SEVEN SUMMITS OF BULL MOUNTAIN

Seven summits mean one thing to mountain climbers:

They’ve gone all the way and can’t get much higher.

The rest of us can only dream of what it takes to climb and climb and climb again.

But what if you have a mountain near by?

How about a hill?

Bull Mountain and Mt. Everest are not the same, but don’t tell me.

I see the same mountain, more or less. One is just 28,300 feet taller than the other.

Other than that, same thing.

The original Seven Summits takes climbers to the seven tallest mountains in the world.

It seems like a lifetime dream for those guys.

Who are ‘those guys?’

They are the ‘We climb mountains because they’re there’ guys.’

Except their mountains are over there, just a little further, keep going, almost there, kind of over there.

I put them with ‘Runs a marathon a week for a year’ people.

Are they kooks, nuts, crazies? Or just extreme athletes to admire from afar?

I’ve climbed one mountain (4800 ft), and run one marathon (Seaside in 3:32.)

It’s enough, but something about it lingers forever.

Mt. Hood taunts me to the east.

Race For The Face

Twenty years ago this was the team.

Four adults and eight middle schoolers in two van for two days.

I dodged it for years and at forty-nine finally gave in.

For the honor of it all they gave me the last relay before the finish added on to the other two legs of the relay I ran.

They were all rested and showered; I had just finished and felt finished, ready to pass out in Seaside.

Twenty years later this is the face I aspire to on the Seven Summits of Bull Mountain.

My thought is if you can push yourself to a reachable limit then you’ve got something.

Baby boomers need this sort of reminder, a fitness reminder that you can do more than you think.

Having a shot of pure exhaustion and defeat also helps.

If you can’t find one, help yourself.

My Seven Summits aren’t death defying feats of unbelievable acts of physical endurance.

Watching 14 Peaks changed my notions of summit.

Fearless Nepali mountaineer Nimsdai Purja embarks on a seemingly impossible quest to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in seven months.

The previous record was seven years.

Up To High Tor

The map of Bull Mountain shows it surrounded by Hwy 99 on the east, Beef Bend Road on the south, Roy Rogers Road on the west, and McDonald on the north.

Is High Tor Road the highest point on Bull Mountain?

If not, it should be.

Peakbagger.com measures the summit at 710 ft.

I like the sound of bagging a peak, of bagging Bull Mountain.

The Seven Summits Of Bull Mountain

1. Bull Mountain Road East

You don’t capture a red sweaty face on a relaxing stroll to stretch your legs.

Suit up in a dry-fit t-shirt under a zippered vest under a zippered hoodie under a raincoat if it looks wet outside.

Layer up at the beginning, unzipping each layer as you warm up, heat up. At the end you’ll be carrying it all under your arm.

Start at High Tor and find your way down to Bull Mountain Road and Hwy 99.

You’ll know you’re there when you see the big Shell station and a weed store.

By now you’ve been walking half an hour or more.

Check your clock and stress march your way back to High Tor. Push up hill as hard as you can, but no running.

If you can hold your pace you’ll notice your body adapting to the load by working more efficiently.

Set a quick pace and feel your body lean into each step. Every stride is one small squat, but also a giant leap toward fitness motivation.

Record your time, then when you’re ready for the next ascent, time the walk down the same way you’ll come up and beat it.

You’ll have walking room most of the way on the left side of the road.

2. Bull Mountain Road West

This route to the top is longer with sharp curves.

Quicken your pace for red face.

3. Benchview North

This one is steep with false summits you never get used to.

4. 135th North

When you need more challenge, this is it, but be careful to stay on course.

5. Ascension North

Going a little further out, take a right on Fern off 135th, then a left up Ascension.

It’s got a nice steep curve.

6. 150th South

Straight up, straight down.

Watch for safe space.

7. Peachtree South

Has a nice sound, doesn’t it?

Peachtree. Peach tree.

Out of every route up Bull Mountain to High Tor, this is the biggest test.

It’s got curves, false summits, and the steepest beginning of them all.

Holding a pace up this grinder?

Start modestly.

Planning on climbing your local hill?

Start with the right shoes.

If you get into pushing hard up hills, your feet bend in different places.

Stop if your foot starts aching in new places.

Otherwise, plot your courses.

Now is a good time.