Jen
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Hikes by Jen in 2015
2.5 miles / 250 feet gained
Biked 7 miles to God's Valley, an old homestead now maintained by ODFW for winter elk grazing, and salmon habitat in the N Fork Nehalem river. Wandered the massive meadows and bushwacked in some mighty spruce forests. Found a few more mushrooms; chanterelles and lobsters.
6 miles / 1,500 feet gained
I tried to bike all the way up, but it was just too steep and rocky. Threw my bike in the bushes after two miles. Forgot my hiking shoes and ended up hiking in my bike cleats, which worked surprising well. Found some chanterelles. After getting past the yucky clearcuts, it's just gorgeous up there!
3.5 miles / 500 feet gained
I had a fun trip on a lovely fall day. I continue to suffer from hip pain. Really trying to keep my hiking mileage down, but I still need my weekly fix of the great outdoors. This time, I biked up the 1340 Jones Creek Road-a slow easy grind, and wandered around on Butcher Knife Peak Ridge. I then rode down to Lost Lake and explored the lakeside on a very qui...
4 miles / 2,000 feet gained
This was stupid, bouldering up wet basalt in the rain. I was with 2 other members of a local mountaineering club who are supposed to be safe while climbing, and we certainly weren't. Once the rain really kicked in, we became very concerned about downclimbing the way came in and decided to "bail up" . We scrambled up to Cook Hill, 2000 feet in less than half ...
11 miles / 1,500 feet gained
I've had the good fortune to be a volunteer at Bretientbush Retreat Center for the past two years and while there, I take short trips in the area. Each visit, I have been exploring the surrounding forest and there is so much to offer! This weekend I navigated a section of the upper Devil's Creek drainage which is ringed by some really cool basalt pinnacles.O...
32 miles / 8,000 feet gained / 4 nights
We were supposed to be going Round the Mountain this week, but had to change plans because of the fire. A look at one of the air quality maps indicated that the west side of the WA Cascades would be a good bet so we zeroed in on that area. I recalled TRs from Bosterson and Awildman of this area and the beautiful pictures(thank you for the inspiration!) and s...
9.5 miles / 4,500 feet gained
Got my 12 year old and few other first timers to the top on a glorious day. After an active summer of backpacking and ultimate frisbee, my skinny kid CRUSHED it, all I had to do was feed him regularly.
4 miles / 500 feet gained / 1 night
Quick escape from heatlandia. We hiked along the PCT and then went off trail to a hidden lake. Swam, picked huckleberries and enjoyed the high country. No bugs! Kayaked on Olallie lake the next day.
7.5 miles / 3,000 feet gained
I bought the permits in February. My 16 yo niece from Brooklyn NY decided to visit us for a few weeks this summer, so I invited her to join us on the climb. She was very enthusiastic and we started out at a good pace. However, the city girl found the terrain above timberline to be increasingly difficult as we ascended. We got up to the monitor station, and t...
4 miles / 750 feet gained / 1 night
Primitive camping is allowed on the north shore of Mono Lake, you can walk in from a gate off the cemetary road. We were the only humans around this bleak but beautiful place. After a calm night on the lunar-like surface of the lakeshore, we trudged up nearby Black Point which is a volcano that long agos was submerged under the lake. When it erupted underwat...
24 miles / 6,000 feet gained / 3 nights
Wonderful family trip: 3 adults, 4 teenagers, almost all off trail. Spectacular alpine campsites at Nelson and Echo Lakes. Solitude until we hit the JMT for the last few miles out.
6 miles / 2,000 feet gained / 1 night
Went with the Mazama Families Group. Third time I've done this trip, but the first time with no snow. The gully above Snow Lake is much slower going without that snow. It took us so long to gain the ridge, we decided not to attempt the summit block. But the weather was great, the scenery spectacular and the kids were cheerful the whole way.
6 miles / 5,500 feet gained
Pretty windy today, had the summit to ourselves!
5 miles / 750 feet gained
Late start, poor planning and rainy weather turned this trip into just a little exploration, but I'll be back!
