Hells Canyon Long Hike - Day 1, April 2015!


From the top of Pittsburg Saddle (4500') looking down towards Pittsburg Landing & the trailhead (with great anticipation I might add!)

Coffee Bean looking ready to hike. Maxie has already explored down the trail

Early shot down the river

For Mocha, this was a long-distance lark. No carrying gear at this point in his short life.



Much of the trail was cut from the side of the mountain. This section was one of a very few that was anywhere close to the river. Most of the time you were looking down from 'on high'.

Up and then back down as you can see in the distance

More trail chiseled from the mountain



From this meadow, the trail climbs up around the mountain eventually to be about 1000' above the historic Kirkwood ranch.

Sections of trail like this always left one with the question of 'just what is ahead there?'


Beautiful shot looking downstream back towards the trailhead

Maxie max'ed out his pleasure meter. He did about 3 miles for every one of ours

Here we've reached one of the many 'high points' on this brutal trail

Ahead is the Kirkwood ranch I believe on that relatively flat area in the distance

The trail as it wends its way across the hill face


Some of the natives came out to greet us. They then asked us to just 'move along'.

One of the very few creeks on this hike where the boys could 'tank up'

This shot and the next show the trail winding across the cliff face




The boys at this point are saying, "Just what was it we were coming to see here?"

Maxie never got tired as such. However after about 3 days, his feet were clearly hurting him, and his wanderings off the trail became much more limited.