January 2, 2022 Sarah Johnson Guild Lake (historical) 6 miles 500 feet gained
First hike of the year. Just a shorty in Forest Park to get the blood moving. Microspikes used as most of the trail was icy.
Recent Hikes
January 1 to January 2, 2022 runandsew Trillium Lake Campground 4 miles 250 feet gained 1 night
New Year's Eve with two of our adult kids and a girlfriend. It was the girlfriend's first time snow camping and it was 9 degrees. She was a champ but no one got good sleep. However, we did see the fireworks from Timberline Lodge.
December 29, 2021 Woodswalker Joes Point 6.1 miles 1,750 feet gained
Great day in the snow and ice. I used spikes, but others didn't. Yay
December 28, 2021 Woodswalker Ridell Lake 8.7 miles 2,000 feet gained
I generally don't make Cape Horn a priority for hiking, but today in the snow it was gorge-ous Haha
December 24, 2021 Woodswalker Burnt Lake North 4 miles 500 feet gained
Just a short nice Christmas Eve snowshoe with good friends and nice treats.
December 19, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Tiger Mountain 8 miles 3,500 feet gained
This used to be one of my favorite close by conditioning hikes, but alas no more. I have not been up there since they logged the 3 summit areas and while it has opened it up for some expansive views it has obliviated many hiking trails that led to the summits, plus now you are forced to hike on a muddy road through clear cuts to traverse between the summits....
December 16, 2021 Woodswalker Oneonta Falls 9 miles 2,000 feet gained
Great day in very wet snow, Beautiful ornaments and snow-flocked trees. We needed spikes on the way down even though there wasn't much snow.
December 12, 2021 Sarah Johnson Horsetail Falls 3 miles 500 feet gained
Forgot to add this one in - partial trip. Had the dog with me and felt uncomfortable going over sllides/dealing with worsening cold weather as I went up in elevation. Listened to my gut and turned around to play it safe and will come back another day.
December 12, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Tiger Mountain 3.71 miles 1,750 feet gained
December 10, 2021 Woodswalker Ball Creek 7.3 miles 500 feet gained
Had a great morning with a friend hiking north from Germantown RD on the Wildwood.
December 5, 2021 Sarah Johnson Oak Ridge 8 miles 2,250 feet gained
A cold but pleasantly clear day. Found yet another abandoned vehicle when walking the road back to make our trip into a loop. Motorized users have completely trashed the top of Bald Butte and the trail heading to the top. Hillside is one huge road. Unfortunate that there is nothing done to stop illegal activity there.
December 5, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci West Tiger Mountain 5.63 miles 2,500 feet gained
Section Line trail up to Tiger Summit #3.
December 5, 2021 Jen Kings Mountain 11 miles 3,250 feet gained
Nice day in the coast range! Went with ICS pals and pace was brisk. Some icy rocks to negotiate on the traverse. Found out we all loathe the coming down Kings, so we took Coronary Ridge to the Wilson River trail(Kings Jr), and that was much more pleasant and only added an extra half mile distance.
December 2, 2021 Jen Dog Mt. Summit 7.5 miles 3,000 feet gained
I was heading east on I-84 and looked over and saw goats on Dog Spine, plain as day. Okay, four white blobs, but I was convinced and immediately changed my hiking plans to see if I could find them. Left the trail rather early and spent hours bushwacking the steep south facing slopes, heading easterly. It was mostly pleasant. Unfortunately I overshot the Dog ...
December 1, 2021 Woodswalker Cooper Spur 8.5 miles 2,000 feet gained
I don't know why this one always feels like the hardest hike ever. But it was still a wonderful day. A few patches of snow, sitting by the fire at the lodge, visiting with Bruno, and stopping by the closed Phlox Point Cabin Taco Chalet and yes I used taco and chalet in the same sentence. Great day
November 27, 2021 Sarah Johnson Tam-A-Lau 7 miles 750 feet gained
Went to "the place of big rocks on the ground". This was an excellent short ascent up a geological wonder, wandering a landscape with Junipers up to 250 years old and volcanic rock stacked as fences by ranchers from the past. Views to surrounding cascade volcanoes (on a clear day, I wasn't so lucky.) Along the rim, there was a view of "the island", a protect...
