In 1999, my exploring club bushwacked from the red cross on the below map in a bee line to bear swamp hill. It was tough. We were on our knees often.
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=1...4&s=50&size=l&u=0&layer=DRG25
Here is the trip report:
Trip Report for Bear Swamp Hill 3/23/99
We were eleven strong and ready to go. When we first headed into the woods the greenbriar was very bad. An omen for the day? We came to a stream flowing into Lake Oswego. There was much beaver activity back there, and deer scrapings too. We had to head East in order to find a place to cross. One of us did get our feet wet from slipping in.
We found a clearing, took our bearings, and headed due East towards the Oswego river. Entered a beautiful cedar swamp with a great amount of pitcher plants. Came out upon the river. It is wider than I thought at this point.
Continued following the cedar swamp and river East for about a half mile. Very peaceful and green back here, easily traveled too.
Came back out on road again quite by accident, had found an old foundation and while standing on it saw the road only 15 yards away! When we came out on the road we found Joe Wszolek, who had arrived late.
Took a short break in the road and set our compass on a straight course for Bear Swamp Hill. The going became extremely thick with greenbriar and mountain laurel. We in the front had to get on our hands and knees several times (you people in back had it easy……ha-ha!)
The problem was the elevation. We were only 60 to 70 feet above sea level and close to the ground water. Things were growing in wild abandon and absolute profusion. We found a cluster of cedar trees that had to be at least 100 years old. I estimate the diameter of one to be 36 to 40 inches. From now on lets bring a measuring tape and keep a better record.
After about an (hour?) of fighting the briars we finally saw the light of day, a small patch of pine uplands. The briar all around us was like a sea of hazy green. I have never seen it so thick.
In about 5 minutes more, we were at the base of 2 hills…..the compass said the left one, we chose the right. Although not Bear Swamp Hill it was almost as high when we reached the top. It is about 100 yards North East of Bear Swamp Hill. I hereby christen it PBX hill. We had some pretty neat views from PBX hill!
We then took a trail we found over to Bear Swamp Hill. Took about 45 seconds to get there. Trumpets were blaring when we reached the top.
We took a break and headed South on the road on the North side of the hill. We came to the first crossroad and decided to hit the woods again. After about 50 yards, we hit the great china wall of sticker bushes. We agreed as a group that enough is enough. We hiked out to the road and happily hiked back to the cars in a steady rain.
Over all, it was a good trip, but not a great one. On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d give it a 6.
As Mike said though, its all part of the exploring experience, you learn something from every trip.
Now I know why they call it Bear Swamp Hill, the swamp below it is a real bear!
