Silver Star Mountain, Finally

I don't know, maybe I was expecting too much. Recent trip reports, including a second anniversary overnighter of some friends of mine, had me really amped up for Silver Star Mountain. Well, of course the road was terrible, and I chose this hike with which to christen my new car. I set off on the Grouse Vista trail, which was tedious and rough and lacked the views of Ed's Trail or the Bluff Mountain approach. The vista at the top wasn't mind-blowing, but still pretty cool: Indian Heaven Wilderness, the Dark Divide, and the SoWa Cascades peeking out of the clouds. I will have to go back on a clearer day, or maybe at a different time of day for better light. As it was, I thought this hike paled in comparison to the hype.

6 miles, 2.5-3 hours

Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic 2011

We did it! And the best part is, we did it well, finishing both days strong and in much better time than we'd predicted. All the training paid off, from the miserable cold and rainy loops of Hagg Lake this winter, to our recent grueling ride up Mount St Helens to prove that indeed we were ready to tackle back-to-back centuries. And I'll tell you, I've never had more fun with so many people in my life - what a great event. Thanks to Cascade Bicycle Club for putting it together, big hugs to everyone who let me join their paceline and draft basically from Rainier to PDX, and speedy recovery wishes to those who suffered injuries on the road. Dr. B was a great coach, but little does he know, I've already got my eye on the one-day finisher patch for next year...

What have I Been Doing All Spring, You Ask?

Biking! Getting ready for STP with Dr. B as my awesome coach, while simultaneously trying to get fit and strong for what I hope will be an epic hiking season after a shite winter. Here are some pics of me dominating various rides, including Larch Mountain, Mount St Helens, Rowena Crest, the Dalles-Petersburg Loop and a grueling 65-miler outside of Goldendale, Wash. where some sad remains of my old Klein still lay by the side of the road. Don't ask.

Also. (Don't judge)

Herman Creek to Indian Head

Did I mention I hate the winters here? But I love Oregon, and I'm determined to make the best of it, so between early training rides for July's STP I am forcing myself to hit the Gorge trails. After all, they're really quite pretty this time of year. That being said, Herman Creek via the Gorton Creek trail is not the most spectacular hike I've ever done. It's a fairly dull and not particularly challenging slog through mossy trees, and you're never far enough from I-84 to get a feeling of being in the wilderness - you must delve a little farther south into the woods via many connector trails for that. However, for viewpoints of the Gorge and a little titillating high cliff adventure, Indian Point is a worthy goal. Follow the narrow catwalk out to the middle vision quest pit and enjoy the bird's eye view of Wind and Dog Mountain. Just hold onto your hat, and your footing, because it's windy and a looong way down. Return via the much nicer (and steeper) Nick Eaton Ridge, which had misty glimpses of the Gorge's tallest peaks, still covered in blankets of snow.

7 miles, 2 hours.

Multnomah Falls -> Devil's Point-> Wahkeenah Loop

Nice winter loop via some of the gorge's most popular trails. Can't beat it for moody seasonal beauty, and got some good miles in. Devil's Point sucked, but it was a fine bunch of rocks on which to eat my tuna fish sandwich and wait out a pretty, peaceful hail storm. Start at Multnomah Falls, descend to Wahkeennah via the Foxglove trail, and follow the connector trail along I-84 back to your car. For this hike I grabbed one of the maps for this section of the gorge from REI, but you can also find route maps searching the forums on local hiking blogs such as Portland Hikers.

14.5 miles, 3-3.5 hours.

Greenleaf Peak

My buddy Don and I hiked up Greenleaf Peak, a lesser-known Gorge peak on the Washington side overshadowed by adjacent Table Mountain. there was quite a bit of snow at the summit, so this was a difficult but overall rewarding afternoon. Views of Adams through the clouds.

8 miles, 5-6 hours