Book Title: Angora Grand Tour

Author: East Wind

Copyright: Sept 2020

Other book titles available on the market:

Portland Rock Climbs

Northwest Oregon Rock

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This eBook contains a small slice of visual information from the Karl Helser collection. Refer to the eBook author’s web pages at Northwest Oregon Rock and Portland Rock Climbs. If you have found this eBook useful, purchase a printed version of our books, which is an indepth analysis to many fine rock climbing sites throughout NW Oregon. The books are available at local outdoor recreation based retail stores, and at our website.

WARNING: Rock climbing contains certain inherent risks that may be dangerous to your health. This guidebook is not a substitute for personal insight, time-learned skills, or lessons taught by climbing instructors. There are no warranties, neither express nor implied, that this eBook contains accurate or reliable information. As the user of this guidebook, you assume full responsibility for your own safety. The publisher cannot guarantee the accuracy of any of the information in this book, including the location of bolts (or other hardware), route names, ratings, descriptions, approach trails, nor any assurance against hazards such as loose or poor quality rock, or the risk of equipment failure.

License statement:

This eBook version, released under a copyright license, is the property of the publisher and may not be sold for commercial or non-commercial purposes. The original source text, designs, and images for this eBook are copyright material from the publisher’s NWOR and PRC books. You may copy and share this eBook in any medium or format, but you cannot make derivatives (remix, transform, or build upon, nor distribute any modified material) or make adaptations (see license). Attain a free secure download of this eBook from the source: portlandrockclimbs.com. Support our eBooks and print publications by making a donation, or purchase one of our printed books.

Introduction

Angora Peak Grand Tour

An Oregon Coast Range scramble adventure of Angora Peak,
Angora Pinnacle, and the Revenge of Angora

This is one of Karl's favorite exploration and adventure areas in the Oregon Coast Range, the Angora Peak Grand Tour. The region around Angora Peak has several unique pinnacles to scramble upon, a variety of awesome rock outcroppings, and stellar coastal views. This portion of the Oregon Coast Range is a heavily forested region with characteristic craggy peaked zones, which encompass a variety of odd summits beginning with the Sugarloaf Peak along the Necanicum River in the northern part of this mini-region. The central part of this range is practically overwhelmed by the scope of the dominant Onion Peak massif, and at the southern end of this area is the elusive Angora Peak group, a fairly well hidden cluster of minor craggy pinnacles and rocky ridge crests.

Below: the Hermit Hut sign.

This particular adventure, the Angora Grand Tour, is located south of Cannon Beach (about 10 miles) at the tiny community of Arch Cape. The hike offers a long forested uphill walk, quality scenic views of the coast region around Oswald West State Park, and views southward to Nehalem and beyond, if it’s not foggy or cloudy.

Note: to see a photographic tour of Karl Helser’s wild adventures, and to experience a bit of the flavor of his style of back country adventuring browse to his web pages at karl-helser.com. The photographic images, and portions of the raw script utilized for this eBook publication were provided through the courtesy of Mr. Helser.

This tour provides the opportunity for you to thrash your way up to tag the summits of East Angora Pinnacle, circumnavigate Little Angora, thrash the forested top of Angora Peak, descend to the Col and scramble up the Revenge of Angora, then catch the road for the return journey. The tour also includes several side jaunts, one excursion to visit the Hermit Hut, and the other to visit a “favorite outcrop”, then finish with a long walk back downhill to your vehicle late in the day, perhaps even at sunset. A very cool tour in a unique area of the northern Oregon Coast Range.

This adventure involves maneuvering around on steep, exposed 2nd and 3rd class terrain (and some minor 4th class terrain). You will be walking on a network of gravel logging roads, older grassy road beds, all blended with a little bit of typical Coast Range cross-country scrambling bush thrashing adventure up short forested ridges getting to each destination. It all makes for a long, yet satisfying endurance outing.

The Angora Peak was named in honor of the Angora Hiking Club, a small clique of hikers who live in this particular region of the northern Oregon Coast.

Below: the summit of East Angora Pinnacle.

