A Scenic Hike with a Side of 'Where's My Stuff?'

Michelle Eidam
Aug 27, 2024
3 min read

A panoramic view from the summit of Tam-A-Lau. Deep red canyon walls frame a vibrant green river snaking through the landscape. A peninsula covered in golden grasses and sagebrush rises in the middle, creating a natural fortress. — Have you ever seen anything like this? The view from the top of Tam-A-Lau was just stunning!

Chasing the Elusive Butte

Sometimes, the universe throws you a curveball, and instead of striking out, you hit a home run. That's exactly what happened when Ty and I set out to conquer Tam-A-Lau, the elusive final butte in our "Big Butte Challenge." This place was so under-the-radar, even seasoned hikers gave us blank stares when we mentioned it. But hey, the internet said it existed, so we trusted the digital gods (aka AllTrails) and hit the road.

A section of a hiking trail consisting of steep wooden steps built into the hillside. — Even the trails are photogenic here.

Surprise Canyon Paradise

Armed with hiking boots, cheeseburger burritos (the fuel of champions), and a healthy dose of skepticism, we cruised north of Bend, fully expecting a snooze-fest of farmland views. Then, the road took a dramatic dip, and WHAM! We were staring down into a hidden paradise – a stunning canyon carved by the Deschutes and Crooked Rivers, teeming with boats, campers, and good vibes. We got stuck behind a slow-moving trailer, but honestly, who cares when you're surrounded by that kind of scenery?

A panoramic view of a deep canyon with steep red rock walls. A bright green river winds through the canyon floor. A narrow road snakes down from the top of the canyon, following the river's path. Rocks, dried grasses, trees, and sagebrush dot the landscape. — From farmland to fairytale. This hidden canyon is Oregon's best-kept secret.

Summit of Speechlessness

The hike itself was a cakewalk, a mere 700 feet of elevation gain. But the summit? Holy cow! Imagine this: deep, red-rock canyon walls, a ribbon of shockingly green water snaking through it, and a peninsula, dotted with golden grasses and soft green sage, rising up like a natural fortress. It was a scene straight out of a fantasy novel, and we were standing right in the middle of it. We were speechless.

A woman hiking on a trail surrounded by dried grasses. A steep, rocky slope with green trees rises in the background. The sky is blue with white fluffy clouds. — Don't mind me, just trying to keep my feet on this trail. It's a long slide to the base!

Lunch with a View (and a Dash of Marital Stress)

Of course, we couldn't resist exploring the plateau, adding a few extra miles to our adventure. I found us the perfect lunch spot – close enough to the edge to give my ever-so-protective husband a mild heart attack. But really, if you don’t cause your spouse a little stress, are you even married?

A view from the Tam-A-Lau plateau looking down into a deep canyon. A bright green river winds through the canyon floor, with steep, sharp cliffs rising on the opposite side. — Just can't get enough of this view!

The Vanishing Bandana: A Mystery for the Ages

As we wandered, the landscape kept surprising us. But then, WE started adding to the surprises. Ty reached for his trusty bandana - the one that's seen more miles than our hiking boots - and ruh roh. It had vanished into the sagebrush abyss. Did we launch a full-scale search and rescue mission? Nah, we're not that dramatic. But we did spend a few minutes scanning the trail, hoping it hadn't decided to elope with a tumbleweed. No luck. Guess Ty's eyes are in for a salty surprise every time a breeze picks up.

A panoramic landscape photo from the Tam-A-Lau plateau. Dried grasses and sagebrush cover the foreground, with patches of vivid green trees adding color. In the distance, the snow-capped Cascade mountains are partially obscured by heavy gray clouds. — Moody skies, vibrant life. Tam-A-Lau's got it all

Phone-tastrophe Averted (Barely)

Undeterred, we pressed on. Ty spotted something photo-worthy, and I seized the opportunity for a quick "nature break." Reunited on the trail, we continued to soak in the scenery. Snow-capped peaks, a winding road hundreds of feet below that looked like a terrifyingly long snake, trees straight out of a Bob Ross painting – it was all a bit surreal. Then, as I reached for my phone to capture the moment... heart drops into stomach. My pocket was emptier than a bird's nest in winter.

A lone, scraggly tree stands against a backdrop of blue sky and wispy clouds. The tree appears almost dead, with bare branches and sparse foliage. Dried grasses and sagebrush surround its base. — Life finds a way, even in the most unlikely places.

Cue the mild panic, the quick backpack check, the mental rewind of the last 10 minutes. Yep, there it was – I knew the exact moment my phone decided to stage a disappearing act. Sigh. So, once again, we retraced our steps, hoping we would be able to find the one tree in a forest of a thousand that had decided to swallow my phone. Thankfully, we found it right where I “left” it! (Big shoutout to the spot where the huge cables started their journey over the river below.)

A photo looking up at a steep canyon wall with visible striations, or layers of rock. The blue sky above is dotted with wispy white clouds. — Details matter. Tam-A-Lau's beauty is in the layers

Spoiled by Adventure

Heading back to the car was bittersweet. We never expected Tam-A-Lau to be so incredible, and now we were spoiled. But that's the beauty of exploration, isn't it? Each adventure raises the bar, pushing us to seek out even more extraordinary experiences. Tam-A-Lau might have been a surprise, but it's a reminder that the world is full of hidden magic, just waiting to be discovered. So let's keep exploring, keep pushing our boundaries, and keep trying not to lose any more essential items along the way.

Cheers!!