11 miles / 3,000 feet gained / 2 nights
My first bikepacking trip, we went around the Metolius Horn, about 24 miles one way. The downstream portion of this riverbefore it rounds the horn and becomes Lake Billy Chinook feels really wild. No-one past the first few miles beyond the gate for the whole trip. On the remotest part of this route( the Shut In Trail), it was more of a bikeschwack where we w...
8.5 miles / 3,750 feet gained
Well I didn't get to see a bear like Romann, but I saw tons of bear poo. Enjoyed the solitude, wildflowers, and views. Spooked a mama turkey hen who was roosting on about 10 fuzzy turkey chicks. 4 1/2 hours of dreamy hiking, 35 minutes back to the car on a screaming ride down the east side.
7.5 miles / 2,250 feet gained
Gorgeous day in the moist lush forest with absolute solitude.
4 miles / 500 feet gained
Short hike for Mother's Day after visiting the Maryhill Museum and Stonehenge. Happy to have my husband, son and 81 year old father in law along to enjoy the summer hot day.
10 miles / 2,500 feet gained
Lovely wildflowers blooming on the Oak Ridge Trail. After heading south on Surveyor's Ridge to retrieve my game camera (abysmal results), we turned north to climb up the steep gravel ATV road to Bald Butte. Bald Butte would be a lovely summit except for the massive scars from motorized vehicles, it's a bummer to see that damage. p.s. morels are starting to p...
5 miles / 1,000 feet gained / 1 night
We had a great weather window for a family snow camp out on Mount Hood with some hearty Mazama families. A challenging experience for my erratic planning abilities after a third night shift in the hospital. I learned quite a few things and was thankful Mother Nature was gentle to us that night. Snow skills and roped team travel practice the next day, kids an...
4.5 miles / 500 feet gained
I biked the wonderful Crown Zellerbach trail to the Nehalem Divide summit and went bushwacking around the top looking for the old trail tunnel. Found out it is a big mistake to bushwack through stinging nettle in shorts and bike cleats. Came back the next day and drove to the top and hiked around with my boots and pants on. Found the tunnel!
5 miles / 1,000 feet gained
I had a challenging ride up the hill from Breitenbush and then a short steep hike to a ridge that overlooked this lovely lake set in a wooded basin. Dropped down into some big trees surrounding the lake, similar in feel to Wahtum lake. Was amazed to find a dad and his two small children in a sturdy rowboat fishing in this lake on a perfect spring day. How th...
5 miles / 500 feet gained
Wandering around snowy roads and some fun scrambles in the hills.
14 miles / 1,500 feet gained
Spent a few days in LA with family for spring break. Got to hike a little every day, including one big free day for me, while my husband and son went to Universal Studios. We all hiked Zuma Canyon and El Matador beach near Malibu, Griffith Park, and the Burbank foothills. On my solo day, I hiked around the old Mt Lowe railbed and summited Mt Lowe and Mt Mark...
11 miles / 3,500 feet gained
Our plans were a bit overambitious for the late start. A few inches of fresh snow remaining on some of the shaded areas above 3000 ft. We left bikes near the northern TH and drove back down near Oklahoma Campground to begin our traverse on the Monte Carlo Trail. The northern section of this traverse over Monto Carlo and Monte Cristo is lovely. Moonlight snow...
7 miles / 1,750 feet gained
5 miles / 750 feet gained
6 miles / 1,500 feet gained
On my way to Breitenbush. Road 46 is open all the way to Detroit.
11 miles / 5,500 feet gained
Well when we finally got to the snow at about 5600 feet, conditions were perfect.
4 miles / 500 feet gained
Mazama Family Mountaineering Class. After mostly standing around on all day helping kids learn how to use crampons and ice axe, I was able to go for a wander on the trails off West Leg Road.
8.5 miles / 750 feet gained
Had fun noodling around on the Lewis River Trail. No one around, warm, cozy,elk musk, rainbows. There is a massive new slide to behold below the Middle Falls. Geology in action.
4 miles / 250 feet gained
