Woodswalker

December 14, 2014 Coopey Falls 7 miles 1,750 feet gained

Clear skies, lots of wind, lots of friendly hikers. After reaching Angels rest, I continued east on the trail towards Wahkeena, Headed south east on the Foxglove trail and looped around back to the Angels rest trail. I didn't go much further east because the temperature was dropping so I headed back down. Caroling hikers and many happy dogs with their humans...

December 2, 2014 Herman Bridge 8 miles 1,500 feet gained

The weather report was calling for sleety mix and high winds in the gorge, but it was high thin clouds all day with some sunshine. I followed the Herman Creek trail to just past Casey Creek. The wind was calm once I got away from the trailhead. A thin sprinkle of snow and ice dusted the trail. But not slippery at all. Great day out.

November 30, 2014 Sherrard Point 9.1 miles 1,500 feet gained

Great snow day. parked a ways down from the gate and walked up the road. Then cut over to the Larch Mountain trail to the top. Snow and ice starting at about the 8 miles on the road. Powdery snow once we got off the road.

November 25, 2014 Munra Point 5.5 miles 1,250 feet gained

Quiet out and back. Nice water falls

November 16, 2014 Balch Canyon 8.2 miles 750 feet gained

Doing recovery hikes still. Great wind free clear hike today. Mostly fine. Some black ice along Balch creek in spots. Sadly someone slipped and it seemed like they had a broken leg. Fire truck and ambulance crews had to take him out on a stretcher. No easy task going downhill with a stretcher on ice.

November 3, 2014 Powell Butte 3 miles 250 feet gained

Lower half is icy but there is room to walk on the grass. Great views today.

October 27, 2014 Bald Mountain Ridge 6 miles 1,250 feet gained

I'm still doing recovery hikes, but wanted to make it up onto the mountain another time this year before the snows. The road was still accessible. Ran into some snow but it was melting fast. The mountain looks great.

October 6, 2014 Cloud Cap Saddle Campground/Day Use 3 miles 1,000 feet gained

I'm starting to make some headway on a back injury, so I went up with a couple friends to see a little bit of Cooper Spur before the snows. We made it a little ways past the stone shelter on a beautiful clear day. Very few people, big views!

September 22, 2014 Lost Creek Nature 2.5 miles 500 feet gained

I'm still recovering from a back injury so , I did three easy hikes, Old Maid Flats, Little Zigzag falls, and up above Timberline Lodge towards Silcox Hut.

August 16, 2014 Little Kettle Creek 7 miles 1,000 feet gained

The weather was beautiful on the second day of my trip. No bugs and amazing rock formations on the cliffs and under my feet.

August 15, 2014 Boulder Creek 8 miles 1,250 feet gained

It hailed and rained and thundered, but it was beautiful. No bugs.

August 4, 2014 McNeil Point 10 miles 2,250 feet gained

Very hazy but a perfect day. Some snow still, flowers really going for it starting at the switchbacks. Some of the heather is done some is at peak, some still budding. False hellebore just starting. The black flies were biting though even when I was moving between the upper viewpoint and the tarns. Still around everywhere else but fine if you are moving. I a...

July 31, 2014 Mcintyre Ridge 5.5 miles 1,250 feet gained

Went on a fun meetup hike. Good views and still some wildflowers in the meadows.

July 28, 2014 Lamberson Butte 7.25 miles 1,250 feet gained

Lupines full on at the little meadow just beyond where Newton Creek trail meets the Timberline trail.

July 25, 2014 Little Cheney Creek 3.2 miles 250 feet gained

Beautiful river and some amazing old growth trees.

July 24, 2014 Lost Creek Nature 2.6 miles 0 feet gained

Great level stroll, with good moss and trees.

July 17, 2014 Timberline Lodge T2 2.5 miles 1,250 feet gained

Quick afternoon leg stretcher up to Silcox hut from Timberline parking lot. Still some snow up there in spots. Phlox blooming like crazy. Also the most large wildfires I've seen at one time. At least 3 near Jefferson and 4 or 5 to the east in the Warm Spring and Maupin areas.

July 16, 2014 Umbrella Falls 6 miles 1,000 feet gained

Shortish hike with great views to the east through the ski runs, nice babbling brooklets and good wildflower blooms. Took a quick walk over on the way back to Newton creek to see how the crossing to Elk Meadows was doing this year.

July 7, 2014 Southshore 4 miles 0 feet gained

Easy lake day in the sun. Stopped by Little Crater lake, then walked from the dam to Meditation Point on Timothy Lake. No bugs, level hike, beautiful lake views.

