December 10, 2017 B-Dog Granite Mountain 5 miles 3,750 feet gained
Simon and I put in a hard days work of breaking trail in unforgiving conditions. We went up the winter route to the west ridge. This was my first time ascending this route, I have come down it before in the dark under a full moon. It was straight forward, however we had to battle some nasty slide alder that needed about another 2 - 3 feet of snow to bury it ...
December 10, 2017 Karl Silver Star Mountain 11 miles 3,250 feet gained
Another day, the same inversion - gotta love it! Beautiful blue skies all around. A bit of snow dusting all the ridges. Freezing temps at the trailhead, and progressively warmer as we climbed. Shorts weather on top! Just about as good as days get in December. Spent way too much time on the summits, enjoying a little lunch and an incredible cloud show. Then w...
December 10, 2017 Father Guido Sarducci Mount Ellinor 4.76 miles 3,000 feet gained
Started hike between the lower and upper TH. Could not quite make it to the upper TH due to snow. Took the winter route up the avalanche shoot. Above the inversion layer it was quite balmy, t-shirt weather.
December 8, 2017 Karl Cooper Spur 10 miles 4,500 feet gained
Fun trek up Cooper Spur from the Tilly Jane trailhead. We felt entirely alone, all day long, on the northeast side of Wy'east. Never saw another soul. Day began frigid, with temps at or below freezing as we started hiking. Around 4700' or so, we hit a wall of heat (the inversion layer) and temps quickly shot into the 60s! By the time we'd hit Tilly Jane, sno...
December 5, 2017 Karl Coyote Wall 24.5 miles 6,250 feet gained
Set out to see if we could do 25 miles at the Coyote Wall - Catherine Creek complex, and came darn close. Wasn't helped by being frozen out of the jeep first thing in the morning! ("WTH's that hair dryer? OMG...") Late start meant a really late finish. Only overlapped a small percentage (<10%?) of the track, had some great ups and downs, and even managed to ...
December 4, 2017 Woodswalker Hamilton Mountain 9.2 miles 2,000 feet gained
Some dramatic clouds, snow on the hilltops in Oregon, prismed water drops and even some sunshine. The trail is super mucked out from the rain and extra hiking it's receiving. After lunch at the saddle I headed a bit further north to explore some more of the area, Fantastic day.
December 3, 2017 runandsew 5 miles 2,500 feet gained
December 1, 2017 Karl Stacker Butte 15.5 miles 3,250 feet gained
Awesome day wandering around Columbia Hills. Area was covered in clouds as we began, but soon enough the sun was starting to appear through them, and then - miraculously - we climbed right through them! Just beautiful. Not even all that windy, compared to usual. <iframe width="540" height="800" src="http://gpsfly.org/gps_map.php?gps_id=7862&w=540&h=800&c=fff...
December 1, 2017 Teddie 1.5 miles 0 feet gained
Nice, relaxing hike. Few views. Wooded hike with interesting ecosystems.
November 29, 2017 Karl Old Salmon River 16 miles 4,250 feet gained
Wonderful climb up Hunchback Ridge! Just invigorating right out of the gate, and only got better as we hit snow around 3500' or so. The ridge was as totally delightful! A light frosting had covered the forest at some point in the last 24 hours. The sun was shining! Who could ask for more? Heh... Well, then it started "raining" as the trees' flocking melted. ...
November 29, 2017 Roman Fall Creek 7 miles 0 feet gained
Netarts to Oceanside, and beach north of Cape Meares. Big waves, pillows of foam on the shore - nice day in between the storms.
November 24, 2017 Roman Riverside 9 miles 1,000 feet gained
We hiked from Rainbow gate to Riverside Camground and back. Lots of water everywhere, some of the trail near Oak Grove Fork was flooded. Awesome trail, need to head to Clackamas River more often.
November 24, 2017 Karl Hamilton Mountain 8 miles 2,500 feet gained
Decided we'd #OptOutside the afternoon away on Hamilton, after nearly being blown off Dog in the morning. We were correct to have feared "half of Portland!" being out on BRSPs trails this day. Mud abounded below the upper junction. But the later start meant we were likely less irritated by flipfloppers than we otherwise might've been earlier in the day. Enjo...