November 26, 2021 Sarah Johnson Turtle Cove 3 miles 750 feet gained
Went camping with gloomy skies over the long weekend.
November 24, 2021 Woodswalker Road 19 Trail 7.5 miles 3,250 feet gained
I'd tried this trail before in the spring but the snow was too icy and sketchy even with spikes. This time we made it up to the lookout before the clouds rolled in and had great views. No spikes needed.4-6 inches of snow up top dusting of snow starts after about a mile and increases from there. Beautiful day
November 24, 2021 Jen Lower South Falls 7 miles 750 feet gained
Haven't been here in over 15 years. It was so very lovely this morning and fairly quiet, just a bit busy near North and South Falls. I vow to return in less than a decade!
November 23, 2021 Woodswalker 12 miles 1,250 feet gained
The snow gate is still open, but we decided to do a back route into Nesika and Waespe Point. Starting at the snow gate we took Road 1520 northish down to Multnomah Basin Road and from there followed it down to the bridge over Multnomah Creek and into Multnomah Basin. The ornament trail is slowly coming back and one of the dormitories and outhouses has been r...
November 22, 2021 Woodswalker Tanner Creek Fishway 12.3 miles 2,500 feet gained
The waterfalls are looking great. There's some gnarly blowdown past Casey Creek, but nothing we couldn't deal with. People are chipping away at it, for which I am grateful.
November 21, 2021 Sarah Johnson Mill Creek Ridge 11 miles 1,500 feet gained
Followed Mill Creek road until the pavement ended, 'and the West begins'. Drove until the road started to get rocky, then hiked to the site of a former lookout. Hiked out of the fog and into blue skies, and then back into the gloom.
November 21, 2021 Jen 1980 Crater 10 miles 5,500 feet gained
Hard hike with scant snow below 6K. But it was a beautiful day.
November 20 to November 21, 2021 runandsew Alpine Campground 4 miles 750 feet gained 1 night
Started hiking at 10pm under a full moon. Camped in pretty frozen ground that was snow covered.
November 19, 2021 Woodswalker Kelly Butte 5 miles 250 feet gained
Great Day
November 17, 2021 Woodswalker Talus Ridge 6 miles 1,250 feet gained
I just had a few hours but it was a great trip. The fall color is mostly gone and snow is topping the mountains in the distance.
November 16, 2021 Jen Meadow Butte 7.5 miles 1,000 feet gained
Definitely interested in exploring this area more.
November 14, 2021 Sarah Johnson 6 miles 1,000 feet gained
Car died during the rainstorm. A friend is letting me borrow a car, but I didn't want to risk driving someone else's vehicle far, so Forest park was my chosen destination today. Always nice to have the option of green therapy close by.
November 8, 2021 Jen Nestor Peak 8.5 miles 2,000 feet gained
Pleasant day reading the forest. The Buck Creek Trail is designed for mountain bikers. Mellow grade. Just a hollow cement structure left on top at this former LO site.
November 7, 2021 Sarah Johnson Elk Creek 5 miles 500 feet gained
Rainy day hike. Originally planned on checking out Idiot Creek Road, but after eyeing the water crossing, we decided to just head up the gradual way up Elk Mountain. Rain was light at first, but then turned into sideways, unrelenting, gear soaking, cold rain and the decision to bail was made. More rain gear needed on a day like today.
November 6, 2021 Jen Indian Point 10 miles 1,500 feet gained
Did a couple different hikes on a wild and wet weekend at the coast with the hubs. Tillamook Head, Ecola Forest Preserve, and Oswald West.
