Sam Hill’s Legacy, part 2

Sam Hill, creator of the Maryhill Loops Road, also built a full-sized reconstruction of England’s famous neolithic Stonehenge on the hills above the Columbia River. Nick and I visited it on our way home from our gorge adventure a few weeks ago.

Built as a tribute to the soldiers of Klickitat County who lost their lives, Maryhill’s Stonehenge is the first monument in the nation to honor the dead of World War I. A Quaker pacifist, Hill was mistakenly informed that the original Stonehenge had been used as a sacrificial site, and thus constructed the replica to remind us that “humanity is still being sacrificed to the god of war.’’

If you go, make sure to check out the information board, showing how people might have used it to mark the seasons.

Sam Hill’s Legacy

We missed going to Sportbike Northwest this year, but having spied the crown jewel of motorcycle roads a few weeks ago on our gorge bike ride, this event will definitely be on our radar next summer.

“What is the crown jewel of motorcycle roads?” you ask. The Maryhill Loops Road, of course! Built in 1913 by Sam Hill, founder of Maryhill Museum of Art, the historic Loops Road was the first paved road in Pacific Northwest. It winds through the Klickitat Hills just north of the Stonehenge Monument near the junction of Washington Scenic Route 14 and U.S. Highway 97, offering a dozen hairpin turns in a mere 3.5 miles.

It was deemed unfit for travel by the DOT in the 60s and closed. In the late 1990’s the DOT reground the entire surface and paved it anew. Today it’s only open to walkers, bicyclists and few select motor vehicle events a year (including Sportbike Northwest).

According to Sound Rider’s Web site, motorcyclists wanting to ride this amazing piece of asphalt are let loose every 30 to 60 seconds. After 3.5 miles of twisties, you have to turn around and ride back down (the road deadends). 24 hairpins in seven miles - yipee!

Know a good knee surgeon?

Summit of Bootjack

I should know that when my friend Mike says something like “I’m thinking of getting out this weekend” he really means “I need some physical punishment; come with me and I’ll give you my knee surgeon’s phone number.” Ignoring this little fact, I agreed to go along and convinced Nick to join us as well.

Our destinations: Bootjack and Highchair Mountains – scramble peaks at the end of Icicle Creek Road in Leavenworth.

Our group of eight followed an impossibly steep, well-graded trail through dense forest for several miles before breaking out onto an open ridge top. Open isn’t quite the right word, though. It’s covered with tree carcasses, remnants of a previous forest fire. It was like walking through a silver forest.

A short jaunt up Blackjack Ridge and we were on top of Bootjack Mountain. Looking southwest, we could see that our ridge continued all the way to Highchair Mountain. It didn’t look pretty, but that was our destination. We had to continue.

The going got a little tougher as we traded grassy slopes for the rocky ridge. About 800’ below the summit of Highchair we found ourselves in a pretty basin filled with trees, heather and little spring-fed creeks. The climb to the ridge/summit was straightforward from here, and we were there in no time.

Nick on the summit ridge of Highchair Mountain

Back at the cars, we concluded the peaks were good for a workout, but nothing to write home about. If they’d been located along the I-90 corridor, we would probably climb them in the evening after work. Located in Leavenworth, though, we wouldn’t likely be back any time soon.

Of course, if you need some punishment and you happen to be in the area already, give these a go.

How to get there: Drive east on Highway 2 to Leavenworth. Just before the town, turn right on Icicle Creek Road and drive 18 miles to Rock Creek Campground. Stay left at the “Y” and drive over Icicle Creek. Continue 1.4 miles to the Blackjack TH (across from the Blackpine horse trailer parking area). Travel time from Seattle or Bellevue is about 3 hours.

Description: Follow the Blackjack trail through the forest as it snakes its way up the hillside. (The trail merges with another trail right at the beginning; take a left, then right to stay on the right trail. It’s signed.) The trail gains a blistering 3,400’ in 2.6 miles. At the crest of the ridge (6,290’) leave the trail and ascend Blackjack Ridge. On a clear day the summit of Bootjack is visible 0.6 miles away.

From the summit of Bootjack you can look southwest and see Highchair Mountain on the ridge, 1.8 miles in the distance. Descend the ridge to the south, going around the first lump to the left and over the second lump. Continue following the ridge as it angles southwest toward Highchair. (Staying high on the ridge crest seemed to work well, as did contouring about 30’ below it on the south side.) Where the ridge ascends steeply in a big jumble of rocks, descend into the heather and tree-filled basin (6,200’). There are several creeks meandering through the undergrowth here. Climb straight up to the ridge, about 800’ above you, and scramble to the summit.

Distance: 6.5 mi RT to Bootjack, 10.3 miles RT to Highchair
Time: 7+ hours
Total Elevation Gain: 5,600’

If you found this information helpful and you’d like to show your appreciation, please consider buying me a beer! Thanks for your support and encouragement.

Furry helper

“If only I knew how to read, this computer setup would be a snap.”

Bentley investigated the new computer as soon as I opened the boxes last week. Unfortunately a lack of opposable thumbs prevented him from being much use during the setup process.

Scooby goes to Portland

You’ve been clamoring for it, so here it is - a picture of the new car all loaded down with toys for a weekend in Hood River.