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| Upper Lee Canyon Wash |
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| Pallida Road (parallel to wash) |
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| South Sister from Lee Meadows |
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| Primping for Onlookers |
For this point to point hike, the fine nine took three cars up to Sawmill Trailhead, left one car there, and drove all nine hikers up to Lower Bristlecone Trailhead. When we arrived at the trailhead, a man was grooming his horse in the parking lot. It was such a beautiful horse that we all just watched in awe! What a sight! We saddled our packs and started down through the pine grove toward Lee Meadows. There was a carpet of yellow flowers on the hillside with South Sister rising in the back ground. And, on the edge of the meadow, there was a well-placed seesaw! Rita and Tom couldn't resist a little playground fun! We continued down through the grassy meadow and came across five wild horses munching on the greenery. They were happy and didn't try to beg us for food.
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| Gentle Hill down to Meadows |
We hiked down through the lower meadow and on across Lee Canyon Road. Just past the traffic circle, we found a decent place to drop into the Lee Canyon Wash.
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| We're really just big kids! |
In 2014 or 15, a huge flood washed down this canyon and on out to SR 95 where the NDOT spent the following months moving dirt around.
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| Lee Peak from Lee Meadows |
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| Interesting Stuff in Lee Meadows |
As a result, the Lee Canyon Wash was cleared of a lot of debris. Now, the wash is a nice wide flattish gravel wash that is used as a thoroughfare for those horses we saw at the meadows. Since this hike was this club's maiden voyage for this route, we had a plan to take the wash as much as possible with a side track on Pallida Road to avoid a couple of overlying trees. Pallida Road is almost invisible to the eye but, it is there, flowing easily down through the flat pine glade. During our hike through this wash section, we came upon an old stove, an old bridge trestle, a large tree with a sign on it that has long since been obliterated and private property signs that indicated no trespassing was allowed too far to the right side of the wash.
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| Dropping into Lee Wash near Pay Phone Trailhead |
There was only one or two places where the required out and in of the wash was a bit steep and slippery. There was an option of stooping low through the little round culverts.
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| Stewart enjoys the Hike |
Pallida Road seemed like it might have been the previous Lee canyon dirt road since it ran parallel to the wash for much of the way down to the Deer Creek Road crossing.
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| Interesting Stuff in Lee Wash |
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| Shade Break on Pallida Road |
The culvert that ran under Deer Creek Road at the Lee Canyon Road junction is much larger than the earlier little round ones. Most of us decided to bend through the culvert since this seemed like the easiest option. On the other side, we quickly reached the rock wall on the right side where we arrive on the route of one of our other hikes. We took our break and photo here on some large logs. Afterwards, we continued down the wash that we were somewhat more familiar with. It was really weird that we came upon a make-shift grill and a blanket covered stash of packaged chicken and whatnot. Now, who would just leave perfectly good food out in the forest to let rot! (Must schedule a hike soon to pick up trash.)
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| Back in the Wash |
We also passed the double tree that grew right around a log that fell in the middle of their fork. It is an interesting anomaly.
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| Plenty of Shade in Upper Wash |
As we approached Champion Road, we saw campers in the campsite on the right side of the wash. Then we watched as two different cars passed us on their way up to Lee Canyon Road.
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| Culvert under Deer Creek Road |
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| Fine Nine at Deer Creek Road / Wash Intersection |
We let the dust settle then followed behind the cars to the left hiking up the hill and across Lee Canyon Road. Today was the first time the club had done this hike and it was very enjoyable. Great group of club members! Fun day!
Stats: 4.3 miles; +81' gain; -974' loss; 2.75 hours (not counting the car shuttling)
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| Following Wash down to Champion Road Crossing |
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| Climbing Champion Road to Sawmill |
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| The Lower Trailhead (Sawmill) |
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