As a Father’s Day (Eve) surprise and treat, the family accompanies Dad, schlepping photography gear and water, to OTEC — Oregon Trail Electric Company — Ridge, a recently discovered secret by Kim in her Charlie-walks. What we have dubbed OTEC Ridge rises high above Grandview Cemetery, itself arguably the best in-city vista point of view for the valley, and is accessible via an end-run around the perimeter fence above the mausoleum and a steep hike up an ATV gravel run to a tower. I estimate the hike to be two miles in duration, though other family members challenge that, suggesting instead perhaps half or three-quarter mile. We had never attempted to go beyond the boundary fence before, thinking it was private property. But property of a public utility seems fair game.
We hit the trail sometime between 6:00 and 6:30pm, returning about two or thereabouts hours later.
The announced plan was that we would make the evening hike to suss out the lighting conditions, then return early in the morning to also catch the alternate light of the sunrise. Stay tuned to see if that optimistic goal ever was realized.
