The logical place was in the Anthony Lakes area of the Elkhorn Mountains of northeast Oregon. I had been on a couple of the peaks separately, but never more than one on any one day. I think the very first year I did what was to become The Four Summits was in 2007. I figured I could climb Gunsight Mountain, hike the ridge to Angell Peak, along the ridge to Lees Peak, then drop down to Hoffer Basin, climb up the ski run known as Avalanche to the ridge, pick-up the trail and follow it to the summit of Lakes Lookout.
In October, 2007 I attempted the four summits, hiking with Maia the dog. She was perfectly okay up Gunsight, but then climbing up the ramp to Angell, she would walk in front of me, then lie down, right in my way. She did this numerous times, so after we topped the second peak, we called it a day and headed back to the vehicle.
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| Angell Peak, Gunsight Mountain, Lees Peak and Lakes Lookout from Bear Butte |
A month later I soloed the four summits, as planned. There was a trace of snow, but no other hinderances. Gunsight. Angell Peak. Lees Peak. Lakes Lookout. Like clockwork, I completed the four summits in six and a half hours. There was 1,002 meters of elevation gain over the 10.7 kilometers. Not bad. I did the four summits once a year, usually in the autumn, every year since. Only once, in 2012, has anybody gone with me. Not sure if it was inexperience, or the unknown, but in 2012 my daughter decided to go with me. She seemed to enjoy it.
This year the notion entered my mind that there were other summits that could be done in groups of four. 17.9 kilometers and 1501 meters of elevation and eight and a half hours later I had completed the four summits in the southwest Wallowa Mountains.
I left the trailhead at Buck Creek and was on the summit of Burger Butte within two hours. The weather was nice, a typical early fall day, crisp but sunny. I wandered down and over to Sand Pass, then up the trail to Mule Peak, where Riley was staffing the lookout. About a half hour later I was on the summit of Granite Butte. Then down to Burger Meadow, up to Burger Pass and over and up to China Cap. From China Cap it was all downhill back to the vehicle.
Now I'm contemplating other Four Summits. What could it be? Where will it be? If past Four Summit trips are any indication, they will invariably be solo trips. Time to get hiking.
Carpe Hikem. Seize the hike!
