March 2024 at home

April 24, 2024 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

What we did in March besides our east coast trip:

In the neighborhood – We returned from the east coast in time to see cherry trees in bloom, and our neighborhood St Patrick’s Day parade:

Cherry trees at the St Patrick’s Day parade

Windflowers

Hyacinths

Tulip buds

By the end of the month, the cherry blooms had fallen, tulips were in full bloom, and the crabapple was just starting to bloom!

Crabapple

Tulips

Cherry blossom snow

Hikes – My one hike, on March 19, was to Lyle Cherry Orchard, Washington, on a beautiful, windless day. The balsamroot were just beginning to bloom:

View from the first tier up the cliffs – the Convict Road, back to the Columbia River. Columbia Desert Parsley in bloom.

Last of the grass widows under the cliff.

Looking up to our destination…

We saw the first blooming balsam root of the year on our way up.

Looking west on the way down – lots of balsam root starting to bloom on the lower slope.

Balsamroot

Quilting – I finally began to practice sewing with my new Juki machine. I made several sets of potholders out of fabric scraps. They make great gifts for people we were or will be visiting in our travels.

For east coast family,

Portland Airport Carpet fabric on the back…

For California people, fronts,

and backs.

This set for us.

Knitting – I didn’t complete anything this month, but I made time to block the Anthology Throw that I finished earlier this year, and it is very pretty in its final dimensions…

Blocked Anthology Throw, pattern by Curious Handmade.

I picked out some yarn for a scrappy cowl.

Leftover Malabrigo Rios, for a Herringbone Cowl (Purl Soho)

I purchased a new tote bag from the Rose City Yarn Crawl – I love the graphic of my favorite California poppies (more on that next month) as well as Portland roses, and the St John’s Bridge.

Rose City Yarn Crawl tote bag

Shadow of the month…

February, 2024…

March 4, 2024March 4, 2024 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

I’m trying something new here. My desktop computer is temporarily unavailable to me, along with most of my photo library. This month I will try to create my post using only my iPad, and the photos on my phone…

Around the neighborhood…

My monthly collection of shadows and cracks…

Wildlife in the neighborhood…

Street art, Northwest Portland

Hiking…

I only managed two hikes this month…have I mentioned it has been particularly cold and rainy this year? One urban hike, with friends, and one out in the Columbia River Gorge, at Catherine Creek.

February 4, West Hills Long Walk – It was almost seven miles, and 900 feet elevation, all on pavement, sometimes on busy roads, sometimes across one of several cemeteries that are on the tops of the West Hills. Our friends who live in the neighborhood guided us, as this is their regular walking area. Not my favorite kind of walking, because of the traffic and the pavement, and it turned out to aggravate my hip bursitis, which I am still feeling, darn it! But we did enjoy the time with our friends, and the views across the city.

February 12, Bitterroot Trail at Catherine Creek – We walked about 4 miles, on both the lower and upper trails, looking for grass widows, and we found them. We also saw a few salt and pepper parsleys, and lots of water everywhere. This is my one phone picture of the fairy pools. There are a few purple grass widows in the foreground – though the exposure, looking toward the midday sun, is not ideal.

Fairy pools at Catherine Creek, Washington

Quilting – I finished the top of my Modern Quilt Studio Transparency Quilt – Mystery Quilt. I also made the back, and it is now in my queue for quilting.

These mystery blocks were transformed into…

I am improv piecing the back for my Lodge Quilt, which I made from the Modern Quilt Studio summer mystery quiltalong, using the leftovers from that top. I enjoy the process of improv piecing so much more than the extremely precise sewing and point matching required for the Transparency quilt, but both techniques have their place.

Knitting – I finished a few items – hats for the Puddletown Knitters Guild Service Project, the Mystery Shawl for The Rose City Yarn Crawl Mystery Knitalong, and the most recent pair of socks, and I started a new pair of socks for some upcoming travel knitting…

Six “Warm One” hats for donation, made of Knit Picks Mighty Stitch, held double.

Plumbing!… In December we had a leaky pipe that created a small flood in our basement – we found it and had it fixed before too much damage was done, but it prompted us to replace the 92 year old pipes that run through most of our house. We are currently experiencing the dust and noise created by cutting through plaster and tile – very efficiently, but still not pleasant. Then there will be the patching and painting. Meanwhile, we get a peek inside the walls of our house, which has very good bones…

While preparing for the plumbing work, I took down this twenty year old dragon from the laundry room wall to keep it out of the dust zone.

Quilts in the News….