Data Summary:

Total round-trip hiking distance is approximately 9.4 miles. The tallest point in this region is Angora Peak. The total elevation gain (3,425’) is based on the U.S. Hwy 101 parking spot (510’ el). Anticipate about 7 hours to complete this entire round trip adventure.

Angora Peak (main peak): GPS UTM 428470E, 5070877N (2,692’)

Revenge of Angora: GPS UTM 428507E, 5070819N (2,689’)

Angora Pinnacle (east pinnacle): GPS UTM 428771E, 5070607N (2,556’)

Little Angora (northernmost): GPS UTM 428344E, 5071287N (2,426’)

Directions and starting point of hike:

Drive west from Portland, Oregon on U.S. Hwy 26, then turn south on U.S. Hwy 101 past Cannon Beach. Proceed south about 10 miles to the tiny community of Arch Cape. Continue south of that community for about 2½ miles. You will pass the Falcon Cove Road on your west side, and about 1/10 mile beyond this is a gated access road on the east side of U.S. Hwy 101. Park here (do not block the gate). This gated entrance (Hwy 101 starting point) point is 2.0 miles north of Short Sands Beach (Oswald West State Park). Elevation is 510' at the starting point gate. Occasionally, you may find a sign posted at the gated entrance saying, “Active logging in area”, and a request to not hike at that time. The area encompassing Angora Peak (and the road hike) is a mixture of Oregon State land and private timber company managed land, so use consideration when visiting this area.

Below: Plenty of hiking.

Season:

Naturally, the season for hiking in the Oregon Coast Range is somewhat limited, not typically due to snow pack, but because of its drenching rains. Yet, this region around Angora Peak is potentially viable year-round for hiking, depending of course, on your level of determination, and whether the quality of adventure you are seeking must be full blazing sunshine, or if you’re willing to endure a little bit of fog or cloudy conditions. Its probably best to avoid scrambling this crazy stuff when its raining or snowing, though. Karl has visited this region, both in summer months and in winter, giving proof that four season hiking here is reasonable.

Below: closeup diagram of the Angora group.

Chapter 1

The Grand Tour

To begin your adventure...from the gated entrance walk east up gravel roads for 1.1 miles to reach a 4-way road junction. The initial several miles are mostly clear cut logged, thus offering views of surrounding area because of lack of timber at this time. From the 4-way junction, take the ENE trending gravel road that travels uphill. As it curves northward, it rounds one forest ridge, then curls northward again on a grassy road grade till you reach a steep rock road cut that offers nice views of the Pacific Ocean (1,600’ el). The road makes a U-turn here to the east side of the wooded ridge, and continues SE for almost ¾ mile till you encounter a minor road junction (2,140’) where a dead-end road cuts west (the Hermit Hut “trail” begins here).

Below: the grassy road near the west viewpoint (1,600’).

Below: the rock point alongside the road offering ocean views (1,600’).

You will find an old wooden sign attached to a tree here pointing left for Angora, and uphill right for Hermit Hut. The Hermit Hut trail is not a real trail, but a forested southeastwardly trending uphill scramble that is used enough by hikers to be semi-apparent these days . The “trail” scramble uphill is about 200’ to reach the old hut, which is on the lee or NE slope of the ridge. A nice view can be attained of the area a few yards from the hut.

From the Hermit Hut, bushwhack descend past the hut NE downhill to the main dirt road. Continue on the main dirt road SE to a pass where the road proceeds to the south side of the next hill (main Angora Peak). Captivating scenic views looking southward toward Nehalem are attained along this portion of road. The road bed is much more of an old grassy tread here (we will visit the “favorite outcrop” on your way back out later). As you continue east on the old road, you will begin to see views of the forested main Angora Peak (highest summit), the Revenge of Angora, which is a stubby subsidiary rock outcrop just downhill of the main wooded summit of Angora Peak, and further to the east is East Angora Pinnacle perched high upon the ridge crest.

Below: a closeup view of East Angora Pinnacle.

