April 25, 2021 Sarah Johnson Starvation Creek 11 miles 5,000 feet gained
Had to spend last weekend (with it's beautiful weather) in self imposed quarantine, as many of my coworkers tested positive for Covid 19. Ended up doing a 20 mile bike ride once I got my negative results Sunday afternoon. As a result of them testing positive, my skeleton crew of 3 did everything we could to keep our department going minus 5 people. Lot's of ...
April 25, 2021 Jen East Lake 9 miles 2,250 feet gained
Roaming around, with some pleasant flailing. Found all kinds of old revegetating roads and helpful critter trails. The scree field is epic! Untouched. Magnificent views all around. I witnessed a big chunk of basalt do two endos and hit the cliff on the way down bringing even more with it. I think I saw some goats up high too. Found some more old road to take...
April 20, 2021 Jen Augspurger 10 miles 2,500 feet gained
Dog TH packed at 0900 on a Tuesday, and the flower show has not even begun yet! Drove around to the Northern Augsperger TH. I went up via Berge Road to sometimes rough 2700 (but you can also go up on the east side from Willard). Only saw one other hiker on the Augsperger trail, it's a bit brushy, some snow in the trees just north of the summit, but trail not...
April 19, 2021 Woodswalker Rodney Falls 10.1 miles 2,250 feet gained
I started out at the Equestrian TH and made it to Phlox Point despite some pretty fierce winds up top. Nice Glacier Lilly bloom stating about 2400 and continuing to the top. Lots of yellow violets lower down and a smattering of Trilliums. I went down the east side and wandered north a bit along Hardy Creek. I had thought about hitting the saddle on Hamilton ...
April 16 to April 18, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Mineral Creek 13.3 miles 500 feet gained 2 nights
Hiked up the Hoh and spent a couple of nights at the Five Mile Island backcountry camp. Perfect weather with it being cold enough at night to keep the bugs at bay.
April 16 to April 17, 2021 runandsew Alpine Campground 4 miles 750 feet gained 1 night
We made a decision to turn around and get our snowshoes if it was bad enough. Well, it wasn't horrible until it was and that was beyond where we wanted to turn around. Gutting it out, we were rewarded with tons of stars, climbers to watch and the Milky Way!
April 15, 2021 Woodswalker Coopey Falls 10.8 miles 3,000 feet gained
Despite starting up via Angels Rest it was a day filled mostly with solitude. No snow on the trail. Just a few patches here and there in the woods. The Trilliums were full on, but every thing else is still not blooming. There are still a few old Russ Jolly engraved signs up there, but mostly trail helpers are posting new ones. Lovely jaunt in the mostly gree...
April 12 to April 13, 2021 Jen Griffin Mountain 1 miles 500 feet gained 1 night
The Mount Tahoma Trails Association has developed a system of ski trails with alpine huts and yurts on state land near Ashford, WA. The forest itself is bland reprod and the trails are logging roads which are great for skiing, maybe not so great for hiking. But the views from the huts are worth it! We visited the High Hut, then Snowbowl hut and camped nearby...
April 12, 2021 Woodswalker Rodney Falls 12.3 miles 1,750 feet gained
I wanted to have a day that was somewhat leisurely with a lunch that was in a warm spot with a view. And I found it. The cutoff trail from the PCT to Carpenter Lake was still in great shape. I was hoping to hear the frog orchestra at the lake but no luck. It appears to have dried up even more since the last time I was there. The top of Aldrich was so windy I...
April 11, 2021 Sarah Johnson Dog Creek 10 miles 3,750 feet gained
This was long overdue. I'd been up King, been up Elk, and even had attempted the traverse years ago when I first moved to Portland. (It was winter without much daylight, and we had turned around at the rope and went down the gentler Elk Creek Trail instead of finishing) In my head, I wanted to see if I had grown enough as a hiker to finally complete this men...
