregon’s winter wonderland.
Leaves with inch-long frost
spikes, pine groves covered
in frozen fog like flocked
Christmas trees, quiet soli-
tude, and animal signs in fresh
fallen snow are only a few of
the treats awaiting the winter
adventurer.
During one recent hike
on the north slopes of Black
Butte, we saw something
quite unexpected. Over the
years, we’ve seen plenty of
mountain lion tracks, includ-
ing large and small probable
mother and cub combina-
tions; but last week, in frost-
enhanced frozen mud, we saw
mountain lion tracks far big-
ger than we’ve seen before.
You won’t see things like that
if you are sitting at home!
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