July 1, 2014 Mcneil Point 8.5 miles 2,000 feet gained

I've been seeing lots of reports on the scramble trail up to Mcneil Point, but I was curious how the regular trail was doing. I went to where the Mazama trail hits the Timberline trail and the went up that little canyon for awhile. The trail had been drifts alternating with trail but at that point it was solid snow. Great blooms a bit lower down and the bugs...

June 22, 2014 Ed'S Trail 5.6 miles 1,250 feet gained

Hazy, but the views were still fantastic. Helens, Adams, Rainer, Hood, Jefferson, and Mt Washington. The bloom is full on right now for everything except bear grass. A bit slower above where Ed's trail and Sturgeon trail join up just below the summit.

June 14, 2014 Multnomah Falls 8 miles 1,750 feet gained

Went up with the Trail Club meetup to see the open house at Nesika. Very wonderful trip and an impressive legacy of lodge tending.

June 2, 2014 Eagle Creek Trail 12 miles 1,250 feet gained

Great day! Perfect weather! The little seasonal waterfalls are mostly wet rock but the big ones like Tunnel Falls are still going strong of course.

May 30, 2014 Robins Island 2 miles 250 feet gained

Just a quick trip out on a busy work day to have lunch at the falls. Relatively quiet. Beautiful sunny day, Rosy plectritis full on right now.

May 21, 2014 Lindsey Pond 7 miles 2,750 feet gained

Balsam root still going strong with fields of yellow. A few places where the larkspur, phlox etc made an amazing rainbow mix. Lupine and paintbrush still not quite open most places.

May 15, 2014 Wahkeena Falls 7 miles 2,500 feet gained

Nice day, a bit hazy. A surprising number of people at the top. Paid my respects to the gnomes and paid the toll with a yellow agate cabochon.

May 8, 2014 Latourell Falls 1.6 miles 500 feet gained

Short sprint in the rain to enjoy the green and a friends birthday.

April 29, 2014 Little Herman Creek 7.4 miles 1,250 feet gained

Nice hike! Quiet day. Woodswalker

April 20, 2014 Munra Point 4.8 miles 1,000 feet gained

Took the #400 from Wahclella up to closed rd#777 up to jct with Tanner Butte Trail. Nice combo of urban and woodland herbs and flowers. Smith's Fairy Bell, Star Solomon Seal, Yellow Violets, Trilliums and some Daffodils were blooming.

April 12, 2014 Catherine Creek Shortcut 7 miles 750 feet gained

Drifts of camas, death camas, shooting stars and lots of other blooms and even some chocolate lily in the shade west bank above Catherine creek. Beautiful!

April 10, 2014 Moody Creek 7 miles 1,250 feet gained

Great day! Calypso orchids and trilliums are blooming along the trail right now.

April 7, 2014 Eagle Creek Trail 12 miles 1,250 feet gained

Great hike,crazy amount of water and seasonal and otherwise Lady slippers blooming near Eagle Benson Jct. Lots of other blooms.

April 2, 2014 Catherine Creek Shortcut 6 miles 1,250 feet gained

Beautiful views, a multitude of seeps/ mini springs and flowers still a bit sparse at the higher elevation. Nice lower.

April 1, 2014 Coopey Falls 6.4 miles 1,500 feet gained

Great day, misty mountains, roaring creeks and enjoyable April fools day tales from chance met hikers along the way.

March 23, 2014 Horsetail Falls 6.8 miles 1,750 feet gained

Beautiful day, lots of green.

March 17, 2014 Eagle Creek Trail 4 miles 500 feet gained

It was the day of waterfalls to numerous to count

March 12, 2014 Catherine Creek Shortcut 3.5 miles 500 feet gained

Clear day! Grass Widows everywhere!

March 11, 2014 Aldrich Butte 5 miles 1,500 feet gained

The spring frog chorus is at it's peak at Carpenter Lake.

March 7, 2014 Beacon Rock 2.2 miles 500 feet gained

January 25, 2014 Timberline Lodge T2 2.5 miles 750 feet gained

Great short snowshoe. Headed up towards Silcox Hut then cut over to the rim of White River canyon.

January 17, 2014 Devils Half Acre 3 miles 750 feet gained

Great views! Great snow shoe. Snow a bit thin at the trailhead but better higher up.

January 6, 2014 Elowah Falls 2.2 miles 250 feet gained

Fun short stroll with a couple of gorge newbies up to the falls. Made it before the rain and took a little extra stroll to check out the new McCord Creek Bridge next to the highway.

January 1, 2014 Sacagawea and Papoose Rocks 8.2 miles 1,250 feet gained

I had planned on doing a hike with a meetup group from Multnomah fallls to Nesika Lodge, however circumstances intervened and I found myself unable to make the meetup time, so I went to my bucket list and pulled one out. As I drove through the thick fog out of Portland I wondered if I would be able to see anything other than the tree in front of me. But no! ...