Tincup Peak is situated in the northern half of the 180,000-acre Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area along Tincup Trail #1117. Standing at roughly 4500 feet high, the shoulder of the peak can be accessed via a 9-mile hike from the Chetco Pass Trailhead on the eastern side of the Wilderness.
My first time visiting this area was just last year, as I accompanied the Wilderness Conservation Corps in their restoration of the Tincup Trail. The hike took all day, and it was hot. For the most part, the landscape bore the familiar traits of the Kalmiopsis I had experienced many times: steep climbs and rocky footing, endless rows of snags and little shade. But as we ventured further into the wilderness, this began to change. The Gold Basin area was surprisingly flat, giving us several miles of easy hiking, and it was shaded, too. There were trees here that had survived the fires, and they stood tall.
As we continued along the final miles approaching Tincup Peak, the trail climbed to reveal incredible views. Little did I know that the ridge only two miles further would be even more spectacular.
It was my second visit to Tincup Peak that proved the most memorable. I was hiking in with a group of volunteers on a resupply mission for our trail crew. Early one morning, I felt nature calling and hiked some distance uphill from the trail, searching for some soil among the boulders where I could dig a hole. Just as I was about to undo my belt, I heard the clatter of rocks from up above. I spun around and saw a black bear near the top of the mountain, scrambling away from me. It was difficult not to admire the movement of the animal - the ripple of its muscles and thick fur. It was my first time seeing a bear in the Kalmiopsis - and it had nearly caught me with my pants down.
Those nights I spent at Tincup Peak were a reminder of the value of Wilderness, and the joys one can only experience far away from civilization. These places isolate us, throw us into danger, and challenge our wits. And yet they feel so much like home.