Silver Star Mountain - the “high ground” above Portland - Vancouver, with huckleberries

[sageofthpalouse]

Monday we did Sunday’s road trip in reverse, from the north, and got lost again. But persevering we got to Grouse Vista trailhead #180F duly noted the day before, just that finding it again is problematic, and started up toward Silver Star Mountain. This was a hard hike 7.5 miles roundtrip and 2000 feet elevation gain. At least the trail is

Comments

[carol_da_queen]

wow ....I am impressed. And wistful as my achilles will not like such a steep hike, and I probably won't get to see the view and eat berries...on the trail.
Nuff whining. So glad you went. Pictures?

[sageofthpalouse]

The climb is a problem. I thought we might have to quit but going very slow we just made it and back. Like it so much we started exploring other routes to Silver Star Mountain. One is a long hike about 12 miles round trip that traces the ridge lines and is more level. Drove to the trailhead Saturday. The road is dreadful but it starts you out quite high where you can stroll for miles above 4000 feet and enjoy the views. Pictures there are hard to get midday. Literally sixty mile views in some directions but bright hazy days obscures that distance. The scale is epic -- pictures look like "epic haze." Maybe we'll wait for an overnight rainstorm then rush up for the clear air if the road is still there ...

[carol_da_queen]

Love the idea of the perfect radial drainage example...a star shaped mountain indeed. Bet is a cute topo map feature ;)

[sageofthpalouse]

Wish I could send the exact topo coordinate from google maps -- 6 miles due north of Crown Point on the Oregon side of the river. It is pretty close to "perfect" ... but somebody broke the star in half and stretched it north-south. A three arm piece then a half mile ridge that connects the two arm piece. Five distinct watersheds. (edited this: if you google "Silver Star Mountain Washington" you may get a centered topo map)