Cement Bluff

Monday’s hike had a couple of firsts. Our first hike into California this year. And our first hike in a long time without our friend, Betty Lowes. A new normal that will be difficult to get used to.

We headed out at 8 am, seven hikers in four SUVs with John going solo as our pilot. We caught up to him just off Exit 751 Stewart Springs Road. Then we hightailed up to 6,800′ and the Mt. Eddy parking lot. The weather was clear and mild with temps in the 60s/70s.

The 5+ mile trail is mostly level and a semicircle out to the Bluff. We started on the trail about 9:30 and reached the Bluff by noon for lunch. Along the way we must have crossed at least 2-dozen dried creeks with just one still flowing. We went through shaded forests and arid meadows with a few flowers, mostly Buckwheats and other plants that do well in dry conditions. A few observations, there must be ample water in the spring to refresh lots of flowers and also plenty of water to flow into Bluff Lake which you can look down on from the Cement Bluff. Also, Bob wondered what it would be like to hike the trail with a few inches of snow on the ground.

As we got closer to the Bluff, Bob pointed out various rock types including a large slanted orange wall of boulders that had been rubbed smooth by glaciers.

The aggregate collection of rocks at our lunch spot answered why the place was called Cement Bluff. Lunch on top was so peaceful that Liz may have dozed off.

After a while the wind started to pick up and blew in a few clouds and some smoke into the canyon. The wind was a signal to head back and we cut a half hour off our earlier time heading back.

It’s an 11 mile out and back along the PCT and well worth also visiting in late spring or late fall.

We will mix trips to California in with local Oregon hikes going forward.

After learning two of our watering holes were closed due to the Covid 19; four of us shared a long table out back at Louie’s by the Ashland Creek.

Hike Leader: Rich Stickle

Photos By: Jerry