We Made It!

This was our view across Crooked River looking at the stone mountain on the other side.  One day we decided it would be a good place for a hike.

As we hike up the mountain, we had a different view looking back at where we had come.

This is Smith Rock.  Smith Rock State Park is a favorite place for rock climbers and we could watch them as we hiked.  If you look closely, just below the dark colored rock at the top of the pinnacle, you can see a solitary climber making his way slowly upwards.  You probably can't make out the rope he was using to keep him from falling.

As we began our hike earlier, we heard a woman climber had fallen,  She also had been solo.  When we came back down, we learned she had fallen on her back, but was lucid and able to move everything.

Look at the very top near the center and you will see a climber getting ready to begin repelling down the pinnacle on a different side than above.  Before he began, he dropped a heavy green rope down the side, yelling "rope" to warm anyone below that it was coming down. We watched him come all the way down.  The second climber remained at the top followed him down. They then slowly pulled that rope through whatever anchored it at the top, then carried their ropes and equipment back to the parking lot.  We passed them on the trail later.

In the center of this photo you can see the riverfront trail we would use to return to out campground after we went down the trail you see closer to the lower right corner of the picture.  I find going up a steep trail easier then going down.  All the way up, I kept thinking--if I go up, I have to come down.  It will be hard!

The trail across the top from where we came up to the beginning of the trail that goes back down to the river is called misery ridge.  It was just about the easiest part of the trail.

The scenery from the top of the mountain was beautiful.

There were very old cedar trees with fascinating twisted  trunks and branches.

John took this photo of me as we approached the top of the mountain.  That location reminds me of the trail to the top of Fremont Saddle in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona.

Here I am waiting for John to follow me up the trail.

A great view.

You can see why the river is named Crooked.