April 11, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Mt. Rose 5.75 miles 3,500 feet gained
Well consolidated snow began a short bit after the horse camp. Used microspikes and going down would have been difficult w/o them. Had the summit to myself and had a nice leisurely lunch with my grey jay buddies. Timed is perfectly as met quite a few people heading up on my descent.
April 10 to April 11, 2021 runandsew Trillium Lake Campground 6 miles 500 feet gained 1 night
Hoping for the Milky Way after a 9:10 pm start on the trail. No luck.
April 7, 2021 Woodswalker Catherine Creek Univeral 7.8 miles 1,500 feet gained
A wonderful leisurely stroll to see flowers at Catherine Creek. Bloom is full on down low. I saw all my favorites.
April 6, 2021 Jen Burdoin Mountain 6 miles 500 feet gained
Accessed the north side of the White Salmon trails via Bates Road. Saw some ticks, deers and a lone mtn biker.
April 4, 2021 Sarah Johnson Hardy Falls 9 miles 2,000 feet gained
Cloudy day in the gorge, but beautiful views (minus volcanoes) and fun playing in the snow. Mostly solitude on Hardy, except for a group of bunny ear wearing BCEP'ers we nicknamed the Hardy Hares.
April 3, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Tiger Mountain 8.18 miles 2,500 feet gained
3 out of 4 of the Exploration NW team, along with intrepid hiking dog Ruby, were able to arrange their schedules to get in a conditioning hike on Tiger Mtn. None of had ever started a hike from the Preston TH and found it to be a nice uncrowded area in which to hike. We did a loop hike which took us up to summit 1 and the over to the Hikers Hut for lunch, wh...
March 31, 2021 Woodswalker Little Brush Lake 7 miles 2,750 feet gained
My friend Susan took a day off from work and suggested Dog Mountain. Completely beautiful views of course and a wonderful day. No snow. But the trail through the top meadows is pretty muddy and a bit slippery. Wonderful day!
March 30, 2021 Jen Onion Peak 12.5 miles 2,500 feet gained
Took Hug Point Road to Onion Peak Road to Dave's Spur. Didn't quite make it to summit via bushwack. Got chilled with wet shrubs and rain. Want to return with my bike to get to Onion Peak proper.
March 29, 2021 Jen Johnson Slough 13 miles 750 feet gained
On Monday, I hiked the Kwis Kwis/Fort to Sea figure 8 loop. It goes through the coastal forest of the park and you pass some lovely wetlands. Lots of skunk cabbage. Very pleasant hike, saw only 2 pairs of hikers. Wednesday, I returned and started at Sunset Beach, heading east on the Fort to Sea trail. After you leave the forested state park, you are led arou...
March 28, 2021 Sarah Johnson Green Canyon Way 7 miles 2,000 feet gained
It was Katrin's turn to pick our weekly comfort optional hike, so Green Canyon Way #793 was chosen. We made a plan to go up until we hit sketchy snow or blowdown. This trail rises up, and I mean UP, rapidly. One slightly sketchy section of trail that involves a scramble with a dropoff. Trail is narrow, but felt fine event with snow. We brought spikes, but I ...
March 27 to March 28, 2021 runandsew Alpine Campground 5 miles 1,250 feet gained 1 night
Night hike to a favorite spot.
March 27, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Tiger Mountain 6.43 miles 2,500 feet gained
Started hike at the Highpoint TH and from there navigated various trails up to the Hikers Hut which was fogged in, so no views. Then hiked to summits 2 and 3 before descending via the Cable Line trail.
March 23 to March 24, 2021 Jen Blue Sands Canyon 9 miles 1,000 feet gained 1 night
I visited two different spots on the west side of the Deschutes River. First I parked at the Heritage Boat Ramp and walked upriver on the Rockpile Trail. I went up about 2 miles and stopped to sketch and relax in my chair. I had gone well past the trail end line on my map, not sure how long it continues. I then had to do some driving to get to my next spot-F...
