Heather Lake 1-2-12

Wow, my first hike of 2012.  Hard to believe this year has already gotten underway.  Heather Lake, was gorgeous as usual.  Cedar and I got up and back before the day's rain and wind got going.  There were only a few cars at the trailhead, so we had it pretty much to ourselves. 

The lake itself had snow pack all around it and some ice on it.  The trail around was easily followed and manageable, no avalanche danger to speak of, so we went all the way around.  I could hear little avalanches above and saw a few soccer ball-sized ice chunks fall, but they were a long way up.  That happens even in the summer with these steep eroding mountainsides.  Someday I'm going to catch one on film!!

One thing I did catch with my camera this time, was this beautiful woodpecker, which I believe to be a red-breasted sapsucker.  I didn't call him that to his face though. 

Happy hiking!

Lord Hill Park 12-31-2011

Before the New Year festivities got going Dave, Cedar and I ventured into Lord Hill Regional Park.  I had never been there, but Dave remembered Beaver Lake from when he was younger.  I thought this park was pretty terrific (despite my low number of pictures).  The trails meander around the hill, bodies of water, through various types of forest and are well marked.  There are even "You Are Here" maps here and there, so you can enjoy your adventure without wondering if you're going to find your way back out. 
We hiked pretty much straight in to Beaver Lake, an active beaver pond, full of stumps and marshy grasses.  I think I glimpsed beavers, but nothing I could pick up with my camera.  We also saw a lovely pair of hooded mergansers (although my one picture was blurry), blue heron and deer sign.

There were some really rain-foresty, mossy areas.  These pictures would make crazy puzzles!

I will have to come back to this park and explore some more!  Next time I'll get some more pictures.  There are quite a few horses on the wider trails which they are allowed on.  They were all very well-mannered and everyone we met on the trail was very friendly.  Definitely keep your dog on a leash.  Adventure Dog does better off his, but these are pretty busy, and with horses and fast-moving mountain bikes, it was best he was tethered. 
Don't let this picture stump you.  It's Super Dave branching out in the world.  Tree-hee-hee?

The Woods 12-17-11

As Dave, Adventure Dog and I went for a walk in the woods today, this is what we were rewarded with!  What a beautiful creature.  I didn't have my camera, so this was the clearest my iPhone could do.  I think it might be a small gray owl (although its eyes seemed dark instead of gold), or a spotted owl (although it seemed more gray than barred brown).  If you can help identify, please comment!

Lake Twentytwo 12-10-11

On a cloudy Saturday Dave, Adventure Dog and I hiked up to Lake Twenty-two.  Most of the trail was clear, but near the top it became icy and then covered with snow.  Around the lake, where the snow was packed down I think there was over two feet of it already, though you could still get all the way around the water.  I got to finally try out my Yak Trax and I totally love them.  On ice and hard packed snow, they nearly eliminate slipping.
Here is Cedar leading the way (as usual).

It was icy out, and there is this really interesting formation of ice from where water is forced out of the ground in a network of tiny ice columns.  I tried to get a good picture of that sprawling, but it doesn't show up very well. Here are some neat icicles too.

Here is a super cool phenomenon Dave and I enjoyed.  Little droplets of water were running along under the ice, looking like little shadowy living things.

Here are some pictures of the lovely snow-clad lake.  And of Dave and Cedar posing in front of it.

Here Cedar is enjoying this winter-wonderland.  Do you see him in this first one?  It was snowing while we were up there, so it was a particularly Christmasy day.

Here is what the difference looks like between a round rock covered with snow and a square rock covered with snow.  Fascinating, no? 

And as we wrapped up our hike up there, there was a raven perched on the bridge in the falling snow. We posed with it for pictures.  Great hike!

Multnomah Falls, Portland, Cannon Beach Dec 2-4

For a wonderful Northwest Experience, Dave and I went on a weekend trip to the Portland area and the Oregon Coast.  The first day involved viewing gorgeous waterfalls east of Portland including Multnomah Falls, one of the tallest in the U.S.  All of them were “ooh” and “aah” worthy though.  There are enough falls along the Columbia Gorge there to make at least an entire day of not weekend of seeing them.  Many anyone can just pop out of their car to enjoy for those who aren’t into hiking. 

Along the same highway, we viewed the Bonneville Dam and fish hatchery, feeding the trout and viewing the huge sturgeon.  We also made a side trip up to Vista House, which was a enigmatic structure up high with breathtaking views of the Columbia and pretty windows. 

Getting into Portland later, the only sightseeing we really did was Powell’s Books.  GO THERE!  It is a vast book store that you could also probably spend an entire weekend in.  We went in optimistically thinking of finding Christmas presents and ended up wandering through the aisles with our eyes as wide as children visiting a chocolate factory.  It was overwhelming.  Here is a picture of the carpeting at the hotel we stayed at in Portland.  Yikes! 

The next morning found us munching Voodoo Donuts (the magic is in the hole, haha) and perusing the crafts at the Portland Saturday market.  Lisa, my best friend from high school, was there with her lampwork glass art (stunning beautiful- go there and buy some!), but I didn’t buy any because I was trying not to buy gifts for myself.  It was nice that she got to meet Dave and it was great to visit with her. Unfortunately I always think of photos when I see nature, but didn’t even think to get a picture of her or the market. 

It was cold and gray in Portland, so after leaving there, it was a pleasant surprise to find the coast warm and sunny.  We explored Cannon Beach, including a little tidepooling at the famous Haystack Rock.  The beaches were huge and beautiful and though not many shells were to be found, we did find a couple of sand dollars.  The people there were friendly, laid back and helpful and the place we ate lunch at recommended a nice hotel that we came to love that was right on the beach with big window and sliding door overlooking the sand and surf.  Just wonderful!  It was called Webb’s Scenic Surf, and I would stay there again if I went back! 

What a super terrific weekend!