Karl

December 30, 2015 4 miles 750 feet gained

[Actually happened 12/31, but a site bug keeps that date out of the stats.] Harleigh didn't get to to snowshoeing yesterday, so we did a romp up at WSUV this afternoon. I think I walked a bit over 4 miles, and I'm sure he did much closer to 8 or 10. What a perfect place to go, when the forecast is so grim in the mountains. Two highlights near the end of the ...

December 30, 2015 8 miles 2,000 feet gained

The forecast looked fantastic. But NOAA seemed to have completely missed the winds. Skies were gloriously blue, and the windchills were probably into the negative range. We did luck out as the things calmed down to a mere breeze while we neared our turnaround time. Anyway, the scenery was top-rate! And the friends a joy to share it with. <iframe width="540" ...

December 28, 2015 11 miles 3,000 feet gained

Intensely monochromatic, but lovely, day on an old favorite! Only crossed paths with ten (or fewer) folks all day long, but two of them were old-time PH TFFs - so fun to see them up there! No ice anywhere, but snow from the trailhead on up. It didn't really start accumulating until fairly high, with the depth increasing from about a 1 inch at 1500' to a soli...

December 26, 2015 6.5 miles 250 feet gained

Yep, again. Closest trail to home. Water levels down a bit. Mount Hood made an appearance. Lots of herons and egrets, but Harleigh wasn't interested in just observing, so it was hard to get many photos.

December 19, 2015 6 miles 250 feet gained

Sick of the rain, but bogged down in one family thing after another, Harleigh and I just made an escape the other day for a brisk one up and down the greenway. Salmon Creek was flowing large! In places, right up to the trail. It was the only time in the last three years I didn't bring a spare camera battery, and of course the one that was in it died only a m...

December 4, 2015 22.5 miles 4,250 feet gained

The forecast said it was supposed to stop raining at 8am. HA! 10 hours later, it really hadn't let up at all, but we'd wandered pretty considerably. The initial plan was to tackle Ruckel Ridge, cross the plateau, and return via the PCT. However, right around 1000' elevation, we started running into 1" thick ice on the rocky 45°+ trail. If there wasn't anothe...

November 26, 2015 3.5 miles 250 feet gained

Harleigh and I both needed to stretch after yesterday, and I thought he was especially deserving, so we joined a "hiking with dogs" group to wander around the frozen gorge this beautiful #OptOutside day! Both people and dogs made new friends. Pretty nice way to spend the morning. :-) [The sign said "Strawberry Island" - no idea why the map calls it "Hamilton...

November 21, 2015 20 miles 5,250 feet gained

Awesome day with great trailfriends, old and new, visiting the gorge peak that's farthest from any trailhead. Two of whom bagged their first 20-miler! There really isn't a better trail to do it on, either. :-) Started early, in the frosty cold, and never really escaped that. Although, the summit itself was a balmy 40-ish degrees with no wind! Otherwise, low-...

November 20, 2015 11 miles 4,000 feet gained

Following a spectacular failure trying to get to Bell Creek, Nesmith Point sounded like a good and nearby leg-stretcher! Lots of blowdown here, too, most all below 2000'. Very cold on top, but not much snow. Just occasional patches 1/2" or so deep. Finished last couple miles under headlamp. Curse "standard" time!

November 20, 2015 7 miles 1,750 feet gained

The original plan was to do the Bell Creek loop, coming from Oneonta Creek. But the recent storm(s) have had their way with that trail! Repairs to last year's slide area held up well, but there were uncounted new log falls across the trail, or taking the trail out entirely with their rootballs. Nonetheless, getting to Triple Falls is still doable for the mil...

November 14, 2015 5.5 miles 250 feet gained

Just a quick getaway on a nicer-than-expected evening...

November 11, 2015 10.5 miles 4,250 feet gained

Got a really late start, not arriving at the Aldrich Butte trailhead until after 11am. The skies were broken, and it wasn't raining here. (Poured buckets as I was driving through Camas!) Seemed like it just might turn out to be a good sky-watching day. :-) Headed up the old access road, turning towards Aldrich Butte, before coming across a fresh landslide. N...

November 1, 2015 15.5 miles 1,750 feet gained

The previous day's deluge set up the perfect conditions for a classic "waterfalls hike." And it probably rained another 2-4" just while I was hiking! Eagle Creek was raging like I'd never seen it before. Keeping my gear dry was an exercise in futility, quickly abandoned. Just an awesome day on one of the most awesome forest trails in the country.