March 21, 2021 Sarah Johnson 9.5 miles 2,000 feet gained
Fun day with team comfort optional exploring game trails, old farm tracks, and bushwhacking up steep slopes overlooking the Klickitat. No official trails so it was a choose your own adventure day. A bit grey, windy and cold, but it was a good adventure anyway. Mt. Adams tried to make an appearance. Founds lots of animal bones, and spotted a ton of deer. (Sad...
March 21, 2021 Woodswalker Vancouver Lake 10.5 miles 0 feet gained
I just wanted to get some miles in and still have time later in the day. So I went to Frenchmans Bar in N Vancouver and got a lot of views of cranes, egrets, eagles, herons, tundra swans, geese and ducks. I was especially pleased by a description on a sign of what the birds needed the area for. Along with feeding, staging and migrating they included loafing ...
March 20, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Big Creek Campground 7.9 miles 2,000 feet gained
Trail was covered mostly in slushy snow so I was glad I wore my gtx footwear. Hiked as far as where the trail intersects with the Mt Ellinor lower TH.
March 16, 2021 Jen Fletcher Flat 9 miles 2,000 feet gained
Went up towards St Cloud, but veered off to visit Gable Falls. Fun bushwacking up to Cruzatt Rim. The long flat walk westerly on the plateau was very pleasant. Lots of old roads and trails to explore out here.
March 16, 2021 Woodswalker Pct: Mt Hood 11.4 miles 1,500 feet gained
It's so great to have the daylength to go slow and have a leisurely lunch
March 14 to March 15, 2021 runandsew Alpine Campground 5 miles 1,250 feet gained 1 night
Surprisingly star filled night after expecting clouds.
March 14, 2021 Jen Butlers Pond 9 miles 1,500 feet gained
Was inspired by Sarah's recent trip to the area. Bushwacking through poison oak involved.
March 13, 2021 Sarah Johnson Herman Bridge 10 miles 3,000 feet gained
Still can't park at Herman Creek Trailhead, parked on the road and walked in. I usually wait to hike on Sundays, (I work on cement and I've been having issues with my feet hurting lately) but I couldn't resist a good weather day. So instead of a day of rest, I opted to try for some conditioning. Last week I was inspired looking back across the gorge to the O...
March 13, 2021 Woodswalker Aldrich Butte 9.6 miles 2,000 feet gained
Great day but we didn't get as far as we wanted because the snow between the summit and the saddle was super soft and slidey and it really slowed us down. The roads up from the saddle and the road by the creek past the saddle were covered in soft melting snow. We ended up just adding a bit onto the usual saddle loop and enjoying the beauty.
March 9, 2021 Jen Burdoin Mountain 10 miles 1,750 feet gained
Love these steep oak covered woodlands. The vegetation is waking up, a few flowers starting to pop. Spring will be here soon!
March 7, 2021 runandsew Deyoe Creek 9 miles 1,250 feet gained
Nice hike through freezing rain, snoe, clear paths and snowy paths.
March 7, 2021 Sarah Johnson Tamanous 15 miles 2,500 feet gained
I've had my eye on this hike for a while, but I was waiting for more hours in the day to make sure I wouldn't be hiking out in the dark. I knew weather was going to be rain on and off on Sunday, but decided to make a go of it even though I couldn't talk any of the usuals other than my partner Zane into joining. Got up at 6 am, but couldn't quite get motivate...
March 7, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci West Tiger Mountain 6 miles 2,500 feet gained
My brother got a Golden Doodle puppy a while ago and she is now at the age in which she can do some hiking. The hike up Section Line was a bit of starts and stops, and some off trail, but overall she did pretty good. She liked going down much better and basically ran with us all the way. This was her first summit but we could not get her to sit still long en...
March 7, 2021 Jen Dog Thief Point 4 miles 750 feet gained
This is just a logging road hike on Stimson Lumber property to a former LO site. I parked at the gate on Military Creek road, then hiked up to 303, then 303A, then bushwacked up a ridge. Also found on some pretty good elk trails. Arrived in a snowstorm, but then the sky turned blue all around, luring me out of the car with inadequate footwear. . It was reall...
