Sphinx Trail Work and Mount Jefferson

Date of Hike: 9/11/10

Caps Ridge Trail: 2.1 miles
The Cornice / Gulfside Trail: 1.0 miles
Sphinx Trail: .5 miles
Gulfside / Jefferson Loop Trail: .9 miles
Caps Ridge Trail: 2.5 miles
Total Miles: 7.0 (3,400 elevation gain)

Trip Report:
- Saturday's forecast was looking great so I decided to head back to the Sphinx Trail to do some trail work in the morning then head to Mount Jefferson to catch the flags on the 48 (tribute to 9/11) before heading to Camp Dodge for the AMC volunteer BBQ!
- On trail at 7:30am, Sphinx Trail at 9:00am, trail work until 12:00pm, Jefferson summit at 12:45pm, finished at 2:15pm.  Weather was in the 50's and 60's, 25mph wind gusts, mostly clear skies with great views.
- My main goal for the trail work was to brush back some more overgrown parts of the trail and to fix a rock bar drainage so the water could easily run off the trail.
- The first two hours were spent clipping back krummholz and fern branches to open up the trail so hikers traveling on the trail after rain or early in the morning would no longer be annoyed of getting soaked from the overgrowth. (Click here and Click here for before and after picture)
- The last hour I spent repairing a rock bar drainage.  This was dirty and much tougher than I thought it would be.  I had to dig out two big rocks that where originally the side walls of the drainage that were pretty heavy and buried on top of one another.  Once I was able to dig them up and move them into place the rest of the work was much easier.  (Click here for before and after picture)
- Once done with the trail work I head up to Mount Jefferson to take pictures of the flag flying on the summit, eat lunch, and enjoy the great views.
- The hike back down the Caps Ridge went pretty quickly and then I was off to Camp Dodge to stuff my face with awesome food and hang out with a bunch of other people who do the adopt a trail program as well!

Pictures: Click here for all Pictures

 
Glacier-Melt Potholes on the Caps Ridge Trail
Flags on the 48
Ridge of the Caps and Mount Jefferson

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