Bald Butte day hike (East side of Mt Hood)

UPDATE 6/17/11: Please bring the following map with you: http://cascadesingletrack.com/MtHoodNF/Surveyors/img/Dog-River_Surveyors-Ridge_Oak-Ridge_Zig-Zag_Topo_LG.jpg

We will be taking trail 688a from the Smullen Rd trailhead to trail 688, ending at Bald Butte; we will backtrack the way we came.

http://hoodriverlodging.com/files/2011/01/Bald-Butte1-036.jpg

The hike up to Bald Butte offers us large open meadows, a heavily wooded forest, and a ridgetop ramble to a former lookout site with spectacular views of the Hood River Valley. Sounds pretty cool to me. This hike uses two trails; it's a 2.3 mile climb up the Oak Ridge Trail, then 1.8 miles on the Surveyor's Ridge Trail to Bald Butte. Wildflowers should be going strong (hopefully) at this elevation in time for the hike.

Check it out: http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Bald_Butte_Hike

I have not done this hike and am labeling it exploratory. Will be maintaining a pace of 2.5 mph and will take frequent stops to take pics. Please do not sign up if you cannot maintain that pace for the duration of the trip and then some.

You must be in good condition to do this hike - please answer my questions upon RSVPing.

Mileage: 8.2 miles RT
Elevation: 2100 feet gain,
Pace: 2.5 mph
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Driving: 148 miles round trip to Oak Ridge TH
Permits: N/A
$$: $ 15 donation per passenger recommended per the mileage policy
Dogs: Yes, but please let me know if you intend to bring one. Also, pup must plan on being leashed for duration of hike.
Weather: Dunno - will update as we get closer.

Here is the Estimated Plan:
Meet at Gateway: 10:30am
Arrive at TH 12 noon
Hike: 12pm - 4:30pm (with time for breaks)
Back to Gateway by 6-6:30pm

You must bring:

sturdy waterproof boots
10 essentials (includes compass, whistle, water filtration, extra food, extra clothing, something to start fire)
windproof, waterproof jacket and pants
gloves, hat, extra pair of socks
warm layers
lunch and snacks
at least 2 liters of water
Headlamp
Gas money for the drivers

Suggested if you have them:
Map of the area
GPS
Gaiters
Trekking Poles

Camera

Please be prepared for changing SPRING WEATHER conditions, including rain, snow, hail, lightning, thunder, etc! Also note that we may be hiking some of the trail in a few inches of snow, ice, and/or mud. Gaiters and hiking poles are highly recommended as well as waterproof boots. Everyone must bring a whistle. This hike is for strong beginners and experienced hikers. Anyone wearing jeans or a high ratio of cotton clothing will be turned away for safety purposes as cotton kills! (check it out: http://freeoutdoors.c ...)

A FEW NOTES ABOUT THE TRIP AND MY LEADERSHIP STYLE
First off, the waitlist is manual - this means that if a spot opens up, everyone on the wait list will get an email and the person who RSVPs yes first, gets the spot
PLEASE NOTE THAT BY RSVPing, YOU ARE ACCEPTING ALL LIABILITY FOR YOURSELF. Please also note that if you choose not to drive yourself and ride with someone, you ride as passenger at your own risk. I am a volunteer, leading you folks on the trip in terms of navigation and giving you directions to the trailhead but I assume no liability for your safety getting to the trailhead or on the trail.
My leadership style:
I keep a quick pace, usually 2-2.5 mph pace on the uphill, faster on the way down. That being said, you don’t necessarily have to keep up with me. 2 mph hikers seem comfy on my hikes as I stop breaks and photo ops.
I don’t mind if you hike faster than me and want to go ahead but the only thing I ask is that you stop at ALL trail junctions, even the ones that probably aren’t trail junctions but look like them.
My hikes are a nice mix of harder core hiking with an opportunity to be social. If your conversation is keeping you from keeping a relatively moderate pace that is consistent with the group’s, I may ask you to speed up for safety reasons.
Please feel free to ask me any questions you might have. I know what it’s like to be a new hiker and have to learn from scratch. I have a lot of experience and knowledge that I love to share so feel free to drop me an email.