I did not attend the Quilt Con show in North Carolina. I enjoyed looking at the images on Instagram, and was moved to tears by their Best in Show quilt. The artist, a teacher, crowd sourced the items shown from other teachers, and created this piece. (Images from Instagram)

Split image of front and back of the quilt.

I think the IPad format worked, though a bit time consuming having to learn the new touch prompts. One of the many things I am upgrading this month.

Hiking, January 2024

February 5, 2024 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Two hikes in January – it was mostly too cold, wet, icy to hit the trails this month.

First Day Hike – January 1 – Columbia River Gorge and Powell Butte

The skies were blue and the sun was out! We could see the mountain as we drove east out of Portland!

But in the Gorge, the east winds were strong and cold, and fog banks covered many of the slopes. We turned around and drove back to town on the Historic Highway, stopping for views at Vista House. The winds were so strong I could barely open the car door!

Looking east – white caps on the river!

Looking west…

And Vista House.

We stopped again for a quick view from Women’s Forum/Chanticleer Overlook…

Looking back at Vista House, the Columbia River, Beacon Rock…

And then we drove to Powell Butte in east Portland, where hiking trails lead up the sides and around the top of this volcanic butte. It is also the location of an enormous covered reservoir, a main stop in the Portland water system. Lots of other people were there on this sunny first day, so that we had to hike up from the north parking lot on 148th Avenue because the upper lots were all full. But we persisted, and were rewarded, finally, with a chance to stretch our legs a bit on this beautiful day. It was a lot less windy here!

We could see Mt Hood beyond reservoir infrastructure as we reached the top.

The museum at the top utilizes pipes as part of an exhibit that explains the water system

Pipe as embedded surface art.

We made a loop to the high point on top, with better views of Mt Hood,

and Mt St Helens.

Eventually, we returned down the Blackberry Stairs to our car, after a 3.5 mile hike.

Thus we began the New Year as we mean to go on, with weekly hikes. Nature got a little bit the better of us in this regard…there was snow, ice, and below freezing temperatures for a week, and then a fair amount of rain. But I did get out for one more hike in January – to see the eagles!

January 23 – Balfour-Klickitat Natural Area, and Coyote Wall, WA

There was a lot of snow all through the Gorge, and more than I expected in the eastern Gorge. It was quite beautiful, and not as cold as it had been. We drove over the Hood River Bridge to Washington…

Looking east from the bridge

The views across the Columbia River from the Chamberlain Lake Rest Area on Hwy 14 were sparklinging in the sunlight!

We reached The Balfour-Klickitat Natural Area, just west of Lyle, and found that the parking area had not been plowed. We parked just below, on Hwy 14, and walked up along the Klickitat River on a snowshoe trail. We wore microspikes on our boots to assist our grip on the six inches of snow.

Looking back across the Columbia River from near the parking area.

Walking along the Klickitat River Trail

Klickitat River

A perennial stream enters the Klickitat River on the west side of this little lake.

We reached the overlook to the lake where bald eagles congregate this time of year, and there they were! We counted about 25 different eagles over the course of our observations.

The white plumage of bald eagle pops out against the gray tree branches across the lake.

Closer view

Another one

We noticed these two on our side of the lake…

Zooming in…

The more we scanned the landscape, the more we saw, though the brown juvenile birds are harder to see. Then we noticed a snag in the distance that was covered in birds!

Distant snag, circled in blue

Zooming in. Birds were coming and going. There are also three perched in the trees to the left of the snag.

Nine eagles perched on the snag in this view.

There were also ducks down on the lake, and flying about…

Ducks

Eventually the fog started rolling in, so we returned to our car.

Fog

Goodbye to the eagles for this year.

It is always a treat to see them before they return to Canada.

We drove back west on Hwy 8, planning to walk at Catherine Creek, if possible, but it was completely fogged in. We sat in the car, eating our lunch and hoping the fog would move on, but no luck.

Lunch view at the Catherine Creek Trailhead.

We continued west to the Coyote Wall Trailhead, once again parking near Hwy 14, because the parking area was not plowed. We walked under the cliffs, and along Look Lake to the frozen waterfall, and then turned back, as the fog was beginning to settle here, too.

Looking toward Coyote Wall from the snowplow berm near Hwy 14.

Our path along the old highway under Coyote Wall

Looking back toward sunlit cliffs at the top of Coyote Wall

Look Lake

Sunlight in the melted lake ice

Frozen waterfall

Waterfall icicles

Fog rolling in ahead…

View over Look Lake as we walk back westward.

We had seen enough for the day, and it was time to warm up again.

View to the west as we drove back over the Hood River Bridge. Even the sandflats out along the Hood River Delta were covered with snow.

