Saddle Mountain

Location: near Seaside, Oregon Level: moderate Round trip/Gain: 5.2 miles/1600 ft Type: out-and-back Permit: n/a One maaaaajorly notable thing: TRAFFIC. I left Portland at 8am, and the traffic was stop-and-go there and back for many miles. I think I spent about 4.5 hours in the car round trip. If you’re in or around Portland, it’s […]

Day Three: Williams > Jacksonville > Crater Lake > Portland?

The bedroom is way too dark for 8:30am. Rain. I get up begrudgingly, my body a pin cushion of unexplainable pain. I hear the two lambs crying nearby and limp to a window to see what the fuss is. The dogs are chasing them around the front yard, all parties confused as to why they […]

Day One: Portland to Williams, Oregon

My alarm goes off at 7:50, but like most days lately, no matter what time it’s set for, it takes me about thirty minutes to get up. I lay in bed and check email as Brie continues to sleep undisturbed. I have a pingback awaiting approval from a website I’m not familiar with. Pingbacks are […]

Day Trip: Rattlesnake Falls

Location: Husum, Washington Google map: don’t bother. From the Hood River Bridge, head west for 1.5 miles then make a right on SR 141. After 6 miles, just past Wet Planet, turn right onto Oak Ridge Rd. for 0.8-mile. Turn Right on Rattlesnake Rd and set your odometer. At the nine mile mark (most of […]

Dalles Mountain Ranch

Level: Easy (Beginner level: challenging) Length: ~5.5 miles Elevation: >1,000 ft. gain Type: loop Open: all year, peak wildflower time is mid-April to mid-May Permit: Discover Pass or $5 Drive time from Portland: 1h30m Google map: “crawford oaks trailhead” Features: Eastern Gorge, spring wildflowers, waterfall Every day that has passed in the week-and-a-half since I did […]

Smith Rock

Level: moderate Length: 4 miles Elevation: 800 ft. gain Type: loop Open: all year Permit: Oregon State Parks pass or $5 Drive time from Portland: 3 hours Google map: “Smith Rock State Park” Features: Central Oregon lava plains, rock-climbing, wildflowers, views, Crooked River, bird watching Pair with: Tumalo Falls, Scout Camp Trail, Steelhead Falls, Cove […]

Cape Horn (+ writing)

“I look around and try to notice everything I possibly can, something I do when I need to get out of my head. Drenched neon mosses and licorice ferns growing off every alder trunk. The remaining leaves, a yellow deserving of new definition. The fog swirls thicker. Gratitude for green. All year, the seasons haven’t […]

Klickitat Rail Trail

Level: Easy to Moderate Beginner Level: Doable, turn around whenever you feel like it! Length: +/- 7.8 miles Elevation: +/- 270 ft. gain Type: Out and back Open: all year (but read below) Permit: n/a, $2 for bridge crossings Drive time from Portland: 1h30m Google map: n/a, I-84E to Hood River Bridge (exit 64). Turn right on […]

Angels Rest

Level: Moderate Length: 4.6 miles Elevation: 1,500 ft. gain Type: Out and back Open: all year Permit: n/a Drive time from Portland: 30m Google map: “angels rest” Features: Columbia River Gorge, Coopey Falls, views out the yingyang Angels Rest, you are the McDonalds Value Menu of trails and I’m lovin’ it. So much bang for […]

Travel Journal Feb. 5-7, 2016

Locations: Santiam Foothills, Santiam Pass, McKenzie Foothills, McKenzie River National Trail, Central Oregon Cascades, Shellburg Falls, Tamolitch Pool, hot springs Friday, February 5, 2016 We piled into the car at 9am, an hour later than we intended, but we work late so for us this was getting a good start. Our first stop of the […]