News from Jules | 07.24.2023 | Challenge Accepted
A couple of weeks after we hiked Smith Rock in early May, my adventure buddy texted me a link to the Big Butte Challenge: Eight hikes and eight beers to enjoy throughout Central Oregon between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
“We could totally do this on our own without paying. But seems fun. You in?”
Challenge accepted.
When I came to Central Oregon in March I knew it was for the mountains. Once here, I realized my ego secretly had the ambition that I would climb all of the Central Cascade Mountains while I was here, so I coordinated work, gigs, and income around this goal. Similarly, my heart not-so-secretly longed for “home” and grew attached to the idea that I was settled.
And yet, as one choice led to another, my spirit continued gravitating away from specific goals toward following a different intention: Saying yes to whatever feels right, whether or not it fits a preconceived plan.
Like when my friend texted about the Big Butte Challenge.
My yes was driven by curiosity and exploration. Seven out of the eight hikes and all of the breweries were new to me. After we signed up, one of the outings seemed to naturally fit into my schedule each week and the frequent progress created momentum.
See all the fun photos from my Big Butte adventures on Instagram.
So much so that yesterday I sat on top of Barnes Butte in Prineville, my eighth Big Butte summit in eight weeks. Looking out on the high desert horizon, I was amazed at all of the ground I covered during the past two months living in Bend, plus three months living near Sisters this spring.
It was so much more than just big buttes.
Scanning the 180° of my peripheral vision, from right to left I faintly glimpsed the south side of Mount Hood which I finally summited in May and where I rock climbed during the Fourth of July long weekend. Next, I saw the ragged cliffs of Smith Rock State Park where I rock climbed every other week.
Then, there was the dark silhouette of Black Butte beside the Ranch where I did water aerobics every week, near where I skied at Hoodoo Ski Resort and backpacked the McKenzie River Trail, and close to where I hiked to the head and heart of the Metolius River.
Directly in front of me were the Three Sisters mountains where I backpacked with the Bend Climbing Club and I climbed Middle Sister with the Mazamas Mountaineering Club. In the foreground was Bend, where I hiked four of the Big Buttes. And over to my far left in the distance, I could barely see the obsidian flows where I camped and hiked Paulina Peak.
What was so satisfying about the view wasn’t the number of miles logged, the feet of elevation gained or the hours clocked outdoors, it was the web of relationships to places and people I formed as I crisscrossed Central Oregon.
It was so much more than just climbing mountains.
I remembered connecting with the rough boulder I kissed at the top of Middle Sister, the herd of elk that looked me in the eye as they crossed a road on the Ranch, the soft bark of the massive old-growth trees I hugged along the McKenzie River, the wind blowing past Smith Rock at dusk.
I remembered the immediate sense of community on the Ranch, around town in Sisters and Bend, and within the Bend Climbing Club. The water aerobics instructor giving me rides to the pool when it snowed, the produce stand peddler asking me about my most recent adventure each week, my coworker tracking down local honey from a beekeeper friend, a climbing partner letting me use his guest room for the past six weeks.
And I remembered inspiring conversations.
“It’s mindblowing how it’s all connected, don’t you know,” Ranger Bill said as we looked through binoculars at Paulina Peak, then chatted by the lakeshore about the creation and transformation of the landscape of Central Oregon. So much deeper than what we could see exposed above the surface.
Or on top of Paulina Peak the next day when some ladies offered to take my summit photo, then suggested we hike down together. After three miles and two hours of real talk, we hugged goodbye at the parking lot. “Good luck on your journey! You should definitely explore more of the West before you settle down. Why not try other places too? You’ll always love Oregon.”
Challenge accepted.
This Friday I’m heading back out on the road to see more of the West by first driving and camping along the coastline from Northern California all the way to Whidbey Island in Washington.
While I’m sad to go, I’m more curious to continue saying yes to whatever feels right—whether or not it fits a preconceived plan—and see where inspiration takes me.
After all, the mountains will always be here.
May you let one choice lead to another this week.
Love,
Jules
P.S. If you’re in Central Oregon and need some adventure inspiration, here’s my suggestion for exploring the Big Buttes (and Brews) listed in order of easiest to hardest hikes:
Nothing like some elevation to give you perspective on things!