November 24, 2017 Karl Dog Mountain 7 miles 3,000 feet gained
Original thought was to hit Augspurger, but plans changed as we climbed. Drive out was raining a bit, but it eased up as we got near. The skies were even brightening, and we caught a rainbow over Wind on way up. But by the time we hit the decision junction, we were in a full-on wind/rain storm, and the thought of plowing on to Aug wasn't too pleasant. So we ...
November 24, 2017 Father Guido Sarducci Big Quilcene 8.71 miles 3,000 feet gained
This is one of my favorite winter hikes. Some good elevation gain, a mossy wonderland, a roaring river & solitude. Just me & some quality time with my 4 legged best friend.....woof!
November 24, 2017 Woodswalker Latourell Falls 2.7 miles 750 feet gained
Back out on the Oregon side!!!!
November 23, 2017 Roman Hewlett Point 2.5 miles 0 feet gained
November 23, 2017 runandsew Guild Lake (historical) 8 miles 1,500 feet gained
November 20, 2017 Karl Harris Island 23.5 miles 750 feet gained
Wettest day either of us had ever seen east of The Dalles! The freeway was a slopfest from Portland onward. Still dumping when we hit the trailhead. Waited an hour or so, and the skies began brightening a bit, so we grabbed a bigass umbrella and decided to give it a go. Within an hour, everything turned around! What a delight. The old Harris Homestead ranch ...
November 19, 2017 Woodswalker Sahale Falls 4.6 miles 750 feet gained
Wonderful day easing into the snow shoe season. Great company and good conditions. There's about 30 inches of snow in good shape up there. Bonus points cause it was Sunday and a bit quieter.
November 18, 2017 Roman Chapman Beach 6.5 miles 0 feet gained
Cannon & Chapman Beach, Hug Point
November 18, 2017 B-Dog Beaver Lake 1.5 miles 1,250 feet gained
After watching the snow pile up on the web cams for a few weeks it was nice to get out and sample some of the goods. I was able to hit this before the Thanksgiving Rain !!
November 18, 2017 Karl Kings Mountain 12.5 miles 4,500 feet gained
After a summer spent mostly in different areas, got out again with my good hiking buddy Mountainkat and enjoyed a fabulous loop along the Wilson River Trail, up Elk Mountain, traversing over to Kings, then down Coronary Ridge and finally taking the WRT back to the TH. The weather was simply glorious, considering it's late November, and there were only a few ...
November 18, 2017 Father Guido Sarducci Tiger Mountain 8.73 miles 3,500 feet gained
Up Section Line to summit 3 then hit summits 2, the Hiker Hut viewpoint, @ summit 1. Exited back down to the car via the High School trail.
November 14, 2017 runandsew 7.5 miles 1,000 feet gained
Nice hike with my son from Germantown Road.
November 12, 2017 Father Guido Sarducci Point Defiance 8.5 miles 2,000 feet gained
November 11, 2017 Roman Chatfield Hill 4.5 miles 1,000 feet gained
November 11, 2017 Karl Table Mountain 16.5 miles 4,500 feet gained
Whatta, whatta, wet, wet day! Rain from the trailhead (9am) to summit (12:30pm), and then some. Of course, on top, there was anywhere from a half- to four-feet of snow, and being a hearty 38° it was pretty much slush. Postholed past the knees wandering around up there, which wasn't for terribly long given the "views." Saw one other human up top, and one set ...
November 5, 2017 runandsew Washington Wash 13.5 miles 2,500 feet gained
Spent the weekend in Joshua Tree camping with our daughter.
November 5, 2017 Father Guido Sarducci Chambers Creek Reservoir 8 miles 2,000 feet gained
November 1, 2017 Roman 58 miles 8,750 feet gained
Mostly sightseeing trip, lots of driving, but we did try to fit in 2 short hikes/scrambles each day. Some really spectacular places out there.
October 31, 2017 Jen Sturgeon Rock 9 miles 2,500 feet gained
Did the loop starting from Grouse Vista. The top of Sturgeon still feels like Scotland! Unfortunately, there are two huge new roads cutting across the Tarbell trail with a giant logging deck in place. There might be a clearcut just south of that trail soon.
