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December 30, 2017 4.7 miles 500 feet gained
After trying to snowshoe at Bennett Pass, only to find a full parking lot, we found ourselves at the Nordic Center near the Elk Meadows trailhead. Tons of skiers but Elk Meadows and the Newton Creek trail were super quiet and probably the prettiest snowshoe I've ever done. The trail was well broken and easy to follow until about 5100'. A nice lunch spot near...
December 30, 2017 12.7 miles 3,250 feet gained
Wonderful day out exploring new terrain in the Hamilton Hardy area. We parked at the Hamilton trailhead, and went up past Little Beacon Rock back to the conjunction with the main trail. Shortly after we, headed west offtrail to see the old cabin and continued on northwestish until we hit the equestrian trail in the Hardy Ridge area. We headed up Hardy Ridge ...
December 23, 2017 3.2 miles 750 feet gained
No views, but beautifully flocked trees and the snow was pure powder. Even on snowshoes, it was a bit like skiing. We tried to take the snowshoe path through the trees rather than the regular cattle trail up, but we were breaking trail in 2-3 feet of powder. Great company and it ended up being super fun watching everyone sled down the hills.
December 16, 2017 8.5 miles 1,500 feet gained
Wonderful day with a bunch of folks out celebrating a friend's birthday. The falls are all raging nicely right now and there is no snow on the trail. Not muddy and the creek crossings are good. The only caveat is a very large boulder is plunked down in the middle of the road a mile or two west of the trail head.
December 13, 2017 11 miles 2,000 feet gained
Amazing day. Minimal snow until we hit JRO. About a foot after that. Great company and wonderful views.
December 4, 2017 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.
November 19, 2017 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.
October 24, 2017 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 16, 2017 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.
October 9, 2017 10.1 miles 2,250 feet gained
I decided to get out while the weather was good. So I parked my car just off RD 48 and hiked up to the top of Bonney Butte. The annual Hawkwatch was happening, so I hung out for awhile with the bird counters. I saw 2 Goshawks and a Redtail. There are very tiny patches of snow up above 5000' or so, but nothing monumental. I did a nice circuit of the meadows a...
October 2, 2017 7 miles 1,500 feet gained
Misty moistey morning.We were hoping for an earlier clearing to the rain today, for a view from East Zigzag. But by the time we got to the lake it was evident that Blue Sky was a long ways away. So we just strolled around at the lake and headed home. The clouds on the water were beautiful.
September 30, 2017 12.3 miles 1,750 feet gained
Great day to get some green views.
September 27, 2017 3.6 miles 250 feet gained
I went with a friend to check on a wildlife camera out in the High Rock area and decided to take a quick stroll up to Hideaway and Shellrock Lakes. The vine maples in the open areas are beautiful and the area is pretty quiet. There was a logging operation loading up on the way in on Rd 58 that we had to wait for. But not too long. Wonderful day wading and st...
September 24, 2017 10.4 miles 2,500 feet gained
Fall Colors are on!! Views in every direction. Slippery snow discourage us from doing the final ascent up to Mt. Tomroy. But we couldn't have been happier. Great day with trail friends old and new.
September 14, 2017 9.1 miles 1,250 feet gained
Took a good friend up to Flag Point Lookout. The Fret Creek Trail was still mossy near the creek, but everything else is dry, dry dry. Super smokey in terms of views, but still lovely. Amazing day.
September 10, 2017 4 miles 0 feet gained
Just wandered around on old roads and off trail looking for big old growth trees with a few lovely friends. Ended the day with a nice beach walk. Amazing day. it's been way to long since I've been to the coast.
September 3, 2017 7 miles 1,000 feet gained
Wonderful day on an abandoned trail up to Basin Lakes in Indian Heaven, huckleberries and lots of hidden ponds. Perfect until we sat down for lunch and Karl noticed a huge smoke plume not so very far from us. it was the East Crater Fire starting. We quickly abandoned plans, let some campers in the area know and got out. Glad I saw those lakes mere hours befo...
August 25, 2017 19 miles 4,000 feet gained
The area up above timberline is so amazing and just made for strolling. The flowers in the meadows below were still going, but they are finishing up. The dwarf lupines etc up above were perfect. We took the Riley Camp Trail up and the off trailed it to Crystal Lake and then just cruised across at about the 6500 line over to Horseshoe Meadows and then down th...
August 20, 2017 5 miles 500 feet gained
Wonderful easy day in the green with good friends.
