Mount Mitchell has great views from its rocky summit, stretching from the Mount Jefferson to Mount Hood.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens, and in normal times, this area would be crowded with hikers on the trails and busloads of tourists at the visitors centers.
My first backpacking trip of the year was focused on spending time relaxing in the forest and practicing photography skills. We spent two nights and explored the side trails on Trapper Creek.
Trapper Creek Wilderness is located in Southwest Washington, and in spite of its closeness to Portland, this is my first time hiking here.
Good for a cloudy or rainy day, this moderate hike leads to a grouping of large basalt pinnacles.
After being stopped by high water in January, I returned to hike more of this trail next to the Little North Santiam River.
I’ve been wanting to explore more of the rivers and rainforests on the Olympic Peninsula, so four friends and I rented a cabin on Hood Canal for a long weekend.
This strenuous loop hike starts at Angels Rest, continues to Devils Rest, then heads down to Wahkeena Spring before going back up to Angels Rest. We timed our hike for sunset and hiked out in the dark back to the trailhead.
This hike parallels the Little North Santiam River through a forest full of green moss and ferns. Water levels were high in the river and all of the tributary streams, so we didn’t go as far as we had planned.
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