October 30 to November 1, 2017 pizza pal Lower Canyon Creek Campground 6 miles 250 feet gained 2 nights
hiking with a basset hound is not about covering a lot of miles, but it sure is a good time.
October 30, 2017 Karl Mount Saint Helens 9 miles 4,750 feet gained
Whoops, I did it again! Fifth time up MSH this summer. Always fun!
October 29, 2017 Father Guido Sarducci Mildred Point 8 miles 3,000 feet gained
Weather was positively spring like. 3 volcanoes could be clearly seen. This is a great hike as you get 2 drastically different views of Rainier from one trail along with a close up view of one of the highest water falls within the park.
October 28, 2017 Karl The Dome 20 miles 5,500 feet gained
One last glorious day in the blastzone before they lock the SR-504 gate down by the Hummocks. (Might also have been the last trip around Devils Elbow, as the USFS has decided to just let that trail rot into the abyss, it seems.) Just meandered from JRO over to Mount Tomroy and back, tagging the top of both Margaret and Coldwater as well on return. Hit the ro...
October 28 to October 29, 2017 runandsew Switchback Falls 7.5 miles 1,750 feet gained 1 night
Lots of stars and way too many coats and snow pants in our packs. It was pretty warm. Whoot!
October 26, 2017 Roman Lake Branch Cascades 4.3 miles 250 feet gained
It was awesome day up there! No I didn't retire early, just swapped days & worked through last rainy weekend.. With a couple tries we found the start of trail #618A (@ marker on map), better than starting the hike on paved road. Fall colors almost gone at the lake but views of Hood were hard to beat. Great autumn colors in Hood River and the Gorge.
October 24, 2017 Karl Lower Twin Lakeshore 17.5 miles 3,250 feet gained
Really fine day exploring an area south of Mt Hood that I'd yet to really appreciate. Started at Frog Lake, up to Frog Lake Butte, down past (with a nice appreciation break) Twin Lakes, on to Palmateer Point, through Devils Half-Acre, and up to Barlow Pass before heading back southbound on the PCT. Previous snow had (near) entirely melted, despite ranging up...
October 24, 2017 Woodswalker Frog Lake Campground 17.5 miles 3,250 feet gained
Wonderful day, even some great fall color in a few spots up near Palmateer Point and on the trail section down to Devils Half Acre. Frog Lake Buttes was super fun, but you have to hunt for the views these days. There is a nice east view and a nice but partially obscured view of Hood to the north of the summit. One small patch of snow on the trail and the rem...
October 24, 2017 pizza pal Campground: Beaver 8 miles 1,000 feet gained
October 24, 2017 Roman Butte Camp 8 miles 1,750 feet gained
Some observations: 1. Snow starts at 4600' (2-3'' deep in the trees and 50-60% coverage). However, once above the treeline and exposed to the sun, it becomes mostly snow-free. 2. Butte Camp trail is remarkably good shape after last storm, but I met other hikers who tried & couldn't follow Sheep Canyon trail earlier in the day, and had to switch plans... inte...
October 23, 2017 Jen Greenleaf Basin 5.5 miles 1,250 feet gained
I was planning to go up to Sedum Ridge, but there is a landslide on CG 2000. Intead I returned to Greenleaf Basin and did some more exploring. Lots of old roads to stumble on to and follow. Made it up to Greenleaf Point, nice summit.
October 22, 2017 Karl Packard Creek 7 miles 750 feet gained
Delightful destination for a dog walk! As something of a (admittedly extremely minor!) challenge, I decided to try doing the "longest loop with the least overlap" this day. I think half the challenge was simply rolling formulae around in my mind, wondering how exactly one might quantify such a thing. I dunno, track below... What do you think? <iframe width="...
October 17, 2017 Jen Greenleaf Peak 7 miles 1,250 feet gained
Had fun wandering around here, vine maple looking good!
October 16, 2017 Woodswalker Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area 8.6 miles 2,250 feet gained
I managed to get out in the sun on Monday. Super quiet out on the trail. I only saw one person up there all day. Fall color is good on the open ridge tops but still green lower down. I got my first views of the burn in the gorge, but it was to hazy for pics. It was a wonderful day.
