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Chloride Ridge West Peak, Oregon, October 2024

October 19, 2024 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Saturday, October 5, I left our home in the Baker Valley to attempt the West Peak of Chloride Ridge. The previous month I had climbed Chloride Ridge East Peak, and I decided then that my best chance to reach the West Peak of Chloride Ridge was from Western Union Basin and Mayflower Meadow, above the North Fork of Rock Creek.

Chloride Ridge West Peak in the center of this view from Chloride Ridge East Peak.
Chloride Ridge West Peak in the center of this view from Chloride Ridge East Peak.

I followed Forest Road 5520 as it climbed beside the North Fork of Rock Creek. It was at times eroded and often steep, requiring high clearance and 4WD Low from my Jeep. The road forked, climbed more steeply, and became rockier. But I was delighted to find it was quite passable high into the basin.

[Read more…] about Chloride Ridge West Peak, Oregon, October 2024

Filed Under: Climbing Tagged With: Chloride Ridge, Elkhorn Mountains, Mayflower Meadow, Oregon, Western Union Basin

Chloride Ridge East Peak, Oregon, September 2024

September 30, 2024 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Friday, September 13, I left our home in the Baker Valley and drove into the Elkhorn Mountains along Rock Creek. I parked at the Killamacue Trailhead, and began my attempt to climb the East Peak of Chloride Ridge. From the east, Chloride Ridge leads south, then turns west above the North Fork of Rock Creek. Chloride Ridge has several little summits. Two of them have at least 300 feet of prominence, qualifying them as peaks in their own right according to those who keep track of such things.

An afternoon view of Chloride Ridge East Peak from Killamacue Lake.
An afternoon view of Chloride Ridge East Peak from Killamacue Lake.

The eastern-most summit of Chloride Ridge (Chloride Ridge East Peak) lies above to the southeast of Killamacue Lake, a reservoir used to provide irrigation water to the Baker Valley. The Killamacue Lake Trail provides access to the lake, and I hoped it would get me close enough to the East Peak for a feasible ascent.

[Read more…] about Chloride Ridge East Peak, Oregon, September 2024

Filed Under: Climbing Tagged With: Chloride Ridge, Elkhorn Mountains, Killamacue Lake, Oregon

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