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| Walking in a winter wilderness |
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| Snow-covered Ochocos offer a quiet winter escape |
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 | | SCOTT STAATS/CENTRAL OREGONIAN | | Wildcat Campground under a blanket of winter snow |
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By Scott Staats
In the past few weeks, the mountains of Central Oregon, including the Cascades and the Ochocos, have been receiving tons of snow. This is a good thing, right?
It depends. If you want to see the ground water recharged and the reservoirs filled this year, then yes. If you want to get to the high country to do some recreating, then maybe too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
Snowplow operators have been working overtime to clear some forest roads and sno-parks. The Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests have even advised folks to avoid higher-elevation recreation areas until snowplows can regain control over the white stuff. So, where to go?
I've had a hankering to venture up into the Mill Creek Wilderness Area, so my wife and I decided to head there Sunday morning.
Although disclaimers usually fall at the end of stories or advertisements, I'll put this one right up front. Unless you have four-wheel drive, don't attempt to go much farther than the Steins Pillar Overlook just before the forest boundary.
One suggestion I would have for the Ochoco National Forest is to release a weekly recreation report similar to that of the Deschutes National Forest that tells the recreating public snow levels in the forest, what roads are drivable, etc. After all, recreation is increasing in the Ochocos.
From the east end of Ochoco Reservoir, turn north on the Mill Creek road, which is Forest Road 33. Once the pavement ends, the road is snow and ice covered with a few bare spots. The road is plowed as far as Forest Road 3350, which is about two miles past the Stein's Pillar Overlook (the overlook itself is plowed and offers great views of the pillar, adjacent rock outcrops and the surrounding Mill Creek valley). It's a shame that the great little interpretive sign at the overlook is shot full of holes.
For the more adventurous wishing to continue to Wildcat Campground, it would be advisable to travel in the morning when the road is still frozen. Daytime temperatures are expected to be in the mid-40s for the rest of the week and the road could get slushy if it warms too much. Once all the snow and ice melt from the road, it's best to avoid driving there and causing ruts. Keep an eye on the weather or contact the Ochoco National Forest for conditions (416-6500).
We parked just across the bridge over the West Fork of Mill Creek near the campground entrance. This is about as far as you can get in a four-wheel drive vehicle. On Sunday, about a foot and half of snow covered the ground and the road was packed hard.
We crossed the new footbridge over the East Fork of Mill Creek and walked through the deserted ghostlike campground - the picnic tables covered in a deep layer of snow.
At the north end of the campground, we entered the Mill Creek Wilderness Area and followed two sets of snowshoe tracks into the winter wonderland. Mountain chickadees, Steller's jays, juncos and even an American dipper made an appearance. Tracks of birds and mammals covered the ground. The cold, clear creek disappeared under long natural bridges of snow and ice.
When I looked closely at the snow's surface, I noticed tiny dark specks that appeared to be moving. On warm winter days you can see these little snow fleas jumping about on the snow. They are actually a species of wingless scorpionflies known as springtails. They catapult themselves in random directions using two tail-like springs hooked to their abdomen. They are only 1-2 mm long and live in the soil, leaf litter or in mosses.
It's amazing how these little critters can survive on the snow or at night in freezing temperatures. They actually have an anti-freeze-like protein that allows them to operate in sub-zero environments. But unlike other species with similar proteins, those found in snow fleas break down readily at higher temperatures.
Except for the calming sounds of the gurgling creek and the occasional birdsong, we were surrounded by silence. The air smelled of fir, ponderosa pine and many other things that I couldn't assign a name. Maybe it could simply be called fresh winter wilderness air.
After a morning of exploring, we headed back down the drainage. Perhaps next weekend, we'll head even higher -- if the snowplows have done their job.
If traveling up Mill Creek or any other forest road this winter, be sure to let someone know where you're going and when you expect to be returning. Also make sure your vehicle contains a full tank of gas, extra food, water, warm clothing, flashlight and other emergence gear.
Scott Staats is a freelance outdoors writer. His column can be read every Tuesday in the Central Oregonian. He can be reached at: falcon@crestviewcable.com |
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