Shortly you will reach the east pass at a 3-way road junction. Walk east on the old road grade for perhaps ¼ mile, then cut uphill cross-country on steep open forested slopes aiming for East Angora Pinnacle. Search for a dirty gully on the SSW side (not pretty, but doable) of the pinnacle, and ascend this via minor 3rd and 4th class steps and mossy ledges to the top. There is another minor pinnacle on the immediate west tip of this main pinnacle that has not been ascended to date yet, but requires technical gear to do so (one of Karl's possible future goals). The summit of East Angora Pinnacle is a nice rounded open knoll covered with a low growth of heather, offering terrific views of the entire region. From the summit return scramble downhill to the east pass 3-way road junction.

Below: our group on top of East Angora.

Below: the steep slopes leading up onto East Angora Pinnacle.

Below: a steep ravine on East Angora Pinnacle.

Walk north on the primary old road grade ½ mile till it U-turns and heads back SW looping in close near the north slope of Angora Peak. As the road wanders out toward Little Angora it abruptly ends at a big flat landing in a tangle of Alder tree growth. From the road end, continue cross-country for about ¼ mile, descending slightly initially through blowdown along the crest of the forested ridge, then gaining slight elevation as you reach the base of Little Angora.

Below: Little Angora.

Below: circumnagivation of Little Angora.

The scramble tour entails a circumnavigation of this little pinnacle, a mostly open sloped thrash with some brushy sections. This pinnacle is a technical rock climb, and the Angora Grand Tour leaves that ascent out of its itinerary (see our other eBook titled Little Angora if you plan to make an ascent of it). Once you finish the circumnavigation, return hike along the forested ridge crest southward to the old road grade. A few yards along the old road grade you reach a point directly under the north slope of main Angora Peak. Bust straight uphill in a thick stand of forest, thrashing cross-country upward till you reach Angora Peak. The true summit is totally forested over with no views, but optional views can be attained to the east at a rock scarp if desired (thrashy getting there).

Below: the tricky section getting down from Angora Peak to the Col.

Below: the Revenge (on left) and summit of Angora Peak.

Depart from the forested Angora Peak by walking SE a short distance till you are nearly above another cliff scarp, then walk west a short bit near its top until you can locate a steep 3rd class brushy descent ravine with steps and ledges. This descent, once you are down it, will place you near, and west of, but slightly below the “Col” that separates the Revenge of Angora from this minor cliff scarp on the side of main Angora Peak. Locate a brushy confined “animal crawl” ravine that scrambles steeply uphill to the Col, then scramble along the south base of the Revenge to locate a steep very brushy prominent 3rd class ramp system that accesses the summit of the Revenge of Angora. Be sure to wear long pants! The summit of the Revenge is a long narrow rock crest, lightly moss covered, with captivating scenic views of the entire region, including East Angora Pinnacle. The Revenge of Angora is named for the horrible, stickery scramble route up the west side (long sleeves and long pants are beneficial).

Below: the southwest side ofThe Revenge of Angora (the Col is on the left).

Below: the gnarly brush ravine en route to the Revenge.

Below: nearing the top of the Revenge.

Below: all smiles at the top of The Revenge.

After you have tagged the summit of the Revenge, descend its ramp system, then depart by treading downhill along near the ridge crest southeastward (avoiding other short abrupt cliffs to the south) aiming for the 3-way road junction. From the road junction, walk west along the old road grade to the the next pass where the road switches onto the north side of the hill slopes. At this point, bust off left cross-country, slightly uphill along a minor ridge crest. As you near the top of the crest, angle south onto the “favorite outcrop” viewpoint, a lightly heather and moss covered rock knoll viewpoint with stellar scenic views to the south and west of the Pacific Ocean.

Below: standing atop of the “favorite outcrop”.

Below: the favorite outcrop with views looking south.

Below: along the ridge crest above the “favorite outcrop”.

From my favorite outcrop, hike back uphill to the very knoll top, and continue WNW along the forested ridge crest until you reach the old Hermit Hut, then continue downhill along the ridge crest NW till you reach the road where the Hermit Hut sign is located. And this pretty much sums up the main portion of the adventure.

The remainder of the journey back to your vehicle at the starting point entrance on Hwy 101 is mostly a downhill cruise.

Enjoy the adventure!

Chapter 2

Additional Images:

Below: superb views of the Onion Peak massif.

Below: lots of stunning scenery.

Below: sunset over the ocean.

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