2017

December 30, 2017
Gales Creek hike
Located in the Oregon Coast Range, Gales Creek is close enough for a quick hike without spending too much time getting there and back. On this day, the water in Gales Creek and it’s tributary streams was running higher than I’ve ever seen it.

November 18, 2017
Hart’s Cove hike
Located on Cascade Head, the trail to Harts Cove is only open from July 16 to December 31. Part of the Nature Conservancy’s Cascade Head Preserve, researchers are working to protect the endangered Oregon silverspot butterfly, rare wildflowers, and native grasses.

October 26, 2017
Summit Trail loop at Smith Rock
On the way to attend the Oregon Trails Summit in Bend, I stopped to do a solo hike at Smith Rock State Park.

October 14, 2017
Little North Santiam River Trail
With snow levels in the Cascades dropping to 4,000 feet last week, we headed to the green forest for a hike next to the Little North Santiam River.

October 8, 2017
Indian Heaven Wilderness: Blue Lake hike
I didn’t think I’d get a chance to go here this year due to a wildfire, but parts of the area reopened just in time to see this subalpine splendor in brilliant fall color.

October 6, 2017
Bald Mountain via Lolo Pass
I’ve hiked around Bald Mountain several times on the way to McNeal Point, but this is the first time I did the hike from the PCT at Lolo Pass and went to the summit of Bald Mountain.

September 23, 2017
Burnt Lake backpacking trip
Two night backpacking trip at Burnt Lake, with a day hike to East Zigzag Mountain

September 18, 2017
Burnt Lake + East Zigzag Mountain day hike
This is a day hike to Burnt Lake, continuing partway up East Zigzag Mountain.

September 11, 2017
Cape Lookout camping trip
Cape Lookout State Park is my favorite place for camping on the Oregon Coast, and has been a tradition for my husband and I to camp here every year since we moved to Oregon ten years ago.