Mt Bachelor Climb

Rhonda was teaching a seminar in Bend, OR this past Monday, and she asked if I could accompany her on the long drive across the barren eastern OR landscape. Actually there is beauty in high desert country. But really Oregon, 55mph! It made for a long 6 hour drive.
Rhonda and I met her friend and co-instructor, Lisa, earlier on Sunday and we rented stand up paddle boards for an hour of adventure through Bend on the Deschutes River. Then it was off to explore eateries, pubs, and shopping in the old Mill District.

The next morning while Rhonda and Lisa were training local PE teachers, I drove up to Mt Bachelor. It was  a gorgeous blue bird day. The only cloud in the sky hovered on top of the mountain. I suspected it would be a little windy.

I parked at the main lodge Mountain Gateway parking lot, 6300', at 8am. Only one MTB rider was there in the parking lot. This was not the route or starting point I read about in several climbing guides. The Sunrise Lodge area was blocked off with many NO PARKING signs. So, I just started straight up the mountain, following the fall line and terrain associated with the Pine Martin Express chair lift. 

I picked my way up through the slopes, occasionally finding a trail along the frisbee golf course

Soon I was at the top of the ski Pine Martin Express lift at 7,775'

Then I simply picked my way up through the lava. There were some maintenance cat trails for a few hundred feet.

Eventually I found snow and wished I brought an ice axe. The wind was picking up and there were several rock falls from the ridge above, so I opted to stick to the rocks. 

For a few hundred feet there was no discernible route

I found an old exposed power cable to follow which led me to a saddle where I found the route of others gone before. 

The last 300 feet were almost straight up. The summit crater was covered in a cloud layer, but it was breaking up giving me intermediate vistas. 

The wind was really howling now. I was glad I brought extra layers and a hat. I wished I brought glacier glasses or even goggles to keep the flying pumice out of my eyes. The ski resort was clocking 38mph winds at the top of the lift. These gust were much higher. 

I spent 20 minutes on the top exploring. There was even a cat track not far down on the Sunrise side of the summit. Anyone can climb on a road. 

During a brief clearing I could see Broken Top off to the right and the Sisters, still covered in clouds, off to the left. 

Looking off to the east towards Bend.

On the summit, 9,065'

The summit registry.

A panorama view from on top.

Late on Sunday, I was nominated to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by Greg Wooten. I had 24 hours to accomplish it or pay up. I had to improvise. I had no bucket but our motel room from the night before had an ice bucket with a liner bag. I decided to use the ice bucket liner bag and go for it on the summit.
It was just too cold and windy to dump ice water on my head at 9,000'. So I filled my water bottles with snow on the way back down.

Back at the car, I set up my iPhone for selfie video and mixed my ice bucket makings together making a slush in the bag.

and here is my challenge!
Jon's Ice Bucket Challenge

For a map and details of the climb:  Mt Bachelor Climb