We will be back next month to see the first spring wildflowers after the snow melts.

December 2023 – all about the light..

January 2, 2024January 2, 2024 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

December is a month for hibernating, preparing for holidays and family visits, rooting for the solstice, and trying to get all the knitting done for holiday gifts. I only went on two hikes this month.

Early December...sun getting lower, shadows longer, I was counting down to the solstice with two advent-style knitting projects and a few walks on dry days.

Pro Palestine march passing our house

A little bit of knitting every day on the stocking and the mystery gnome…

Arne and Carlos Mystery Stocking

Imagined Landscapes Mystery Gnome

Hanukkah was early this year. We lit candles and had friends over for latkes on one of the nights.

December 12 – Hike – Lyle Cherry Orchard Discovery Trail, WA – We hiked the 4.5 mile loop on an overcast day – taking in the views and getting some good exercise.

Looking east as we ascend

View west from our lunch stop

Circling back below the Lyle town sign

And almost back to the Convict Road.

December 15th – We passed Joan of Arc on our way to lunch and bead shopping with the knitters…

December 20th – Hike – Dry Creek Falls, OR – Another dry weather window – we hiked a past Dry Creek on the Pacific Crest Trail to one of the pinnacles, but not all the way to the main pinnacles. It was a good seven mile hike.

Starting up the trail at Cascade Locks.

The pinnacle near our lunch stop. All the forest we have hiked through today has 2017 burn scars

Slight view across the Columbia River from our lunch stop.

Back to the PCT bridge over Dry Creek,

and upstream a short way to the falls —

Dry Creek Falls, pouring out of a notch in the columnar basalt.

They are quite beautiful!

Splash pool at the base.

And back at the trailhead, the park at the Bridge of the Gods is adorned with festive light displays.

On the Solstice, I took an enjoyable walk through the neighborhood – happy to know that longer days are ahead.

Christmas week – House guests, finishing the knitting, decorating the tree, wrapping and unwrapping presents, tamales on Christmas Eve and dinner with friends on Christmas day. A little bit of baking, but not too much. It was a relaxed and enjoyable week.

Tree decorated

New ornaments – from Italy and New Zealand

With gifts

Stockings

New books, bowls, and glasses

Trifle of Christmas

Dog of Christmas

Emily and Izzy at Multnomah Falls

Some of the Knitting:

Finished stocking

KC hat for Rachel

tiny cat for nancy

Hat for Izzy

Socks for Dan

Socks for Emily

Socks for Brian

Snow Matter What gnome and snowman

The month ended with more clouds and rain. I found a version of the Christmas story on instagram that resonates with me for its inclusiveness, and the reminder that although history repeats itself in terrible ways, there are always people who step up and help.

Weak sun through clouds

Rain wet streets and sparkling lights

Message of hope

November 2023 Hikes

December 14, 2023 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

We had five walking adventures in November, four in the wilderness and one in town.

November 1 – Deschutes River Trail, OR –

We’ve taken this trail many times, especially on days like today when it is raining everywhere else within a two hour drive of home. This area had a fire several years ago, and another brush fire last summer, which we could see evidence of along the way.

Deschutes River near the trailhead

Looking upstream as we walk uphill towards Ferry Springs.

Looking downstream toward the confluence with the Columbia River.

Approaching the Ferry Springs crossing.

Ferry Springs – burned by a brushfire last July.

A few wildflowers flowers hanging on.

View upriver from our lunch spot near the rock arch.

Walking back along the Blackberry Trail, the Columbia Hills appear like a mirage from the mist.

Sumac

Heron

And the rain didn’t start until we were on our drive home (5 miles, 500 feet).

November 8 – Portland Arboretum and Crystal Springs Garden, Portland –

We wanted to see the beautifully curated gardens, including the spectacular Japanese maple, at Portland’s Japanese Garden in Washington Park. On this sunny Wednesday it seemed many had the same idea. The parking lots were packed and lots of people were walking toward the garden entrance – it seemed less than ideal. So we drove around to the other side of the park to the Arboretum, and there found a beautiful Japanese maple and many other trees in excellent fall colors with much less crowded paths.

White Mexican Orange flowers near the Arboretum headquarters.

Walking toward the Maple Trail…

Approaching the sumac grove

Sumacs

A selection of leaves and berries…

And a beautiful Japanese Maple…

After lunch, we decided to check out the fall colors at Crystal Springs Garden, on the east side of town. It was also beautiful there, with colorful reflections in the lakes, and also not very crowded.

We passed the Portland Tram, that I rode in last week, on our way across town.

