December 26, 2015 8 miles 3,250 feet gained
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acorn woodpecker
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Hikes by acorn woodpecker in 2015
October 24, 2015 13 miles 3,000 feet gained
The last high-ish country trip of the season without snow. Unforgettable.
October 23, 2015 3 miles 750 feet gained
The son and I went and explored this unexpected nice little loop on Gabbert Butte.
October 17, 2015 2 miles 0 feet gained
The whole family went Molalla State Park, where the Molalla flows into the Willamette.
October 16, 2015 14 miles 3,750 feet gained
Did a loop climbing the three highest peaks in the Indian Heaven Wilderness. Gorgeous fall day!
October 9, 2015 3 miles 750 feet gained
Went to some rarely visited wild spots in the city limits. Saw no one!
October 3, 2015 5 miles 1,500 feet gained
One of my favorite hidden haunts, which I took my dad to for the second time. Found a new viewpoint and saw a beautiful manzanita.
October 2, 2015 3 miles 250 feet gained
Took my dad and son on a nice loop. Pleasant cool weather.
September 25, 2015 3 miles 250 feet gained
Quick late afternoon stroll with my mother and son. Pleasant cool conditions after the day's rain. No distant mountain views but whatever. The construction of the underground reservoirs is done. Lots of bird activity, as usual. The low point was having both my mom and son step in dogshit at the trailhead at the end of the walk and track it into the car. Yuck...
September 19, 2015 9 miles 4,250 feet gained
A beautiful day in the Clackamas area abound with treasures of discovery. Great ridgeline views from many different perspectives. The color is changing on the maples. Fresh coating of snow above 7500' on Hood and Jefferson. Only downside was the sound of gunfire.
September 5, 2015 8 miles 3,500 feet gained
Unexpectedly had the afternoon and went a new way up a familiar haunt in Herman Creek area. Basked in the sun along a ridge. Good hiking weather; pleasantly cool with a high enough cloud ceiling to enjoy the immediate surroundings. Topped out at a high point before dropping down to Indian Point for more dramatic views. Exited via Gorton Creek Trail to comple...
August 21, 2015 5 miles 1,500 feet gained
Took a friend and my son today to a familiar haunt. Perfect weather. The breezy cool conditions had cleared out the smoke and the Gorge looked as magnificent as it could be in August. Never have went in the late summer and Cedar Creek was the lowest I'd ever seen it!
August 6, 2015 4 miles 2,000 feet gained
Visited the cluster of tors east of Goat Mtn. Started on the south ridge of Point 3961to gain the ridge. Steep! Walked along the undulating ridge and visited two of the four tors on my way to scope a route up Goat Mtn from the east. Only made it part of the way up and had to turn around due to time constraints. The eastern buttress is very steep and may requ...
July 21, 2015 9 miles 4,750 feet gained
Ventured 45 minutes south of Reno and had most of the day to explore in the Mt. Rose Wilderness and climb two peaks within it doing a creative loop. One peak rarely climbed (Chocolate) and another frequently so (Rose). Thunderstorms threatened throughout the day. Had to time the summit climbs accordingly, which included having to hunker in stands of pine in ...
July 20, 2015 5 miles 2,250 feet gained
Another evening leg stretcher from in-laws' but this time higher up on the shoulder of the peak. Searched for some lost binoculars from a trip earlier in the year to no avail. Dry and windy with lightning and thunder out east. Nice sunset.
July 18, 2015 3 miles 1,000 feet gained
Evening leg stretcher from the home of the in-laws onto the slopes of the mountain. Dry and windy conditions among austere landscapes.
July 11 to July 12, 2015 6 miles 2,500 feet gained 1 night
A friend and I visited another friend in Portland, Maine and he took us backpacking to a remote lake and mountain a couple hours north. The forest is reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest but the higher elevation has a different feel. More granite and features are more rounded yet still rugged due to the geologic age of the area. Got clobbered by a rainstorm ...
July 9, 2015 6 miles 250 feet gained
Had a 24 hour time window in Denver on my way out to Maine. My dad picked me up at the airport and went to this little gem close by. Lots of birds and water.
June 25, 2015 9 miles 2,500 feet gained
Started from Elk Meadows TH at Mt. Hood Meadows ski area. Great wildflowers and beautiful views along the Newton Creek drainage and along Gnarl Ridge. Looped back along the Timberline Trail and down the Newton Creek Trail for a lollipop loop.
