7.5 miles / 750 feet gained
Was here two weeks ago on a similar loop, and I lost my hat along the way. Today, I came upon it hooked on a branch on the Wildwood!
Jen
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Hikes by Jen in 2020
7.5 miles / 2,750 feet gained
Umbrella Hike up to Puppy Point. Donned the microspikes at about 2000 ft. Zero visibility and windy up top, trail was a slushfest, but nice to be out in the snow. Trail pretty quiet today.
6.5 miles / 750 feet gained
Started at Smith Creek Homestead Site and went west on Wilson River trail. A few detours along the way. Eerie fun wandering through empty campground.
4.5 miles / 1,500 feet gained
Little hike up Kings Mountain trail to 2200 ft and turned off on Coronary Ridge and followed it west down to the Wilson River Trail to return.
9 miles / 2,500 feet gained
Biked from Bonneville to the old Aldrich TH and stashed my bike in the bushes. Visited Cedar Falls and then took the old RR grade along Hamilton Creek. It's really overgrown with that trailing blackberry, but tread findable. Some of the ropes are still there in the creek crossings. After a few miles, I bushwacked straight up the hill and made my way over to ...
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7.5 miles / 1,250 feet gained
Trail keeps getting fancier! Two new stonework viewpoints added this year. Miss the old secret trail. Can't help but imagine this is Archer's fate someday soon.
7.5 miles / 1,250 feet gained
For the second time in a row, I drove out of drizzly dreary PDX into sunshine at the coast range! No one around. Route was via Storey Burn and Gravelle Bros trails.
8 miles / 1,000 feet gained
Was foggy from PDX to Banks, but sun was out in Timber. Surprised how busy the trail was, but it got quiet on the upper portion. Mushrooms still out. Added on a few of the grassy side roads to my exploration. Love the alder hallways on the Step Creek trail.
13 miles / 2,000 feet gained
We rented a cabin at Owyhee Lake State Park. We were the only ones there. Went on a hike each day, and soaked at nearby Snively Hot Springs twice. First day-hiked above the campground to the top of the canyon. Second day-Honeycombs! It was only about 20 miles downstream as the crow flies but it took over two hours to drive there. A little sketchy with snow o...
10 miles / 1,000 feet gained
The next batch of rains have started and it was pouring all day today. I donned pack cover, rain pants and umbrella! Stayed dry for five hours. Saw two people and some elks.
4 miles / 1,000 feet gained
Hubby took the day off to go on a hike with me. The rogue trail builder of Archer Mountain has been very busy! Lots of new trails and even blazes on trees,,,grrrrr. We went down to Gable Falls and some of the trails are freshly grubbed out, like yesterday.
11.5 miles / 1,750 feet gained
My ramble got a lot longer than I expected. Explored a bit of the area in the basin that has been closed for more than 3 years, it's ridiculous! Also excited to find that Palmer Mill Road from Angels Rest is open again.
31.5 miles / 6,000 feet gained
A little escape from reality. I decided not to camp on this trip. Too cold and dark this time of year. Stayed at AirBnBs- two nights near Willamette Pass and two nights in Plush, Oregon. Went on a hike every day. One big one. 1) Fuji Mountain 3.5 miles, 1000 ft eg. This is a great quick hike if you are travelling over Willamette Pass and dont have all day. H...
31 miles / 4,750 feet gained / 2 nights
Starting at Jackpot Lake, I explored 2 different parts of the 17 mile Klickitat Trail #7, near Packwood. The first day I went NW and visited Cispus and Pompey Peaks-two old fire LO sites about 5 miles apart. Lovely subalpine meadowsbelow Twin Sisters and Castle Butte between the two, and huckleberries still ripe. Day two, I went the other direction -southeas...
5.5 miles / 500 feet gained
Just looking for some mushrooms. Found lots of lobsters + cauliflower and chicken of the woods. Only a few measly chanterelles which are usually the most abundant around here.
12 miles / 2,500 feet gained
Via Grassy Knoll trail. Summit is a bit underwhelming, but route was pleasant and I was the only one out there. Good to be out on the trail again!
30.5 miles / 6,000 feet gained / 2 nights
We started noon on Saturday at Pete's Lake Trail. Was very busy, with many families and large groups heading to Pete's Lake, an easy 4 miles with very little eg. Most people stopped there. After another mile, you hit the PCT. We went north(go south to head to Spectacle lake), and climbed 2000ft over 5 miles and 23 switchbacks to reach the heavenly alpine ter...
5.5 miles / 1,500 feet gained
Solitude until I returned back to lower bowl area. Moved slowly....Huckleberries!
9.5 miles / 3,000 feet gained
Meh. Nice exercise, and plenty of solitude, but pretty boring. Now I can say.... been there, done that.