October 23, 2015 10 miles 2,500 feet gained

Lovely day in the woods, with some really nice views. The soft lighting offered by a very thinly overcast sky really brought out some incredible colors in our now nearly-naked mountain. Ran into extremely few folks, maybe six groups altogether, but the highlight was crossing trails with Mountainkat on the way up! While we were chatting, two groups of six oth...

October 22, 2015 5 miles 1,500 feet gained

Seems a bit cliché-ish, but a sunset run up to Angels Rest on a weeknight yields some pretty memorable moments. We crossed paths with a few coming down, and were left with the top near entirely to ourselves! So nice to have an option like this so close to town! Perfect alternative to the 'hood for the evening dog walk.

October 16, 2015 8.5 miles 2,250 feet gained

A bit of a recliner hike, after not having been out much lately. Really nice loop through a new (to me) wilderness. Absolutely phenomenal views from the "antique" lookout. We counted 11 stratovolcanoes, ranging from Rainier to the Three Sisters. Fall colors were better on the roads to/from the trailhead, and seem to be fading fast at elevation. Spotted quite...

October 1, 2015 3 miles 500 feet gained

The longest 3-mile hike you'll ever take! Especially if you do it in early October, when the Fall colors are peaking. Oh my! The lollipop trail around Oberg Mountain branches off from the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) not far from the trailhead. It climbs gently to a loop that circles the summit, breaking out to a series of stunning viewpoints at numerous loca...

September 29, 2015 5.5 miles 500 feet gained

Had a great lunch at "Our Place" in Finland, before doing an in/out on the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT), through a gorgeous birch and maple forest, to Egge Lake as the sun slowly sank to our west. The SHT was gently rolling through here, and the Fall colors were popping! Harleigh could barely be restrained from chasing the hundreds of squirrels and chipmunks ...

September 27, 2015 10 miles 1,750 feet gained

Finally found a chance to hike the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) from a gravel road that leads to our nearby cabin, along the Cascade River, clockwise down to Lake Superior, then back up again along the other side of the river. The SHT is sooooo different from our local trails, in particular from the PCT! Rocks and roots characterize the tread. And stairs. Thi...

September 6, 2015 11 miles 1,500 feet gained

Was shocked back into Fall, as we hiked through the rain and enjoyed the onset of autumn colors. Lots of folks along the short 1.7 mile trail from parking lot to spectacular 335' Falls Creek Falls. But hardly anyone on the trail above, that leads to views of the upper tier and eventually all the way to Indian Heaven. Perhaps the most amazing thing we saw all...

September 4, 2015 8 miles 1,750 feet gained

The ongoing destruction of this trail is a serious disappointment to me. Yes, they've improved the viewpoint of the upper falls. But they've also removed a good number of other viewpoints, some of them seemingly entirely senselessly. Case in point, the railroad overlook! W.T.H...??? I swear, I was mumbling much of the loop about how boring they'd made it. Th...

August 21, 2015 15.5 miles 4,250 feet gained

My "job" on Friday was to wear out the dog, in anticipation of relatives arriving to visit on Saturday. Mission accomplished! A bit after noon we headed out for Beacon Rock State Park, found a new way (to us) to loop Hamilton Mountain and Hardy Ridge, and thoroughly enjoyed the nearly pristine skies. The Cougar Creek fires on Mount Adams were barely discerni...

August 16, 2015 10 miles 2,250 feet gained

The forecast called for north winds. The thought was to get some views of the Cougar Creek fire on Mount Adams. First attempt to accomplish that would be climbing Sleeping Beauty. When we got to the trailhead, the smoke was so thick we didn't even bother getting out of the Jeep. The second attempt was hiking in to Lemei Rock from the east. When we got to thi...

August 10 to August 11, 2015 23 miles 2,000 feet gained 1 night

Lavapalooza, Day Five! This one was totally off my radar, but a friend had mentioned she wanted to go see it, I took a quick look at the 'net, and couldn't have been happier to accompany! What a treat. The water has a mystical blueness to it that defies the imagination. Tamolitch Pool, aka "Blue Pool", is positively electric! Never seen such a stretch of bea...

August 9 to August 10, 2015 18.5 miles 3,500 feet gained 1 night

Lavapalooza, Day Four! The original plan was for an in/out lollipop to Obsidian Falls, but we had a strong group so the hike was extended into a full loop along the PCT over Opie Dildock Pass to the Collier Glacier Viewpoint, then back down the Scott Trail to our starting point. Despite a persistently overcast sky, it was yet another incredible day along the...

