Trekks and Travels: Rooster Rock, Linn County, OR 19 Dec 2014

Rain, rain, rain everywhere but it looked like heading south would offer at least a glimpse of sun. Daylight is limited at this time as well, with sunrise at 7:45 and sunset at 4:30. Rooster Rock is a hike I would never do on a pristine day because it is so short and, for the most part, viewless. But on a winter day, with changing low-angled light, the forest is the star so it makes a good winter hike.
The hike begins right from the road (Hwy 20) 20-ish miles east of Sweet Home. It is a steady climb until the end when it becomes quite steep, but that part is less than a mile. Overall distance is about 7 miles (if you do the Walton Ranch trail too) and 2200 ft gain. The trail was clear at lower elevations but as I neared the top of the ridge, the blow-down from the storm a few weeks ago clogged the trail...but only one major obstacle required major maneuvering. The rest of the time the trail just looked like it had been decorated for Christmas with fir boughs! The forest was jumbled with moss covered vine maples at first, but later became very beautiful...Douglas fir, rhododendrons, salal, Oregon grape, ferns, and higher up madrones and manzanita. When I saw Rooster Rock, I didn't think that could be it because it looked like an anvil, not a rooster! But it was the destination afterall. When I got to it, it loomed massively over the trail and a photo was impossible (see below). Too close and too many trees for a distance shot. The view was beautiful from the rocky knoll. 7 miles, 2200 ft gain. Only a little snow at the top.