{"id":480,"date":"2016-07-14T15:49:48","date_gmt":"2016-07-14T15:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/old.cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/?p=480"},"modified":"2020-10-13T20:32:19","modified_gmt":"2020-10-13T20:32:19","slug":"return-to-gold-butte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/2016\/07\/14\/return-to-gold-butte\/","title":{"rendered":"Return to Gold Butte"},"content":{"rendered":"

Type: L-4 ground cabin
\nStatus: Summer rental
\nElevation: 4,618 feet
\nVisited: July 5-7, 2016<\/p>\n

Greg and I first stayed at Gold Butte<\/a> almost three years ago, in September 2013. The weather was bad and we had almost no views, so we hoped that we’d have better luck this time, and we did.<\/p>\n

\"Lookout<\/p>\n

We got a VERY late start leaving Portland on Tuesday. After navigating the rough access road (which has gotten a lot worse in the last three years), we turned onto the spur road for the lookout and unlocked the gate:<\/p>\n

\"Gate\"<\/p>\n

We arrived at the trailhead around 5:00 and we packed up and started hiking. We learned our lesson about overpacking last time. We treated this like a short backpacking trip and tried to fit everything into our backpacking packs. Since there is no water at the top we tried hauling our water jug in a little wheeled luggage cart.<\/p>\n

\"Luggage<\/p>\n

The road was too rocky, though, and we had to ditch the cart. Greg carried it the rest of the way.<\/p>\n

\"Carrying<\/p>\n

\"Hiking<\/p>\n

We made it! Gold Butte is my happy place. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\"Gold<\/p>\n

\"Inside<\/p>\n

We were immediately treated to far better views than we had last time.<\/p>\n

\"Admiring<\/p>\n

Mt. Jefferson:<\/p>\n

\"Mt.<\/p>\n

Mt. Hood:<\/p>\n

\"Mt.<\/p>\n

Three Fingered Jack and the Three Sisters:<\/p>\n

\"Gold<\/p>\n

We sat on the front steps enjoying a pre-dinner appetizer of crackers and good cheese, and of course the view.<\/p>\n

\"Gold<\/p>\n

This golden-mantled ground squirrel REALLY wanted some of our food. You can tell that he’s been fed by past renters, which is no good. Now he’ll be a nuisance to all future renters. A cute little guy, but a nuisance nonetheless.<\/p>\n

\"Ground<\/p>\n

I always enjoy reading the visitor log when we rent lookouts.<\/p>\n

\"Lookout<\/p>\n

The current log started with the 2015 rental season and I was dismayed to read the first few entries. May 13, 2015 from USFS Recreation Manager Josh Weathers: “It appears that someone stayed here at least once this winter based on the condition of the interior. The previous visitor record had also been shot as well as the outhouse. The outhouse will need some extensive repair work done to it.”<\/p>\n

Disgusting. What is wrong with people? Why would you come all the way up here to shoot up an outhouse? The 2013-2014 visitor log, which we wrote it last time we were here, was removed, because someone used it for target practice. Who the hell shoots up a notebook???<\/p>\n

\"Visitor<\/p>\n

The following week, Memorial Day Weekend: “Sand Mountain Society volunteers Don Allen & Bruce Hake here at Gold Butte to do repairs to the outhouse after recent vandalism. The outhouse was blasted by shotgun and 22 rifle ammunition.”<\/p>\n

Thank you Don and Bruce! I also noticed several vandalized spots on the railing where it appeared someone had started trying to saw through it.<\/p>\n

\"Vandalism\"<\/p>\n

Since we had to hike in and didn’t want to haul a lot of food and cooking supplies, we didn’t get too fancy with our dinners. We did it backpacking-style with the good old Jetboil and some delicious Mary Jane dinners<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Jetboil\"<\/p>\n

\"Lookout<\/p>\n

The days are very long this time of year, but eventually we were treated to a nice sunset:<\/p>\n

\"Sunset\"<\/p>\n

\"Mt.<\/p>\n

After sunset we started a fire and played a round of Iota:<\/p>\n

\"Iota\"<\/p>\n

Then went outside to enjoy the stars. WOW!<\/p>\n

\"Stars<\/p>\n

\"Milky<\/p>\n

Morning dawned crisp and clear and beautiful. We had kept the fire going most of the night, but let it go out before sunrise.<\/p>\n

\"Beautiful<\/p>\n

\"Gold<\/p>\n

Looking south:<\/p>\n

\"Southern<\/p>\n

\"Peaks\"<\/p>\n

Looking north:<\/p>\n

\"Gold<\/p>\n

\"Gold<\/p>\n

A view of Battle Ax Mountain, which we would be hiking up that day:<\/p>\n

\"Battle<\/p>\n

Clouds started forming pretty quickly as the morning went along.<\/p>\n

\"Mt.<\/p>\n

By the time we started hiking down to the car I could tell it was going to be a mostly cloudy day.<\/p>\n

\"Clouds\"<\/p>\n

Hiking back to the car:<\/p>\n

\"Road<\/p>\n

\"Road<\/p>\n

We drove over to Elk Lake and did the loop hike up to Battle Ax Mountain and back. It was a very nice hike (read more about it here<\/a>) and fortunately clouds didn’t completely obscure our view (by the way, that’s Gold Butte above Greg’s head in the picture below):<\/p>\n

\"Greg<\/p>\n

Back at the lookout the clouds had started to break up a bit and we lazed about for the rest of the afternoon. Ah, what a life.<\/p>\n

\"Lazy<\/p>\n

Another lovely evening:<\/p>\n

\"Sunset\"<\/p>\n

And another beautiful starry night. You can just make out Mt. Jefferson left of center.<\/p>\n

\"Starry<\/p>\n

Sunrise on Thursday morning:<\/p>\n

\"Gold<\/p>\n

\"Gold<\/p>\n

It was pretty cloudy at first.<\/p>\n

\"Morning<\/p>\n

But the clouds lifted a bit later on.<\/p>\n

\"Mt.<\/p>\n

\"Morning<\/p>\n

The ground squirrel made another appearance in a last-ditch effort to get some food out of us.<\/p>\n

\"Ground<\/p>\n

It was sad to pack up and go, but I feel fortunate that we not only snagged a reservation (very difficult) but had pretty good weather. The day after we left the weather turned overcast and rainy, so we lucked out. After renting six lookouts in Oregon, Gold Butte remains my favorite. Part of it is the scenic setting and part of it is the excellent condition of the cabin. The Sand Mountain Society did an EXCELLENT job in restoring this cabin, and they continue to do an amazing job on upkeep and maintenance. The attention to detail throughout the cabin is not something I’ve encountered at other lookouts.<\/p>\n

\"Happy<\/p>\n

If you go:<\/p>\n