March 5, 2021 Jen Chanticleer Point 4 miles 750 feet gained
Bushwack in the rain without a care in the world! Well for a few hours anyhow. Went down to the lake to photograph the tundra swans. Someone has turned the cement building at the old Knierem home site into a shelter- might still be living there-creepy!
March 4, 2021 Woodswalker Frog Lake Campground 8.3 miles 1,000 feet gained
Beautiful last day of some sun. The trail from Frog Lake up to Lower Twin was the perfect for snowshoeing. Not iced but well packed. Once we got past Lower Twin Lake even though the trail was broken it was super soft and slidy. It felt much harder than it should have. It was great to hit the well packed section on the way down again. Right now it's not spika...
March 2, 2021 Jen Coyote Wall 7 miles 1,500 feet gained
Came up Coyote Creek to the Wizard Trail(trail closed signs on top ,but not on bottom-oops!). Grass widows are blooming. Gorgeous day. Also stopped and had a visit with Sweeney the resident mountain goat near Stevenson.
February 28, 2021 Sarah Johnson Dog Creek 6 miles 1,500 feet gained
Went on a long bike ride Saturday, so I slept in a bit Sunday and got a late start. Went with a plan B and decided to head out from the King's Mountain trailhead. Lucked out at the busy parking lot and nabbed a spot just as someone else left. Instead of going up to the summit of King, I set off on the Wilson River Trail towards Lester Creek, without a destin...
February 27 to February 28, 2021 runandsew Trillium Lake Campground 6 miles 500 feet gained 1 night
Nice loop around Trillium Lake and good night for a backpack.
February 27, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Mount Si 7.62 miles 3,500 feet gained
I usually avoid hiking along the I-90 corroder during the weekend due to the crowds and the increasing difficult parking situation at most of the trailheads....so I was not to surprised to find that both of the TH parking lots were full which made it necessary to park an additional 1/2 mile from the TH. The old trail up Si is shorter, steeper and far less cr...
February 21 to February 25, 2021 Jen 37 miles 7,000 feet gained 4 nights
Had a 6 day trip to the desert. Camped 4 nights, stayed in hotel first and last night. Rented a jeep so I could access the remote spots. Had some fun desert hiking every day! 1) Clark Mountain-highpoint of Mojave National Preserve.Visited plane crash site, but then failed to summit because I got sketched out on knife edge ridge. No trails, alone in the wilde...
February 21, 2021 Woodswalker Vancouver Lake 5 miles 0 feet gained
I wanted to have a gentle stroll with some friends I don't get to see all that often. So we went to North Vancouver Lake. It's basically a wetland with many paved paths and some not paved with options to connect up to other bike paths and trail. We saw a ton of Sandhill Cranes, Geese, an Egret and the usual birding regulars. No real views of the lake from th...
February 20, 2021 Woodswalker Tracy Hill 9 miles 1,750 feet gained
Surprisingly quiet day out there. Some grass widows and the umbels are just starting. 4-8 inches of snow in the shade. At about 1000'. I heard there was a foot of snow up higher. We stopped at about 1700 feel.
February 19, 2021 Jen 5 miles 750 feet gained
Sad week. I've been caring for my mom on hospice for the past two months,and she died on Wednesday. Feeling really numb. The woods were just the balm I needed. Forest Park was eerily quiet. Germantown and Cornell Road are both closed-due to storm damage I assume. Newton TH was accessible. Only saw one trail runner in the 2 1/2 hours I was out there. Combined...
February 14, 2021 Sarah Johnson 5 miles 250 feet gained
A few trips over the weekend checking out the neighborhood, before and after the ice.
February 10, 2021 Woodswalker Miller Island 14.6 miles 500 feet gained
Quiet day getting some nice flat mileage in.
February 7, 2021 Sarah Johnson Elliott Creek 8.5 miles 1,250 feet gained
A day filled with tree stumps with hair.
