Millertown Road to Mount Vernon Winery

Thursday, Sept 29, 2016

DIFFICULTY:   Easy, but for some climbs - much of the hike is uphill.

ELEVATION GAIN:  About 400 feet.  In several steep climbs on pavement.

HIKE DISTANCE:  Nearly 4 miles

GENERAL LOCATION: City of  Auburn.  Off Wise Road near Ophir Road

DESCRIPTION:  This is a very pleasant walk up a canyon formed by North Creek - a feeder to Auburn Ravine.  It is up a narrow paved road through a delightful rural neighborhood.  Much of the road is right next to the creek.  This is a favorite route of the Lincoln Hills Cyclists.  We start near the intersection with Wise Road, and reach the top intersection with Mount Vernon Road.  From there it is a short distance to the Mount Vernon Winery, where we can have our picnic lunch and enjoy Mount Vernon wine.  

For our use of the winery facilities, we will be expected to have some participation in wine tasting and/or bottle purchase.  Of course, not everyone is required to taste, but you are encouraged to enjoy some wine. The $9 tasting fee is refunded if you buy any bottles. Some may want to buy a bottle, and enjoy it with bread and cheese that you bring for lunch.  In fact, to alleviate bottlenecks at tasting, it might be wise to consider planning on buying bottles to share at our lunch. For a car of 5, a $30 bottle of wine is $4 each. Again, to side-step bottlenecks, it would be good to bring cash and avoid credit card transactions.

This is a very short, different hiking experience.

TRAVEL TIME/DISTANCE: About 30 minutes. Distance is about 16 miles. This is a $3 driver donation. Please have the correct bills.  This is a one-way hike, so that we will arrange for driver-shuttling.  There is no parking available where the hike starts,  so we will park the cars at Mount Vernon Winery.  This means that hikers do not need to carry their lunch - it can be retrieved from the cars.

HIKE LEADER/SWEEP:  Dave Wood/Monique Wood

SPECIAL NOTES:

     FACILITIES AVAILABLE:  Bathrooms at the winery.

     PREPARATIONS FOR HIKE:           

1. Bring a copy of your ID (driver's license), Health Card, and an emergency contact name and phone number with you when you hike.


2. If you have any health issues, please consider your condition before hiking.If you have any health issues, please consider your condition before hiking.


3. This is a hike for comfortable walking shoes.  The entire hike is on pavement.


4. Bring water, lunch (the winery provides no food), and wine money.

     RISKS:  Possible automobile traffic, especially on Mount Vernon Road.

QUESTIONS: Dave/Monique Wood 408-7562

MEETING TIME: 9:15 in the Orchard Creek Parking lot - leaving time is 9:30.

Some  photos