We had a warm, sunny spring day to hike up to Rooster Rock in the Old Cascades below Tombstone Pass (7 miles RT and 2,300 ft of gain). We sighted early spring wildflowers, including Calypso orchids (or fairy slippers), trillium, anemone, wood violets, and oaks toothwort. There were also signs of beargrass blooms to come. We had a long, but entertaining climb over and under 15 downed trees across the trail. Many of the trees had fallen in groups of two's and three's, which made for creative contortions to get over and under them through narrow spaces between the large trees. It required a team effort as Chemeketans (ages 29-82) pushed and pulled each other over and under the large trees. Finally Rooster Rock came into view. After admiring this bare rock pinnacle, which used to have a fire lookout perched on top, we continued on up to the unnamed rocky knoll for views up the South Santiam canyon to the snowy tops of the Three Sisters.
Allison showing how it's done. A more successful demonstration than the leader's.
Team Chemek (front to back): Allison Boomer, Roz Shirack (leader),
Tom Burke, Deb Wallig, Sumon Montri, Blanka Truneckova, and Franki Branstetter.