A pink azalea blooming very late

Japanese Maple near the entrance

Northern lake, with technicolor reflections…

Cherry tree

And another upside down tree

Crossing over to the southern part of the garden…

Ducks on a log

Party meadow

Waterfall

The reflections in the southern lake were mesmerizing…

November 14 – Cape Horn, WA –

It has been a while since I have walked the full seven mile loop, but we decided try it on this windy day (7.4 miles, 1460 feet).

We started clockwise, downhill, a one and a half mile roadwalk.

Highway 14 viaduct across Cape Horn above.

Crossing the lower scree slopes.

Lower cliffs, upstream view to the Needle and Beacon Rock

Several hundred feet higher on the trail – one of the viewpoints that has had a wall and viewing platform added in recent years.

Upper viewpoint to the east along the Columbia River.

Through the woods near the top of Cape Horn.

View to the south from the uppermost viewpoint.

Whitecaps on the Columbia River below, and a horse in the meadow.

View to Silver Star Mountain, to the north, as we switchback down to the Salmon Falls Road Trailhead.

November 20 – Horsetail, Ponytail and Triple Falls, OR –

This trail is in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge waterfall zone, and was very hard hit by the 2017 fire. We have not been on this trail since before the fire, but had seen recent trip reports that the trail was repaired and open, so went to see how it fared. We hiked the clockwise loop, starting at Horsetail Falls, then up hill to Ponytail Falls, then across Oneonta Gorge, past the Oneonta Falls, then uphill to Triple Falls, and circling back down to the Highway, and to our start point. We walked through a lot of burned forest, and across several repaired trail sections. The very cliffy trail up to Triple Falls had several obvious washouts that had been repaired, but seemed somewhat fragile. With the local downpours last week, I would not be surprised if the trail were washed out again. (5.0 miles, 1000 feet).

Horsetail to Triple Falls trail

Horsetail Falls

The trail ascends the cliffs above the falls

Top of Horsetail Falls

Ponytail Falls – the trail passes behind the falls

View from behind the falls

Looking back at Ponytail Falls

Looking east at the viewpoint before heading up to Oneonta Gorge

Westward view from the viewpoint

Heading upstream toward the new bridge over Oneonta Gorge

A peak from the trail down into Oneonta Gorge

Crossing the bridge

View down stream from the bridge

Middle Oneonta Falls upstream from the bridge

Looking down at Oneonta Creek from Oneonta Trail

Burned forest on the slopes above Oneonta Creek

We reached the Triple Falls viewpoint after walking along the repaired trail through the severely burned forest. For comparison, I’m adding a similar view from September 2013.

Triple Falls, Nov. 2023

Walking back along the Oneonta Trail through the burned landscape.

Circling back along the highway, toward the Oneonta Tunnel, which was completely burned in 2017.

View from the tunnel bridge up the Oneonta Gorge, trail closed since before the fire because of hazardous log jams in the gorge.

Back to Horsetail Falls.

November 28 – Hummocks and Boundary Trails, Mt St Helens, WA –

We have hiked the Hummocks Loop here a few times, but gone farther along the Boundary Trail toward Johnston Ridge one other time, in May of 2020, when they first reopened the trail after the initial pandemic shutdown. We encountered only a few other people out on the trail today (5.7 miles, 1100 feet).

Welcoming party at the Trailhead – white tail deer, Mt St Helens beyond.

Walking along the lakes that have formed between the hummocks.

Partially frozen lake

Frost on the trail

The famous upside down log, still in depositional position from the eruption in 1980.

View of Mt St Helens from the trail junction with the Boundary Trail.

The trail rises above the hummocky plain, and switchbacks up Johnston Ridge, past sheered-off tree stumps, to the ridge crest. From the top are views in all directions, and we can see the mountain all the time.

To the north – Coldwater Lake and Visitor Center.

Eastward panorama – Mt Margaret backcountry and Mt St Helens

Some closer views:

Mt Whittier

Coldwater Peak

Zoom in on the volcano monitoring equipment on top of Coldwater Peak

Mt St Helens Crater

Mt St Helens – snowy high point

Toutle River Valley

Here is a set of photos from nearly the same spot on the ridge, one from May of 2020, when the hillsides were green:

November 28, 2023

May 27, 2020

Heading down, I realized we had a good view over to the Windy Pass area on the east side of the mountain, which we were looking toward from the south side on our hike to June Lake in October.

Shadows growing long in the crater as we hike down.

Closer view of the Windy Pass area

And an excellent view of some of the hummocks in the afternoon light.