August 8 to August 9, 2015 12 miles 1,750 feet gained 1 night

Lavapalooza, Day Three! This awesome little loop heads out directly from the Scott Lake Campground, our basecamp for five nights. It winds through a pleasant forest, while passing a succession of beautiful lakes. Benson and Tenas Lakes were most gorgeous. We then wound up towards the summit of Scott Mountain, which offered sweeping 360° views across much of ...

August 7 to August 8, 2015 8 miles 2,000 feet gained 1 night

Lavapalooza, Day Two! Enjoyed another glorious sunrise at Scott Lake, followed by a trek along the PCT following 1500-year old lava flows to their source. First detour was a short 0.2 mile spur to Little Belknap Crater, enjoying a few lava tubes and generally insane topography along the way. Then we left the main lava flow and climbed what amounted to an 800...

August 6 to August 7, 2015 8 miles 2,500 feet gained 1 night

Lavapalooza, Day One! Started and finished the day at the Scott Lake Campground, just a few miles west of Dee Wright Observatory. It was to be our basecamp for five nights, as we wandered around the Three Sisters and Mount Washington Wilderness Areas by day. Black Crater offers one of the most spectacular views of the Cascade volcanoes I believe I have ever ...

August 1, 2015 18.5 miles 3,500 feet gained

Extended the usual trip, after a quick tour of the lakes, up to the perfect lunch-with-a-view spot atop Park Ridge. It was a hot day, hotter than we had expected to be sure. There's one patch of snow on Park Butte that still offered a running stream down across the PCT on our way up. The Park is almost entirely devoid of wildflowers now, other than some few ...

July 26, 2015 13.5 miles 3,250 feet gained

Had a mid-winter hike in the middle of the hottest summer ever. Felt pretty darned good! On the way up the Hardy Ridge loop, we encountered a Pacific Giant Salamander - a first for both of us. Very cool creature! The trail up from the junction was as brushy as ever, and clouds sweeping over us insured it was dripping wet. By the time we reached Phlox Point, ...

July 24, 2015 20.5 miles 4,250 feet gained

Awesome loop through a beautiful forest, past glorious opal blue streams, with a payout of 7- or 8-volcano view, lots of history, and incredible old growth. All spent with a great new trail friend. We took the loop clockwise, climbing up to Whetstone Mountain first. It was a gentle approach, similar to many in the gorge. The views on top were pretty darn nic...

July 19, 2015 21 miles 4,500 feet gained

Hoped to escape the city heat, and mostly succeeded! Took an entirely new (to us) route up to Paradise Park from the Kiwanis Camp area below Government Camp, going up the Paradise Park trail and coming back down the Hidden Lake trail. Both routes were blissfully shaded by the forest, leaving only portions on and above the Timberline Trail with much sun expos...

July 12, 2015 14 miles 3,750 feet gained

Finally made it up top on Sturgeon Rock! Tried a few times before, but have been stymied by icy or windy conditions, neither of which would make that a fun experience. Didn't get to Grouse Vista until around noon, and headed immediately down the Tarbell Trail so I could do Sturgeon first. I think that made a difference, too, as it's more often an afterthough...

July 10, 2015 13.5 miles 3,500 feet gained

Late start! The day started cloudy. Got to the trailhead at 2pm, and it was all of a sudden 81° and stinky humid. Thought a rainforest might be a decent refuge. What I'd neglected to find out, maybe I'm the only one who didn't know this?, is that the Soda Peaks Trail is akin to the Defiance Trail for long runs. Ai yi yi...! Thank goodness Harleigh was there ...

July 4, 2015 8.5 miles 1,750 feet gained

Bored with A/C, and having just heard about the [fire on Mount Adams](http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4360/), I decided to head up to Larch Mountain for a quickie. The immediate good news was, there was no visible plume rising up in the Trout Lake area! There was a thin layer of smoke across the northern horizon, though. Anyway, it was a weird hike, startin...

June 26, 2015 14.5 miles 500 feet gained

The forecast called for temps over 90° just about everywhere. We preferred mid-50°s, and found it! Located a trailhead along a road outside Cape Lookout State Park, which enabled avoiding the entry fees. This descended through the coastal rainforest to the beach, thus giving us our only EG for the day at the very tail end of the hike. Just meandered down the...

June 20, 2015 13 miles 4,000 feet gained

Despite arriving at the Top Spur trailhead right about 8am, the main parking was already consumed, and folks were starting to parallel park above and below. Still, we ran into very few other hikers all day, considering the number of cars we saw. The walk up the ridge, through the forest, was very pleasant in the coolness of morning. Not as many flowers out o...

