In few places have volcanoes played such an impressive
role on the landscape of a region. In Central Oregon, Volcanoes
rise up along the crest of what are called the Cascade Mountains
to the west of the Outward Bound basecamp near Redmond, Oregon.
For a hundred miles to the south and for more than that to the north
a series of volcanoes (largely in a straight line) are the predominate
feature. In this region, the peaks (some over 10,000 feet) serve
as a rainshadow - most of the moisture falls on the rainier western
side of the mountains. On the east, higher and drier, the rivers
(such as the Deschutes) run off the mountains and out of their glaciers
and head north towards the Columbia and the ocean hundreds of river
miles away. Along these rivers you may see lava fields, columnar
basalt or welded tuff all because of the action of volcanoes.
The climbing can be world class, such as at Smith
Rock State Park along the Crooked River and the mountains can be
challenging with glacier travel, crevasse awareness, 4th class rock
skills and a solid sense of adventure required. Other peaks in the
area require less technical expertise and more hiking experience,
but most yield incredible views up and down the Cascades, out across
the massive forests of the western slope of the Cascades and out
to the dry highlands and plains of Eastern Oregon.