August 19, 2017 15 miles 3,250 feet gained
What Karl said :) I loved seeing waterfalls that I hadn't even heard of before.
August 14, 2017 11.6 miles 2,250 feet gained
I went a few weeks ago, but I had to go back to see the bloom :)
August 12, 2017 7.6 miles 1,500 feet gained
Managed to find a little bubble of blue sky in a sea of brown air. Wonderful day. Definitely going back. I really recommend going further than the rim along the use path. Totally incredible.
August 9, 2017 9 miles 2,500 feet gained
Despite the heat and smoke it was a wonderful quiet day on the mountain. Just saw one person on the trail. Flowers are mostly cooked out. We went up Newton Creek Trail til it hit the Timberline Trail, Then headed over towards the Clark drainage. Instead of going down into the drainage we headed up the ridge between the Clark and Newton drainages, above the T...
July 27, 2017 6 miles 2,250 feet gained
Wonderful day with Lupines and the glaciers.
July 25, 2017 13.4 miles 3,000 feet gained
Nice long meander. Some of the flowers are completely prime right now. Other patches are not even out from under the snow yet. Some bugs mid hike. Some really gnarly blowdown near the jct between the Timberline trail and the south part of the loop.I strolled up above Split Rock. It was awesome, but a bit smokey.
July 19, 2017 16.2 miles 5,000 feet gained
Fantastic day, with a great trail friend, getting up to Barrett Spur and sitting with the glaciers. The bugs weren't to bad, the flowers at Elk Cove are just getting started, but the dwarf blooms on the ridge tops are great!!
July 13, 2017 10.6 miles 2,750 feet gained
What can I say? It's one of my summer classics. Flowers are gorgeous and the views sublime. Did a short add on to about 6600' feet for better views and just because. No sign of the ice caves, that I could see.
July 5, 2017 11.2 miles 2,000 feet gained
Amazing post 4th quiet hike. Left from JRO and wandered over to one of my favorite lakes, went a bit further to the Rock Arch. I decided to skip Coldwater Peak. Then I joined the afternoon crowds at Harry's Ridge. Flowers are still going strong. Still a few snow patches once you get near the Arch. Great day.
July 2, 2017 11.8 miles 3,000 feet gained
Wonderful flowers everywhere!! I'd say it can't get any better up there. Full range of flowers, all at peak bloom and lots of meadows with views. The road in, is full of potholes, but not really a problem if you go slow. We saw a bear on the road out. A young one. Met two new lovely trail friends and had wonderful company old and new.
June 30, 2017 6.6 miles 1,250 feet gained
Started from Wahtum lake and had a short hike before it go hot. The flowers are going mostly full tilt up there. Views of course were beautiful. The bugs were crazy intense everywhere except the ridge top were there was a breeze and the snow is really just a few patches in the saddle between Chinidere and Tomlike. Great day!!
June 28, 2017 3 miles 1,000 feet gained
Took a stroll up from the lodge to see how the bloom was going. Great views, lot's of miniscule and dwarf blooms in the green parts. To the west of the Lodge on the Timberline Trail, it was too snowy to be fun or flower filled, but the ridgelines east, above White River Canyon were wonderful. the gullies and ravines are still filled with snow though. Fantast...
June 27, 2017 6.4 miles 1,500 feet gained
Fantastic day with a good friend to get a bit of restoration. Lots of flowers and the trail was in great shape. Lots of people. We could have sold our parking spot to the highest bidder though :) Several cars lined up waiting for a spot. Just perfect.
June 18, 2017 9.2 miles 2,000 feet gained
I decided to reject Sundays cloud forecast and head East into the Badger with a good friend. Views were great. The lower oak savannah, that is the first mile of the trail is pretty much done blooming except for yarrow and blue ceanothus. Once you are on the north slopes of Ball Point the bloom really picks up with a bumper crop of white ceanothus, and even a...
June 4, 2017 8.2 miles 2,250 feet gained
Beautiful day doing the Hardy Ridge loop and up to Phlox Point. Beargrass, Phlox and a plethora of Penstamens were blooming up at the top. Some pretty extensive trail retreading work has been done. Awesome day!!!
May 29, 2017 10 miles 1,750 feet gained
Herman Creek is a great rainy day hike, but I really always love it in the sun as well. Big news is some trail work has been done. Much appreciation. The two big down logs that were requiring a bit of a go around, are gone. They weren't difficult, but scrambling over them in the mud for those of us with shorter legs was always interesting. The water in Camp ...
