Sunday, August 30, 2015

Iron Mountain Loop (Oregon)

On August 11, my third day of hiking in Central Oregon at AMC August Camp, it was tempting to take a break and do something a little easier, like the trip into Bend for biking, kayaking, and brews!  But instead, I hiked the Iron Mountain loop trail, and am I glad I did, because it was my favorite hike of the week.

After two out and backs, a loop trail was a great change!  You are always seeing something new.  The only out and back part was a short spur to the summit of Iron Mountain, with many switchbacks as we gained about 600 feet in a half mile.  The total hike was 7.3 miles, and we went through some mature forests, open wildflower meadows with great views, and to the top of Iron Mountain with a deck on top and 360 degree, if hazy, views.

Here is a track of our hike.  The start and end is marked with the red star, and the red arrow marks the direction of travel (counter-clockwise).  A purple star marks our main objective, the summit of Iron Mountain with its wonderful views.

Here is a three dimensional view of the area.  We hiked across the saddle between Cone Peak and Iron Mountain.  The red star  indicates where we started and ended.

We started the hike through mature forest.  Very relaxing and pretty.

After some climbing, we arrived at an open area with views, including of Cone Peak to the north, and...

Iron Mountain to the west.  That is where we hoped to have lunch.

The views from the saddle here were really great.

The shaggy-barked Alaskan cedar is rare in Oregon but fairly common in this area, our naturalist hike leader volunteer told us.  By the way, all of the hike leaders were great.

This whole region seemed to be the results on volcanos.  Look at all of this volcanic rock.

As we started the steep switchbacks up Iron Mountain, some wonderful views began to come.

Pearly everlasting is the name of this wildflower - a pretty name for a pretty flower!

You can see how hazy it was there.  Some of this is the result of forest fires.

I was the last to reach the summit with its wonderful deck.

Even with the haze, the views were plenty gorgeous from the top.

We saw lots of wildflowers on this hike.

Near the end of our hike, I think that I am celebrating actually completing a hike without taking a spill!  Also, I wanted to show that there some big trees in this area.  However, the short hike that we did after completing this one had some truly huge trees - 500 year old Douglas fir!

This hike had everything but wildlife - a good group of hikers to enjoy it with, a great hike leader, wonderfully varied views and scenery, a great cardio workout, beautiful forests, lovely open views, mountaintop views, and gorgeous wildflowers.  For that reason, it was my favorite hike of the week, although they were all so good that it is difficult to choose.  One thing I found about August Camp - you can randomly pick a hike each night and not go wrong!

4 comments:

  1. Another great hike. It is always nice seeing where you hike. Yes, I would think a loop is better too.

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  2. HYPOCRITES OR FALSE CHRISTIANS? BY STEVE FINNELL

    According to a 2012 Gallup poll 77% of those living in the U.S.A. identify as Christians. How many of the 77% are hypocrites or false Christians?

    According to a May 22, 2014 Gallup poll only 46% of those living in the U.S.A. oppose killing unborn babies by abortion.

    Obviously a large percentage of those who identify as Christian see nothing wrong with murdering unborn babies, would they be hypocrites or false Christians?

    According to a Gallup poll July, 2013 54 % of those living in the U.S.A. support same sex marriage.

    If 77% say they are Christians and 54% of the population say they support gay marriage, then there is lot of support among those who claim to be believers in Christ for gay marriage. Are they hypocrites or false Christians?

    Do the Scriptures support homosexual marriage and killing unborn babies?

    1 John 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.(NKJV)

    If killing unborn innocent babies is not murder, then what would it be?

    Revelation 21:8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."(NKJV)

    The sexually immoral and murderers will have their part in the lake of fire.

    1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?....nor homosexuals, nor sodomites.....11 And such were some of you . But you were washed, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.(NKJV)

    When it comes to participating or approving of abortion and same sex marriage, it should be past tense if you are claiming to be a Christian. The apostle Paul said SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU not ARE SOME OF YOU.

    If you claim to be a Christian and approve of sinful practices or live a sinful lifestyle, then you are either a hypocrite or a false Christian.

    In a 2008 Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life 57% of Evangelical Christians said there might be other ways to heaven other than Jesus.

    Would that indicate hypocrisy or false Christians?

    John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (NKJV)


    ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE?

    Mark 16:16 He who has believed, and has been immersed, will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.(T.B.V.O.T.N.T) by Chester Estes

    Galatians 3:17-27....26 Since you are sons of God through that belief, by Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been immersed into Christ , have put on Christ.(T.B.V.O.T.N.T) by Chester Estes

    If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead. If you claim Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you have been baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins, then you are a Christian.


    The question remains how many of the 77% who claim to be Christians are hypocrites or false Christians?

    YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com






    Posted by Steve Finnell at 1:21 PM
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  3. Happyone - thanks for the comment. Yes, this was a particularly wonderful hike.

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  4. Mr. Finnell - while I appreciate the visit to this blog, I respectfully assert that nothing in your comment had any relevance to the post at hand, as I had no reference that I can find to abortion, same sex marriage, or sexual immorality of any kind. In fact, I would be surprised if you find me making any statements on any of these topics anywhere on my blog, which pertains to hiking and the out of doors.

    thanks.
    Art Ritter

    ReplyDelete