Smith Rock

Today was sunny, cold and windy.  We decided that a steep hike would be just the thing.  This is Smith Rock.  Wikipedia says it's where sport climbing got its start.  The rock formations are from the volcanoes.  Ash piled up, was compressed, became a rock known as tuff, eroded over the years and now is this.  It's sort of like Zion, only not as red.

 

We did this hike in 2010, but we didn't have the hiking poles with us.  I spent most of the climb and descent looking at the trail because the height and exposure were freaking me out.  Two years of side hill mountain bike riding have improved my tolerance of heights significantly.

 

This is the view of the Misery Trail below.

 

A view from the top.

 

That is Monkey Face, which is a 400 foot tall spire.  Notice the notch on the left side, right where the blue of the mountains intersects the rock.

 

The notch referenced above is this notch.  There is not enough of any resource on the planet to get me to do this type of climbing.

 

There were people of various skill levels all over the rock today.  I like that the Forest Service has crutches and a litter standing by at the ready.

 

View from the trail after it drops down to the river.

 

It's a strenuous hike.  First there is a half mile straight up, with stairs and switch backs and steep bits, and then there is a half mile down the other side.  After that, it's a pleasant walk along the river.  Of course, there is the steep pitch back up to the parking lot.

In other news, we found a frozen pizza we don't hate.  So many of the pizzas are too full of salt, chemicals and fat to be enjoyable.  This was actually good.  We'll buy it again.

 

It may warm up tomorrow.  It can not be too soon!