May 21, 2017 5.5 miles 1,000 feet gained
Since it was hot we decided to do two shorty hikes and explore back roads for future options. In the morning we hit Sevenmile Hill. It got hot too fast, and was a bit past peak until you get near the top. Nonetheless it was lovely. Then we took back roads as far as we could and then buzzed down Hwy 35 and parked at the pullout for Tamanawas fall TH. Crowded,...
May 19, 2017 7.5 miles 2,000 feet gained
Just had to get out there today. Hoping to get a few more hikes in during this stretch of good weather. Marvelous out there. Still very green and the second wave of woodland flowers are starting to pop. False Solomon Seals, Larkspur and even a few phlox at the saddle. Super crowded today, but everyone was in good spirits.
May 9, 2017 3 miles 500 feet gained
Just a lovely day and a small walk on my friends birthday. Lupine and phlox are peaking, The Balsam root is slightly past, but still beautiful. On the way home we did a quick stop at Catherine Creek to see if the Lewisia is blooming and it was full on near the trailhead.
May 7, 2017 8.2 miles 1,000 feet gained
Great day and not too crowded. We crossed the Sandy a bit further up on a log I could scoot across rather than the typical crossing. The mountain is still full of snow and we took the cut off near the falls, from the trail down to the Sandy and walked a ways along the bank to get a better look at the mountain. Some nice looking waterfalls up there, in the di...
May 3, 2017 12.6 miles 1,250 feet gained
Beautiful 80 degree day! I strolled up a ways past Twister falls and ate lunch with a nice Crow friend, The hanging meadows are starting to pop and the second wave of shade lovers like Solomon Seal are just starting. Being short legged and not as sure of my balance anymore, the Wy'east creek crossing just before the potholes is a bit harder this year. But I ...
May 1, 2017 8.1 miles 1,250 feet gained
In honor of International workday and that ancient flower day currently celebrated as May Day, I went out with a friend to do the Crawford Oaks loop. Flowers are looking amazing below the ranch. Eight Mile creek is back to being a dry footed crossing. Cloudy, but comfortable. Really great day
April 21, 2017 5 miles 1,000 feet gained
Beautiful day. Lots of sun. Many sneak peaks into the gorge in addition to the viewpoints, since the trees aren't leafed out yet. South side of Silver Star was looking snow free, but plenty of snow on the other sides as far as I could tell. The second wave of flowers is starting!!
April 15, 2017 10 miles 1,750 feet gained
Lovely day!! Although I'm still not used to the parking lot at Herman Creek filling up. Made it to Mullinex Creek which looked to be a wet footed crossing(although an easy one). Camp Creek was getting a lot of peoples feet wet. The waterfalls were beautiful. Saw a few folks heading up to snow camp and lots of folks headed up to Indian Point and Nick Eaton. S...
April 9, 2017 15 miles 1,750 feet gained
Lovely day out with Karl. Wy'East was the only creek crossing where I had to think about my options, but no real problem crossing.
April 3, 2017 8.2 miles 1,750 feet gained
Beautiful sunny day in the gorge. From Horse tail I went up past Triple falls to check out the washout and see how far I could go before I hit snow. The washout just before the 3rd bridge was fine. I ran out of time before any snow was apparent except small patches at 1600'. None visible as far as I could see above me. Trilliums started to bloom above and so...
March 31, 2017 7.2 miles 500 feet gained
Really truly a gazillion waterfalls! Beautiful day, the trail is fine flowers are starting and the water is amazing. The landslide at 3.1 miles looked pretty doable, but I turned around. Perfect!
March 26, 2017 6.4 miles 1,000 feet gained
Dripping wet but beautiful day, The river wasn't silty at all. Still full of that beautiful celadon green color. There's a but more eg than maps show, perhaps an older trail version stayed level with the river. The trail right now is one big creek. A fair amount of down trees, all of them fine, but it definitely slowed my progress, as well as allowing more o...
March 23, 2017 7.6 miles 1,250 feet gained
Went east hoping for a bit more sun and to check the bloom. Grass widows are booming and the lomatiums are coming along and the poison oak has not leafed out yet. Wandered east along Atwood road until I hit Burns Farm and made it back to the car before the clouds rolled in.
March 16, 2017 7.6 miles 1,750 feet gained
Wow a second day of sun in the last week. I spent the day wandering around the old service roads and meadows at the top of Tracy Hill. Lots of water everywhere. Ran into another hiker that I just know from online with his amazing dog Rigby. Had lunch at a secret meadow with a view of Mt Hood. The flowers are just starting. A fantastic day.