June 18, 2015 13 miles 4,250 feet gained

Snuck away for a fabulous day on the mountain with good friends! So many reports of avalanche lilies along Vista Ridge, led us to choose that trailhead as our starting point. Other than a short span, the lilies were mostly spent, but the beargrass was coming on strong in its place. We detoured over to Eden Park, and enjoyed the flower show along the way, par...

June 6 to June 7, 2015 26 miles 6,250 feet gained 1 night

Just an incredible adventure, with the most awesome trail friends a guy could hope for. Ended up "only" making it 26 of the 32 miles, bailing out at Windy Ridge due to rather severe heat exhaustion. (Two in our party continued on around, and finished, though!) We camped at Marble Mountain Sno-Park, so we could get a really early start on the day. Left the Ju...

May 29, 2015 26 miles 5,250 feet gained

Decided a little training hike was in order yesterday, after a few weeks off the trail, just to see if I could still get around. Ended up doing the Eagle-Tanner loop for the first time, and had my ass appropriately kicked! Who the heck turned up the heat??? Or maybe it was the humidity. Regardless, climbing 3000' after 10 miles up the Eagle Creek valley, as ...

May 25, 2015 6 miles 750 feet gained

Just a nice walk in the woods, and drive through the countryside, with family. :-)

May 15, 2015 7 miles 250 feet gained

I guess there's no more snow in Clark County! Exhausted from a recent trip, I had only gumption for a quick run up and down the backyard valley. Water levels in Salmon Creek are at late-June to mid-July levels. It's nuts. The hunting grounds for the herons have shrunk considerably, so we saw many more than usual.

May 9, 2015 11 miles 1,750 feet gained

Just a really nice day in the woods, with a special treat on top. Fair warning to any considering this one -- the mosquitoes are hatched and hungry in Indian Heaven, while the frogs are still in their early tadpole state. Not a good combo. A little DEET will do ya, but you could be miserable without. Did an in/out on the PCT from Crest Camp trailhead. Very n...

May 4, 2015 8 miles 3,250 feet gained

Left the city late, arriving at the trailhead after 3pm, and still there were 60 cars already there. On a weekday! Ran into a fellow PHer on the way up, and chatted a bit, then continued on. Ended up having the summit all to myself, despite back-and-forthing with a few folks along the way. Not that most would want to hang out up there that day. Gale force wi...

May 2, 2015 6 miles 1,000 feet gained

Not a hike, per se. Volunteered to join the search for Gerren Kirk, a hiker who went missing last December. Spent the day bushwacking through brutral underbrush in our assigned search area, and in the process made some new friends.

May 1, 2015 6 miles 500 feet gained

Nursing some abused muscles and joints, I decided to just go wander all the trails I could find around Moulton Falls. Very pleasant park, but an amazing number of dog walkers there for a Friday afternoon!

April 25, 2015 17 miles 4,750 feet gained

Gained a new appreciation for Nesmith Point yesterday, by taking a route less taken! We met at Yeon, the traditional trailhead, then drove one car back to Horsetail Falls. This allowed a fabulous ascent, gaining the 4000' summit over 12 miles rather than 4, all the while soaking in a glorious sun-dappled forest full of rushing streams, waterfalls, a bit of s...

April 17, 2015 20.5 miles 5,000 feet gained

Finally made it up to Three Corner Rock - a great day with good friends. First time hiking with one of them, which was a real kick. The trail is a long, winding, roller-coaster sort of thing, heading off along Stebbins Creek from Washougal River Road. Most of it is through a lusciously green forest, with the constant sound of rushing water. Crossing the cree...

April 11, 2015 5 miles 1,500 feet gained

Following the service for a [lost friend](http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/apr/08/man-dies-after-hiking-near-mount-st-helens/), a few of us chose to remember him with a quick jaunt up to Angels Rest. Given the weather conditions, we found rather remarkable solitude on this popular peak. It was a fitting end to a hard week. <iframe width="480" height="360" ...

April 9, 2015 12 miles 2,750 feet gained

Really didn't have it in me to stay at the office all day, so I got the heck out of there, grabbed the new pup, and took him on his first "real hike." We had a great time! He's a scrambler; never complaining about the climb once. Only real "issue" was he didn't have much/any interest in just chillin' a bit on the Saddle to enjoy the views. Ah well, he'll get...