KINGS MOUNTAIN: Fun in the Snow! (Tillamook Oregon, USA)

Kings Mountain is located in Tillamook Oregon, USA. The trailhead is just off of Route 6/Tillamook Hwy... so coming in from Portland take 26, turn left heading towards Tillamook (Route 6) and travel about 50 miles until you come to the trailhead parking lot. Arrive very early or very late if you want a parking spot! Also do not leave any valuables in your vehicle as break ins do occur throughout the Tillamook Forest. Not sure why but there seems to be a lot of roaming thievery in this part of Oregon. The only place where I have personally had issues with my car was over in the Elk Creek Campground. But that is a more secluded area as well.

Photos and videos taken from 4 or 5 different trips on and between February 25th, and March 31st of 2018. This is one of my favorite hikes... particularly in the Summer. First time I ever hiked Kings Peak was with a couple of friends and then the next time was with a friend from OHSU - wishing her all the best as she left the area for career reasons. That trip was what sold me on the Arc'Teryx Atom Hoody!!! Kept me warm... but that Hike also taught me a valuable lesson: I was no longer a young buck and I wasn't going to be just running up that mountain and then right back down. Especially not in the blizzard like conditions that greeted us up top! That is the 4th photo in the clip and the thumbnail... snow was blowing sideways and it was oh so cold up top! As always - be prepared for the worst as chance favors the prepared mind!

The photos with the heavy, heavy snow are from a hiking trip with two other of my friends. Great hike that was! And that snow... was deep! But a beautiful sunny day topside made it all worth it.

The two videos and the photos with the wet snow were from a solo trip as were the photos with the bright Green jacket. The Green Jacket photos were from a hike where I found the deepest snow - which was almost covering the summit register of Kings Mountain. Be sure to sign the log book when you get to the top!

This is a hike known for the elevation climb... and is rated as difficult. 2500 feet over the course of the 2.5 miles to the top! But you will find it well worth the effort. And the loop - the route from Kings to Elk Mt, down to Elk Creek Campground and then back over to the Kings Mt trailhead - is a really fun day hike. Leave early or you will be coming down in darkness!

"Be happy while you are living, for you are a long time dead." - Scottish Proverb.
Stay healthy, be strong and get out there into the real! ~ S.