7 miles / 1,500 feet gained
Found the “Coopey Creek Datsun”, plus several other cardavers.
5 miles / 2,000 feet gained
Out for a little hike with a friend. Smoke crept over from a wildfire near Bonney Butte
20 miles / 4,000 feet gained / 1 night
Eleven years ago, I did Mt Curtis Gilbert as a dayhike from Conrad Meadows,with a bike assist.I remember looking down at the Conrad Basin and wanting to return. Finally got back and finished my vacation with a dreamy stroll through spectacular alpine terrain. Started at Conrad Meadows where there were many horsecampers and hikers parked, and biked up the 100...
9 miles / 3,500 feet gained / 1 night
I stayed in Packwood for a night between my trips. Looking up from town, I noticed a distinctive summit. I thought it was South Point Mountain, but I was wrong, it was the adjacent Smith Point on Smith Ridge. I liked the pictures from FGS's reports, so I decided to try the South Pt mountain hike. Great summit 360 degree view, and with relics from the old LO ...
21.5 miles / 6,500 feet gained / 3 nights
Parking a zoo at Carbon River Entrance, but most of them humans did not stray far from their vehicles. We biked up the closed road to Ipsut Campground (reservations required), and spent the night in a beautiful old growth forest along the Carbon River. Next day we hiked up to Windy Gap via Wonderland to the Northern Loop trail. We then entered the magnificen...
5 miles / 1,000 feet gained / 1 night
First trip of my vacation. I was meeting friends next day for our backpack adventure and I wanted to test out my new tent and the bikepack set up. There were city hikers, burly trucks and ATVs all over this area, so I immediately cancelled my plan to go to Summit Lake. Stopped at a gate where no-one was parked, and hiked a few miles out and back on this old ...
15.5 miles / 3,500 feet gained
Took the Paradise Park Trail #778 from Kiwanis Camp Rd. Although the trip is longer and in the forest, the trail has a very gentle grade and the miles go by fast. Lots of saprophytes along this trail. All the blowdown has been cleared. Only saw 2 people on the 6 1/2 mile out and back portion of this trip. At Paradise Park, there were surprisingly few people....
9.5 miles / 2,250 feet gained
Started at the airy Huffman Peak trailhead, off 6403. Big views from the get-go. Pleasant rambling, nice forest and shady sections. Berries starting to ripen. No humans. Great day in the Gifford!
9.5 miles / 2,250 feet gained
Biked up from the gate at MP 10, did the loop, plus a secret side trip. Saw zero people and as I was zooming downhill,I blasted my tunes, fun ride out!
3 miles / 500 feet gained
There are so many Lost Lakes. This is the one just off highway 20 just west of Santiam Pass. It has a fascinating natural phenomenon. The lake actually drains INTO two lava tubes on the north side. I've been here three different times, with varying water levels. The first time was in 2015(first pic). Today you could see the lava tubes, but they didn't have t...
13.5 miles / 3,000 feet gained
Easy five mile approach from Santiam Pass on the PCT. Then it is all up. Saw a few goats. Perfect weather with a kind breeze to beat off the heat. Moved efficiently with a party of four, but it somehow still took us 14 hrs. The climbing section was great, with three protected traverses(including "the crawl") and then a vertical climb to the summit block. Ver...
7 miles / 1,750 feet gained
It was our anniversary and the spouse took the day off to go hiking with me! Quite a few cars at the Elk Meadows TH for a Monday, so we went a bit further and started off in the nordic ski lot and then turned uphill on the Newton Creek Trail where it was very quiet. Beautiful day on the mountain. We especially enjoyed the Heather Canyon area on Clark Creek.
11.5 miles / 2,750 feet gained
Started off with 5 mile bike ride from June Lake to Ape Canyon TH. Threw bike in bushes and hiked up Ape Canyon to Loowit, and headed CW back to the June. The dang mountain was covered by clouds all day.
39.5 miles / 9,750 feet gained / 4 nights
Fun tour of the Elkhorns, traveling most of the crest trail, with some side trips up the local peaks. We started from Pine Creek road for an easy car shuttle from Anthony Lakes. Walked the four miles from end of pavement up the road to Pine Creek Reservoir where we spent the night. We had the place to ourselves( + the resident goats). There is no trail from ...
13 miles / 3,000 feet gained
Did the loop and added on out and back to Hidden Falls from the Sturgeon Rock/Tarbell junction. Not happy about more clearcuts on the Tarbell Trail. Flowers going strong up there, with some nice beargrass fields too. No goats today.
