Aspen Butte (Planned) but the Brown Mountain Trail (Actual) 5-29-24

Photos by Bob and Nanci

Ashland Hiking Home

On Wednesday, six intrepid hikers headed out to conquer the west facing summit of Aspen Butte (8,200').  We came, we looked, we retreated to Plan B.  Snow covered most of the parking area, the decision was a no brainer.  Actually, the no brainer should have been based on the day before, when Barry and Michale reported their scouting attempt to get to the trail head of Dutchman Peak failed far short of the parking area due to snow.  Anyways, always a Plan B.

What a wonderful walk in the woods it turned out to be.  We looped back, and took the Brown Mtountain trail, out and back, along the North side through the forest, across the lave flows, and to the PCT.  We lunched at the trail junction where we found on a log, the words ENJOY spelled out with twigs, and single 16 oz. can of Coors Light.  Of course, that was not truly the highlight of the hike, After the 8 mile hike, we quickly drove to Lake of the Woods and enjoyed our favorite libations on the decks wrapped in our warm jackets meant for the 8,000' Aspen Peak.

I don’t really need to elaborate about the glory of the hike.  Most of our members of the AHG have walked this trail on a bright sunshining day like today.  Mount Mcloughlin was spectacular.  The ~10,000 year-old blocky lava flows were awesome, and provide an appreciation of how powerful the forces of nature are.  Speaking of Mother Nature’s powers, there was a tremendous amount of down fall on the trail.  We had to climb over several very large trees and the trail was often scattered with smaller trees and limbs.  It is going a while before many of our favorite high elevation trails are cleared and snow free.

Bob