3/11/2010

Today I'am driving up Forrest-Creek Rd Looking at Mt Isabelle Straight a Head. I'am only a Few Miles from the Church here. The Weather Like most everyday is Kind of Crummy. Agine. Cold, Cloudy, Windy, Storm comming in to the Area. Basicly the Samething as My last Roxy-Ann Hike. But Here I'am going to give it a Shot today.

I have driven about 5 Miles now. And Have Reached the Turn off Road to go up to Isabelle. Last time I was Here We could not see the Mountain from here. I will be Turning off Here to the Left and Driving Through Johnny Blacks Propertie for a short distance. We will beable to see this Spot from the Mountain later on in the Day.
OK I have driven the very Narrow One lane road to The New Parking area. I discovered the Old Parking area is now NOT accessible by Car anymore. So We will have to walk about a quarter Mile just to get to the Look-out-Road that will take Us to the Top of the Mountain. Here we have a Nice Western View of the Mountain. Johnny Blacks House down below is now hidden by the Right side of the Mountain. Lets get started walking to the Trail-Head.

Here is the Original Parking-Lot. I dont know why they Gated this area off back there. The Road that goes to the Right is just a logging road built sometime in the 1980's It doesn't go very far. The Tiny-Little-Road that goes up the Hill is the old Jeep road that will take Us to the Top.. My Mother who Grew up at the End of Forrest-Creek Road had walked that old Look-Out-Road many times when she was a little Girl. I dont think it has Changed much since then.

That Little white sign You see there at the bottom of the Road is someones Target they have set up there. Well Lets get started on this Hike.
I Start up the Narrow, Steep, Somewhat Washed-out Jeep Road. It will be like this all the Way to the Top. Sometimes not so bad. Sometimes Really Rocky and Rugged. It will take a little while to get out of the Trees onto the open Hill side.
Looking back down the Hill Now. And then agine up the Trail ahead. I hope the Camara will catch just how steep this little Trail/Road is.

Continuing up the Road. It is very Cold. You Can see a bit of Snow there along The way. Once we get out in the Open Ground the Snow had been melted by the Sunshine. The Road is NOT Slick. Or Frozzen at all. It very easy going but Steep.
In This Picture I look like I just Saw BigFoot or a Grizzly-Bear.? I have NOT. I came across NO Problems like that. I know it was very Cold. My fingers were NOT working Right. I Guess I must have taken this Picture before I was Ready for it.
These Next 5 Pictures are of My SLOW climb up the Steep-Jeep-Road. And I DO Mean SLOW.. I would have had Trouble Racing a Snail up this Road. Its Steep. But It Felt really good.

I have gotten High enough on the Mountain. Just starting to get out of the Trees. We Would have some Spectacular Views. But its cloudy. And a Storm is on the Way in. This is My first View of Mt McLouglin Across the Valley. That Should be about 45 Miles to the East of My Location. Roxy-Ann is the Small round looking Peak Just infront of McLoughlin. Sorry. The Top of McLoughlin is in the clouds. Lets Zoom in on Them..

What is this Horrible Looking thing??? That is Me. This Kind of thing happens to Me alot. Took My glove off. Holding it with My Teeth. Fooling around with the Camara When suddently FLASH right in My Face. It happens.
Having Climbed a litte higher. I got another good View of McLouglin with Roxy-Ann infront of it. To the Right of McLoughlin is Pelican-Butte. That is on the North side of Klamath-Lake. I have been to the Top of it a few times with My Motor-Cycle.

Looking ahead I see the Place that I had Made My Goal for the Day. The Trail/Road has been going up the East side of the Mountain. It now takes a Sharp switch-Back Turn to the Left and will begine going up the South-Side for awhile. and then switching back to the other side of the Mountain. My Goal was to make it to this First switch back Point. I have. I'am happy. Also I got a good opportunity for some Pictures of Johnny Black's House and Propertie.

Looking back down the Road/Trail I just came up. We see straight head looking South is Tallowbox Mt. One of My Favorite Places to go. I would get Rained out in My Plans to Attempt the Summit there the Next Day. Lets Zoom in and take a Closer Look at it.

Looking down into the Forrest-Creek Valley. We see The Johnny Black Propertie. That is the Cut off road that brought us Up here. Not sure just how far away that is. At least a Mile as the Crow-Flys. More like 2 Miles driving wise. Even with all the Clouds and the Pending Storm. Its a very Beautifull day up here. Thanks to The LORD for Making this Possible for me today.
Well I got just 50 feet to go and then I Reach the very sharp Left hand corner that will begine the First Switch-Back. And If I continue on Up the Trail I will Now be walking up the South side of Isabelle. That will give me a Much diffrent view of the South into Northern California. I stoped here at the Switch back. Level Ground for just a few Minutes. Took a Break. Ate a few Breakfast Bars. Had some Water. I decided to continue on just a Few 100 Feet more. I wanted to very Much. But there was a Storm comming in. And I did NOT want to get Traped up here in the Mountains.

Ok I have walked a few 100 feet. Am now on the South side of the Mountain. Around that Next Corner will start the Long Steep Trek up the West side. It will be about as long as the the Trek I just spent the last hour doing. There will be one last switch back very Near the Top. But Not going to worry about any of that today. This is as Far as I will be going. Lets take a look around here before I start back down the hill.
Looking up the Hill here. That is NOT the Top of the Mountain. In the Next Picture I will turn just slightly to the Right to see the Top of Isabelle. It doesn't look very far away. but It is.

Now looking down the Hill. My Car is Parked down there just out of sight from here. If I was just a little Higher on the Mountain I could see it.. Tallowbox is just to the left of the Picture And Grayback is way back there. Not Clear in the Picture because of the Storm way over there.
As I start back down the Road. Reluctently. We see Forrest-Road way down there agine.. Allso We get a shot at Mt McLouglin to the Left. & Pelican-Butte to the Right.

My Church is Located somewhere over that ridge. In that Valley You see beyond is the Town of Ruch. Dutchmans-Peak is Hidden in Clouds.
Starting back down the Trail. One last Look at Tallowbox & Grayback. Grayback was getting Snowed on Earlyer. Now its Clear. Its kind of Hard to Tell sometimes about a Impending Storm. This one Accually would not start for Many more Hours. I Could have whent to the Top and back in time. But You know. better Safe then sorry.
My New Walking/Hiking shoes. They sure are Compfortable. Very Nice. And My Walking Sticks. I didnt Know how Important they where. I had never used them before. Untill I whent on a few Hikes with JR from Church in the last two Months. They Really Help alot.
One last Picture on the way down. I'am intrigued by this group of Oak trees.. The way they grow alltogather like that.? I noticed the same thing up on Roxy-Ann as well. Interesting.
Ok. I have left The Mountain and have driven way down Forrest-Creek-Road.. I'am on my Way Home now. These last two Pictures are of The-School-House.. My Mother Attended School there in the Late 1930's and into the 1940's She attended High School in J'ville. Its amazing its still there. Now someones Residence I Guess. It has not changed for Years & Years. Time to go Home Now. Will Return sometime and try the Summit of Isabelle agine...

Go to 3/12/2010