4.5 miles / 500 feet gained
Staying at the beach with family. Up early for a quick jaunt. Previous day very rainy, trail was terrible- roots mud and long stretches of standing water. Required lots of attention to footwork. Loved the big trees and when I reached the tip of the point, enjoyed watching numerous seabirds below including at least 20 pelicans. Low tide. On the return trip I ...
11.5 miles / 2,750 feet gained
Great day but Hood never came out of the clouds. Feet got a little wet crossing the Muddy Fork.
16 miles / 2,000 feet gained / 1 night
This is in the Cottonwood Canyon State Park. Met my pals at the TH. We hiked up past the Lost Corral and set up camp above the mouth of Esau Canyon, then went a-wandering the hills above. Saw some baby deers! They froze and were camoflaged very well. (Used zoom on my camera, didnt get too close) Love all the gorgeous basalt. Explored the Rattlesnake Canyon a...
7.5 miles / 3,750 feet gained
I drove up to the Rooster Rock TH and threw my bike in the bushes. Then drove down and started at the Old Bridge TH. I was expecting a ridge walk, but this was more of a "below the ridge walk", in the cool woods for several hours with just a few wildflower meadows and viewpoints along the way. Trail is very well maintained. It was a pleasant gradual uphill g...
5 miles / 500 feet gained
Well I heard the Larch area was open so I headed up to one of my favorite areas to wander. Had been avoiding this for a few years because of a massive clearcut around 2015 at the Palmer mill townsite. The young trees are now tall enough to obscure the carnage. Still some big trees and cool alder hallways around. The trails have been lightly trod in recent ti...
16 miles / 2,000 feet gained / 2 nights
I've been wanting to do this bike/ski/climb trip for the past few years. Now have an adventure buddy who can rock all three. Sunday: We put our skis in a kiddie trailer and slowly rode up McKenzie Pass from the gate. Stashed our bikes and trailer at Lava Camp Lake, and attempted to ski south on the PCT. Well it was a little too late this year for the skiing....
7.5 miles / 750 feet gained
Who doesn't love a waterfall in the desert? Spectacular area.
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63 miles / 9,500 feet gained
I've been active, but was reluctant to post. Using this one for all the little local forays I did in Forest Park, Marquam trails, Tillamook Forest and such. Will post separate TRs for the more interesting trips. Fri March 27, 2020. Maple Loop variation: 8miles, 1000 ft. 10 humans one dog. Forest perennials coming up. Violet and trillium blooming. Tread a bit...
4 miles / 250 feet gained
The park had just reopened a few days before my visit. Started in the equestrian area and it really had a wild, abandoned feel to it. Biome similar to Bend, with Pondersa pine and open understory. This river feels like it's in the wilderness, rather than in the suburbs of a small city. Love the basalt formations here.
3 miles / 250 feet gained
Enroute to a 2 week deployment in Spokane for a COVID outbreak. My intention was to go to Potholes Coulee, but Google maps brought me to Potholes State Park. This is mostly an anglers boat ramp with very little hiking so after a frustrating lakeside wander, I headed to nearby Blythe Lake which was awesome! Followed a deer trail to a cool rim. Fun scrambly ri...
6 miles / 1,250 feet gained
The drive is a bit creepy on the approach to TH. Hoping for some spring Morchellas. No morels but found an antler. Saw 2 cyclists, tons of elk sign, nice flowers and birds.
8 miles / 1,500 feet gained / 1 night
Pat's Cabin Canyon is a BLM wilderness study area. Located just north of the Painted Hills Unit on Burnt Ranch Road. It is just beautiful. So dreamy wandering up and down here. You travel along an old road or in the canyon creek bed (dry). Too bad there isnt a year round water source up in the canyon, although I did see some seeps. I camped near the mouth at...
6.5 miles / 1,750 feet gained
Escape to the high desert! Took the off trail route suggested by Barbara Bond in her 75 scrambles book. Had fun wandering the upper basalt layers of the Carroll Rim. Hedgehogs blooming on the summit. Looked down on the Painted Hills unit, which was closed.
10.5 miles / 3,750 feet gained
Started early, ran the river trail and some of the traverse. Saw only 1 person on traverse, and then about 15 people and 7 dogs on the final 3 mile leg down Kings which is a brutal descent, don’t care for it at all.
9 miles / 2,000 feet gained
You've all seen these cool pinnacles north of Smith Rock from the highway. This is within the Crooked River National Grassland. I started at the equestrian corrals just outside of the Henderson OHV. Wide open country for ridgetop ramblings, cool pinnacles and rock formations for scramblings, no-one around at all. Fun to look DOWN on Smith Rock.
12.5 miles / 1,000 feet gained / 1 night
Magificent! Love the high desert solitude. Basalt formations excellent. Watched bighorn graze the hillside across the river from my camp.