November 1, 2021 Jen Pinnacle Ridge 6.5 miles 1,500 feet gained
Very rainy, had to retrieve another critter cam. Had some great sets- will include a few of the best shots.
October 31, 2021 Woodswalker Knebal Springs 8 miles 1,250 feet gained
Great day in the Badger Wilderness. The larches were still great and we added on Perry Point and Five Mile Butte. Fantastic day
October 30 to October 31, 2021 runandsew Alpine Campground 3 miles 500 feet gained 1 night
After work backpack started at 9:30pm in a sand storm. I actually thought about just driving home. Clouds and no aurora.
October 30, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Tiger Mountain 5.89 miles 2,000 feet gained
All 3 of the TM summits are closed to hikers until further notice due to ongoing logging operations.
October 29, 2021 Woodswalker 6.2 miles 250 feet gained
The colors are looking good!
October 25, 2021 Jen North Fork Teal Creek 5.5 miles 500 feet gained
Went out in the river of atmosphere. It rained the entire time. Had an umbrella, got soaked anyhow. And, only a few mushrooms, grrr! Clearcuts and industrial forest must be passed before you reach the old growth. Now access is cut off by Weyerhauser. They shaved the steep slopes of Teal Creek Canyon, next to the cliffs where falcons nested. Who is watching t...
October 23, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Tiger Mountain 3.71 miles 1,750 feet gained
October 21, 2021 runandsew 19 miles 4,000 feet gained
Hiked muddy trails: Hanalei, Mokoena, Kilauea, Sleeping Giant, Okolona, Queens Bath
October 18, 2021 Jen Teacup Lake 10.5 miles 2,500 feet gained
3rd time up here this year and it doesnt get old. Pulling down the critter cam to be redeployed for winter. I started from Teacup and wandered the low woodlands south of Clark Creek before I picked up the Elk Meadows trail. Some lovely western larches in bright autumn display.
October 18, 2021 Woodswalker Horsetail Falls 9.8 miles 2,750 feet gained
The undergrowth in the burned areas of the gorge is brilliant right now. Great day.
October 15, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Hugo Peak 4 miles 1,000 feet gained
October 12 to October 13, 2021 Jen 16 miles 4,750 feet gained 1 night
I spent the weekend climbing at Smith Rock, but instead of heading back to Portland, I headed south to the Steens and the Alvord Desert. Camped the first night at Haystack Reservoir, then stayed two nights at the Alvord Hot Springs in a military bunker-what fun! The light in the desert this time of year is beautiful. Did three hikes: 1) Little Blitzen Gorge ...
October 8, 2021 Woodswalker Switzler Lake (historical) 5.7 miles 250 feet gained
Loved it.
October 7 to October 10, 2021 Sarah Johnson Threemile Creek 7 miles 750 feet gained 3 nights
Been a little behind on reporting hikes, with an extremely busy October. Volunteered to work and get paid to camp for Snow Peak Way, an annual gathering of snowpeakers and snow peak people. Managed to get a few hikes in on the beautiful property in Tygh Valley, both during the day and even a night hike to do some stargazing, as we had a group of amateur astr...
October 3, 2021 Sarah Johnson Paradise Park Loop 13 miles 2,750 feet gained
Fall got away from me, but I did manage one long hike in before dwindling daylight. Excellent fall color.
October 2 to October 3, 2021 runandsew Timberline Trail 3 miles 500 feet gained 1 night
An after work hiking while the sun was setting to catch the Milky Way. It was a gorgeous, wind free evening full of stars.
October 1, 2021 Woodswalker Pleasant Creek 6.2 miles 250 feet gained
Quiet day in the early fog.
September 30, 2021 Jen Yocum Ridge 18 miles 3,750 feet gained
Cascadia Wild asked if I could go up and retrieve a stranded critter cam that has been up here for over a year. It's a long hike, would love to return for an overnighter. So beautiful with the light dusting of snow on the slopes above, and the fall colors. Rain held off until just after our turnaround. Had to deploy the umbrellas on the way down.