Vinemaple on 4880 Traditional Cache

I was up this way late last Fall and came across a vinemaple tucked away in a clearing. The leaves were a mix of bright red, yellow and orange. I never could capture that mood with my camera. Plan to climb over a few small obstacles.

Road 4880 heads up six miles to Boulder Lake and Little Boulder Lake. Boulder Lake is a short hike from the road. Above the lake is the Boulder Bliss cache which was my very first solo find last summer.

Forest Road 48 stretches from Oregon Hwy 35 near the highway's White River crossing, continuing east to the town of Wamic and beyond to US Hwy 197 at Tygh Valley. At the forest boundary the road name changes to Rock Creek Rd. Up the hill west of Wamic it changes again to Wamic Market Rd where it continues through Wamic to Tygh Valley. The road is a popular short cut from the Mt Hood area to the Rock Creek and Pine Hollow reservoirs. This section of Road 48 is closed to automobile traffic from December 1st to April 1st. Hwy 48 parallels and provides many access points to the old Barlow Road. The highway is paved while the Barlow Road is a rough track.