Snowgrass Flats, Goat Rocks Wilderness

Dr B and I drove out to Goat Rocks Wilderness for the first time today. I've been determined to get out there for several days now, but the weather wouldn't cooperate until this weekend. 90 degrees in Portland? Get some elevation!

The drive was just over three hours, but the recently graded gravel road was beyond tedious. We chose the counterclockwise approach of the Snowgrass Flats Trail 96/Lily Basin Loop to avoid immediate strenuous climbing, and although the trail was relatively gentle the dense trees made for 4+ miles of fairly dull hiking. Near the cutoff for the PCT, the views open up a bit to gorgeous wildflower meadows and glimpses of Old Snowy, but still the dramatic views elude you. At about mile 6, Jordan basin unfurls before you and the payoff comes. We didn't complete the loop or make it to Goat Lake due to time constraints (our furry dependents were locked up back at home), but got a good view of the lush green basin and Hawkeye Point above. We saw no goats up high, due no doubt to the creeping temperatures, and the bugs were pretty aggressive. Overall, it seems apparent that the best way to experience Goat Rocks is via an overnight trip - we didn't see nearly enough!

13.5 miles, 5 hours

Mississippi Head Airplane Crash Hike (Attempt)

Last week I thought I'd try to reach the plane bits on Mississippi Head above Zigzag Canyon on Mount Hood. The weather seemed ideal from the Timberline Trail heading to Paradise Park, but it quickly turned sour once I hit the snowfields above the canyon. Fears of whiteout and injury made me turn back and retrace my 7.5 miles rather than ascending just another 1,000 feet to reach the Palmer Glacier ski lifts and then following them quickly downhill back to my car. It was a brutal return trip, but I'm confident about my decision, and someone on Portland Hikers snapped a shot of me hightailing it out of the clouds (below).

15.5 miles, 7 hours.

Highway 395 and More

Our California road trip was over too soon, but we did see some great sights speeding home from our Yosemite vacation. The highlights were the tufa towers of Mono Lake, the mountains floating behind Lake Tahoe, the eerie desolation of the Lassen Volcanic National Park, and finally Mount Shasta, who did not disappoint. Heavenly Crater Lake, which never gets old, told us we were home. No, scratch that - when we passed a long-distance rider on a double-decker "tall bike" just outside of Klamath Falls, we knew we were back in Oregon, home of the weird.

Ansel Adams Wilderness Backpacking Trip

I am a very lucky wife. A couple years ago, I bailed a few days into a JMT hike and have regretted it ever since. My husband -who likes a challenging day hike but isn't much for prolonged periods of roughing it- promised some day to go back and join me for part of it. I started planning in February, of course, and when August finally came we packed up the new Subie and drove 13 hours south on Highway 395, Tuolumne Meadows backpacker's camp or bust. Tioga Pass Road's peaks and meadows were my reward for the difficult drive. We set off on the JMT the next morning, via the surprisingly lovely Lyell Canyon. Camp was rough that first night, with its aggressive mosquitoes, and I questioned why I had not taken my poor husband to Bermuda instead. The next morning we traversed the gorgeous basins on either side of 11,000-ft. Donahue Pass and spent the night perched above Waugh Lake just below Island Pass. The third day, however, was the most spectacular, passing by Emerald, Thousand Island, Ruby and Garnet Lakes (listed in order of awesomeness), the last of which made for the most scenic, if chilly, swimming spot. The final day saw a bittersweet farewell to the main JMT, and a harrowing descent along Shadow Lake Trail and dusty climb to Agnew Meadows to catch the shuttle to Mammoth. Exhausted, filthy, and satisfied, we took a zero day riding the free trolleys around Mammoth Lakes, which we decided was "like Bend, but more Sierra-y"... future vacation spot, definitely.

Side note: That's Silverfoot and Grayjay, just two of the many rad thru-hikers we chatted up along the way. Hi ladies!

Approx 35 miles of hiking, 4 days, and lots of driving.

Coldwater Peak/Loowit Hike

Hiked Coldwater Peak with a misguided side trip through the Pumice Plain until I decided it was way too hot and continued on with my original plan. Also, this was a scouting trip for Mount Margaret and Whittier snow levels. Incredible hike, can't believe I've never done this one. Starts out touristy, but with what a bang!

14.5 miles, 6 hours.