June 19 to June 20, 2015 13 miles 4,750 feet gained 1 night
Did an overnighter for the solstice. Cold and windy. 38 degrees in the morning with wind. Followed Cathedral Ridge up to where it steepens and traversed over between snowfields and above the Glisan Glacier to drop onto the steep ridge between Glisan and Ladd Glaciers (i.e. Gladd Ridge), which flattens into a prominent moraine as it descends into Cairn Basin....
June 12, 2015 6 miles 2,000 feet gained
Had an unexpected opportunity and had the afternoon for a small excursion. Went up Cedar Mt. and dropped into Hamilton Creek from the Saddle. The RR grade is a schwack this time of year and the water is low. Nice day and wildflowers aplenty along Cedar Ridge.
June 6, 2015 8 miles 3,750 feet gained
Wild, rugged, remote climbing requiring ropes coupled with a sense of idiocy in the Nesmith-Yeon area. "Interesting!"
May 30, 2015 4 miles 2,500 feet gained
Took a different route up Hamilton. No Discover Pass needed. You gotta pay for it a different way, though! Bushwacking to great viewpoints for different perspectives to a familiar area.
May 25, 2015 2.5 miles 500 feet gained
The whole family went for a quick afternoon hike after I worked. Too many people, but beautiful waterfalls. Had dinner at the picnic area below the highway afterwards.
May 23, 2015 3 miles 500 feet gained
The whole family went on an afternoon trip to the quiet side of Oxbow. Feasted on salmonberries, admired the Sandy, skipped rocks, and played on the beach in total solitude.
May 13, 2015 2 miles 250 feet gained
Did a sunset/night hike at Powell Butte with the fellow bird surveyors to turn in paperwork and see if we'd spot any owls. No owl sightings were had but the night was beautiful and there was no moon in the sky. However, there were plenty of deer and a couple coyotes howling. Nice change of pace at a familiar spot.
April 23, 2015 14 miles 5,000 feet gained
Desert cross country ridge to high peak in Santa Catalina Mts, down Ventana Canyon for an awesome wilderness loop at Tucson's back door!
April 21, 2015 6 miles 2,000 feet gained
A desert hike while visiting family in Tucson. Beautiful desert terrain. Trip report on Oregon Hikers. http://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=21586
April 12, 2015 5.5 miles 2,500 feet gained
Took my dad to a few viewpoints along Rock of Ages Trail. Nice cool mostly clear day. Down ridge spur to Russ Jolley Trail. Visited the shelter and descended down the canyon to complete the loop.
April 4, 2015 6 miles 4,000 feet gained
Parked at Wyeth and took the 400 until just east of Wyeth Crown. Gullies, ridges, and talus fields led us there. Onward to higher viewpoints along more ridges. Down a different ridge. Spectacular outing! http://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=21419
March 28, 2015 3 miles 500 feet gained
Bittersweet last week of my bird survey. This time, the whole family was able to join me. Was also able to haul all the trash I found at the survey sights I'd been aghast at the past several weeks. That felt good! Nice cool overcast spring day and good bird sightings. The nettles are knee deep in places!
March 21, 2015 4 miles 1,500 feet gained
The family went to the coast for an anniversary trip. Hauled the kid in a backpack up to Neahkahnie Mt. He slept most of the way up and woke in time to catch the summit views. Lots of trillium, a few salmonberry. Got rained on as we left the summit. Pleasant wet forest walking. Afterwards, we went to Devil's Cauldron for dramatic cliffside views of the ocean...
March 20, 2015 3 miles 500 feet gained
Week 7 of bird survey. Another sunrise start. Saw more birds than ever before! Perfect calm cloudy weather.
March 13, 2015 3 miles 500 feet gained
Week 6 of the bird survey. Had to start later because of the darker mornings due to the time change. Nice sunrise at a whopping 7:25am! A bit breezy on the summit and not near as much bird activity as last week's perfect morning. Saw a red-bellied sapsucker! Also, for the first time, saw no one at all on the trails.
March 8, 2015 6 miles 2,750 feet gained
Made the most of the first day of daylight "savings" after getting off work. Did a bike 'n hike by parking the car at Angels Rest TH and rode the bike to Wahkeena TH. Copied Pablo's route to Devil's Rest by ascending a gully just west of Wahkeena Falls. Dramatic cliffs and small waterfalls. Fun route with a bit of exposure and typical loose rock in the gully...
