Black Butte/Metolius fishing/ top of Black Butte

Jennie@ifish · 06-30-2005, 09:42 AM

Had a great time fishing at Black Butte. I'm so terrible at fishing there, though... got skunked-- but I had a great time!

I invited Pete down for Andrew's graduation party and we had a good time fishing the Metolius and Black Butte lake.

He also climbed Black Butte and took my camera, while I took a nap.

Here are the resulting pics for your enjoyment. I always wondered what was at the top of Black Butte!

Pete, at the Lodge Lake

Jennie on the Metolius

Stranger on the Metolius that said he could catch fish in the hole I was fishing. I did not witness his statement to be true. :smile:

Jennie@ifish · 06-30-2005, 09:43 AM

Pete has added captions to the images.

On top of Black Butte--looking south at Black Butte Ranch. (Thanks, Garyk, it is indeed south, not north.)

Looking north up the Metolius River valley with Mt. Jefferson in the distance.

Another view of the Metolius valley, with Green Ridge on the right.

Mountain log cabin chalet, built in 1979 by the YACC (I think that's the Youth Activities Conservation Corps.) and air-lifted to the Butte in 1980.

Jennie@ifish · 06-30-2005, 09:44 AM

Another view of the YACC cabin. I'm ready for a vacation here! Bring water when you come to visit!

Another view of the Black Butte Ranch area.

The third watch tower. I think it was built in the 1930's. Could someone go up and verify for me, please?

The remains of the second watch tower, built in the teens, sitting on the location of the original tower. The original was just a platform on posts - not where I'd want to spend time in a storm.

Jennie@ifish · 06-30-2005, 09:45 AM

The sign at the bottom of the staircase on the watch tower. After coming all the way up, I really wanted to see the view from there, but it was not to be, alas.

See, I really did make it to the top! Somehow, I think that 12 x 12 cubicle is one of the better cubicle jobs on earth.

Thanks for the pics, Pete! Beautiful! See? They DID turn out!
Praise be to my old faithful Nikon!

Jen

I am pleased the pictures came out. I was worried they hadn't. ~Pete

Boat Monkey · 06-30-2005, 09:52 AM

Wow, B E A utiful!

24 on/ 48 off · 06-30-2005, 09:58 AM

Great pics, Jen!

--spud--

Pete · 06-30-2005, 09:59 AM

Thanks for the invitation and the loan of your camera. I took wild flower pictures on the way up Black Butte. When I got to the top, I had the unpleasant realization that I still had the lens cap on. :depressed: I was really taken by the log cabin, built by the YACC in 1979 and helicoptered to the top of the Butte in 1980. I think I could enjoy a week there!

What I found most surprising is that there have been at least 4 fire watch towers on the Butte. The tall one is the latest. The grey one preceded it. The other two are now the pile of timbers.

The image with the dead trees in the foreground and Mt. Jefferson in the upper right is looking north up the Metolius valley.

Now I'll go add captions to the images above.

3riversBob · 06-30-2005, 10:02 AM

Wow! Thanks, Pete! Now I don't have to make that climb. Great photo's and Jennie, I have never had good luck at Black Butte lake either. Fish jumping all around, others catching like crazy, using the same thing as everyone else and a big NADA for Bob.

Bob

shalom · 06-30-2005, 10:04 AM

Great Pictures . It seemed that i was there . Wow , good job on taking the pictures .

reeldick · 06-30-2005, 10:20 AM

Glad you had a good time. Isn't Black Butte just a beautiful place? I was there a couple of weeks ago for four days of golf.

dakota2961 · 06-30-2005, 10:22 AM

That's what fishing is all about!! Out in nature and enjoying everything it has to offer. Who cares if you catch fish if you can make a memory like that. Great pictures.

Thanks,

garyk · 06-30-2005, 11:54 AM

Regarding that fourth pic "looking north at Black Butte Ranch". We should be grateful that Pete found his way home to share these pics since the direction in the pic is actually due south.

I guess that's why fishing rivers is good...it's all either upstream or down. Absolutely no sense of direction needed.

SCR Steelheader · 06-30-2005, 11:56 AM

The next time you go jen, try the red area i colored, i absoloutly sloughtered the browns using a nice big olive green or black streamer about 3 inches long. there are some big browns in that lake. really nice pics, looks like you had a fun time.

BuKuBass · 06-30-2005, 12:02 PM

Actually the ranch lies more to the SW. See?

Pete · 06-30-2005, 12:23 PM

Uh, GaryK, I was standing on my head, looking at a mirror reflected through a prismatic periscope. Of course it's North! :grin:

A big surprise to me was how poor the map I used is. I'd heard people say the trail is between 1.5 and 2 miles. I normally walk a little faster than 3 miles an hour, but I'm willing to concede that I'm slower on a rough uphill trail. However, it took me over an hour to get up. So I timed myself going down. I did long strides and moved just short of a jog all the way down and it still took 45 minutes. So, while I'd encourage anyone interested in making the hike, plan on at least 2 hours total hiking time, figure the distance at closer to 3 miles and bring water.

garyk · 06-30-2005, 10:00 PM

I haven't done this personally, but for folks wanting a bigger workout - and not paying the trailhead fee - there's a rough trail that starts right there at the highway by BBR.

As you were hiking down, you might have noticed a rough trail heading straight down the slope - I think that's it but again I haven't done it - but have been meaning to.

From the highway to the summit...pack some (no a lot) of water.