Three outdoor adventures – Lookout Mountain, Swan Island Dahlia Farm, and Saddle Mountain.
September 7 – Lookout Mountain, Oregon
A favorite hike, and reopened since we were turned away in July due to a nearby fire. All the views are still there – though under clouds somewhat today (3.1 miles/575 feet).
Volcanic pinnacle, Mt Hood
Approach ridge, view of the top of Lookout Mt.
Red knotweed along the trail
Mt Hood from the top of Lookout Mt
High desert to the east
Juniper berries
The last lupine of summer?
Mt Jefferson in the clouds
Mt Hood still under clouds
Eliot Glacier close up
September 15 – Swan Island Dahlias, Canby, Oregon
More of a stroll than a hike – on a day when we had to do errands related to home improvement, we managed to squeeze in our first ever visit to this colorful farm. A great bath for the senses!
Swan Island Dahlia Farm
September 19 – Saddle Mountain, Oregon
Another favorite hike, but the trail has been closed for repair for more than a year. We missed the brilliant wildflower diversity of spring/summer, and instead saw the early fall conditions. The trail tread is somewhat improved, but still very steep where it has always been steep. We were rewarded with views to Astoria and the ocean, but the Cascade peaks were under clouds today (6 miles/1700 feet).
View of Saddle Mountain from the picnic area at the trailhead.
Through the lower forest.
New trail that bypasses the broken bridge/failed trail area (circled in blue)
No flowers in the cliff gardens of spring; early fall color in the woods
Vine maples
Top Knot Rock, about half way.
Looking toward the saddle and the peak.
Up the wire gridded steep trail, with asters.
I know just where to look to see the Lewisia foliage along the trail.
The last pitch.
Lunch with a view to Astoria
Zooming in on Astoria
Coastline south of Astoria
Coast Range to the south
The old lunch bench is still there.
View to the northeast – Cascade peaks hiding under the clouds.
Upper meadows with late summer bluebells, asters, pearly everlasting
Rose hips
Passing back through the saddle, I spot a couple of cars in the parking lot at the trail head…
And looking back up at the saddle from the parking lot.
Margaret Quilts 