March 7, 2015 3 miles 500 feet gained
Week 5 of my bird survey. Watched the sunrise from the summit. Calm beautiful morning with lots of birdsong filling the air and forest. The most birds I've seen and heard so far.
March 6, 2015 4 miles 1,000 feet gained
Took my son and started from the Marquam Shelter. Took a left at the shelter and went up the old road before connecting with the main trail system to Council Crest. Lovely views from the summit. Even lovelier underneath the road crossings deep in the canyon where one forgets they're in the middle of the city. I wish there were longer options down there as I ...
February 28, 2015 6 miles 750 feet gained
Week 4 of bird count on Powell Butte. Nice morning, but a bit breezy. Saw a Pileated Woodpecker! Also ran into a homeless camp off trail where the occupiers said they had been there for 8 months! They were very nervous around me and must have assumed I was a ranger due to my appearance. Later in the day, I went to Mt. Tabor with the kid for a nice circumnavi...
February 21, 2015 22.5 miles 5,500 feet gained
Started from Eagle Creek TH. From Fern Creek Bridge, left the trail up a narrow gulley to gain the ridge. Magnificent varying ridge hiking/scrambling/climbing with great views. Hit the Benson Plateau, joined with the PCT, and continued to Chinidere where we climbed the West Face. Blustery, but great views. Descended the trail and the cutoff down to Wahtum La...
February 20, 2015 5.5 miles 1,000 feet gained
In the morning, went to Powell Butte for the Week 3 of the bird survey. Calm and mild conditions made for excellent sightings! Saw nearly nobody! The nettles are really coming up. Went out with the family in the afternoon around the Hoyt Arboretum for a nice stroll. Some of the magnolias are already close to bloom!
February 19, 2015 4.5 miles 2,000 feet gained
Took the kid to his namesake areas of Cedar Creek, Cedar Falls, and Cedar Mt. for his 1st birthday. Due to time constraints had to do an out and back on Cedar Mt. and turned short of the highest point. Close enough for me, though. Overcast, but mild. Slight passing showers and a bit windy on the ridges. Saw my first wildflowers of the season: Yellow Violets ...
February 14, 2015 2 miles 500 feet gained
Today was my son's 1st birthday so the family went up with mother in law for a short but enjoyable jaunt to the forested summit of Mt. Talbert. Great restored Oregon White Oak open forest on the southern slopes. The park (part of Clackamas County Parks) has some of the strictest rules compared with Portland Parks & Rec, which is a good thing: no dogs, no mou...
February 13, 2015 3 miles 500 feet gained
Week 2 of 8 for bird survey. Beautiful morning. Lots of birds. Very few people. Had a more experienced birder friend with me, which was bonus welcomed company and knowledge. The fog broke at 136th avenue and the sunshine was beautiful. Portland was still socked in later in the morning at I-205 on my way back west.
February 7, 2015 3 miles 500 feet gained
Spent the morning doing my "winter" weekly bird survey (week 1 of 8) volunteering with Portland Parks & Rec. Conditions were blustery with showers, but not cold. Full rain gear necessary, especially when I was off trail.
January 31, 2015 8 miles 3,250 feet gained
Went for half the day up the mountain in my in laws back yard. No car needed! Walked the neighborhood streets until I hit open space, used trails, drainages, and ridges to access the lower southern summit. Unfortunately, the mountain is popular with the ATV and target shooting crowd so I picked my route carefully to avoid the ATV routes. Did this by side-hil...
January 30, 2015 8 miles 4,000 feet gained
Visiting the in laws and had the afternoon to go on a hike. Trailhead was 10 minutes from the house. Went up a ridge with a user maintained trail until a couple miles up where the trail became an animal trail combined with cross country. Hit an old road at 7600' with increasing snow and turned around. Dropped 1000' and then dove off a ridge into Hunter Creek...
January 24, 2015 5 miles 750 feet gained
Rode the bike out to Powell Butte this morning for a volunteer orientation about bird surveying at Powell Butte. Was shown the sites on where I would be surveying. Heard a pileated woodpecker in the stands of old trees on the SE slopes of the butte. Then, the family met me and we went out and did another loop. In the sun it was t-shirt weather...in January! ...
January 23, 2015 6 miles 2,000 feet gained
A wet day, but great vistas, forest walking, and scouting out a new off trail way to make a loop in the area. Oh, and near total solitude, as always here. Sadly, my first actual hike in the area for the year. Quite a departure from January 2014 when I did over 70 miles in 5 hikes.