Back at the Boundary Trail Junction

The top of the mountain is glowing.

We stopped on our drive out at the Castle Lake Viewpoint for a last look at the area as the sun was setting…

Castle Lake Viewpoint

October 2023 adventures…

November 15, 2023 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Our five hikes in October ranged from urban Portland, to wilderness areas at Mt St Helens and Indian Heaven, and to our reliable dry trails in the eastern Columbia River Gorge in Washington.

October 1st, Oaks Bottom, Portland

An oft-repeated sunny walk around the Willamette River bottomlands just south of downtown Portland. Not much wildlife today, but there was new artwork on the railroad underpasses since the last time we were here (3.4 miles, 150 feet).

New artwork on the southern railroad underpass

We could hear the screams from upside down people at Oaks Park today.

View of the giant mural and the lake along the bike path.

A few cormorants

New artwork on the northern railroad underpass,

on both sides.

Early fall colors and

reflections in the lake.

The train, and the hills of SW Portland.

October 4, Indian Heaven, WA

We repeated one of my favorite loops in Indian Heaven, from Thomas Lake to Rock Lakes, to the less trodden path through the lakes and high huckleberry meadows along the Old Cascade Crest Trail (6.4 miles, 750 feet).

Colorful foliage from the trailhead on…

Thomas Lake

Heather Lake

Mt St Helens from the viewpoint above Eunice Lake

Mt St Helens

High meadows of huckleberry foliage

Naha Lake

Reflections

More reflections

Bright red foliage

High meadows

A glimpse of Mt Adams through the trees

We arrived at our lunch stop, Rock Lakes.

Rock Lakes

Rock crossing

Reflections

Moss

More red

After lunch we continued a little farther east, then south through the high meadows and unnamed lakes along the Old Cascade Crest Trail – all water reflections and colorful foliage. A delight! These are just a few of the images.

Unnamed lake

Magenta foliage, with a few last huckleberries

Lakes and huckleberry bushes along the trail

South toward Gifford Peak

Looking back at partly burned East Crater

Gradients of color in the foliage

And in the reflective lake water…

Monet water

We also caught a glimpse of Mt Rainier through the trees on our return hike…

Eastern flanks of Mt Rainier, and the Tatoosh Range?

On our drive home, I took this photo as we crossed the Bridge of the Gods. The burned zone in the Gorge is starting to look like fuzzy grey hair on the slopes.

Crossing the Bridge of the Gods, looking toward Oregon.

October 12, June Lake, Mt St Helens, WA

Our only new hike this month. We have been to June Lake before, but this was the first time we continued to the east on the Loowit Trail, the 30 mile loop around Mt St Helens. The mountain top remained covered in clouds all day. We saw fall colors on the slopes below the snow line (6.5 miles, 1200 feet).

Trail map

The first mile through the forest along June Creek is relatively flat.

Glimpse of the cloud-covered mountain from near the trail head

Approaching the lava flow that has dammed the creek to form June Lake. Tiny hiker on the lower left.

June Lake

Lower cascade

Reflections

Fall colors mirrored

More reflections…

More Monet water

Past June Lake, the trail ascends steeply to join the Loowit Trail around the mountain. We went eastward this time, through forested trail, and over the toes of lava flows, ascending to an eventual viewpoint of the mountain.

Lava flow along the trail

A view of the mountain flank

View from our lunch stop, where we waited for sun breaks to illuminate the fall colors.

Huckleberry oranges and reds. The Ape Canyon trail junction is in the notch

Colorful foliage on lava flows… the trail continues through here, but we did not take it today.

Volcano monitoring equipment

Snowy slopes

Mt Adams occasionally appeared behind the clouds to the east.

Mt Adams

We returned back over the lava flows…

Loowit Trail over the Worm Flows

Larch trees glowing golden in the autumn sun.

Some of the trees and plants…

Mushroom

Partridge foot

Mushroom

Old growth trees

Huckleberry foliage

Vine maples

Coral root

Penstemon and pearly everlasting

Bunchberry

A branch of Swift Creek at the base of the Worm Flows

Mt St Helens today, still capped by clouds as we drove away.

Mt St Helens from FR 83

And a lookback comparison of June Lake from previous trips, autumn, summer and winter…

October 12, 2023

July 4, 2019

February 20, 2016

October 17, Labyrinth Trail, WA

Another visit to one of our favorite viewpoints on a dry day in the eastern Columbia River Gorge (4.2 miles, 900 feet).

Up the basalt labyrinth

Oregon grape

Buckwheat, eastern view

Rose hips, ponderosa viewpoint

Lunch near the ponderosa

Return trail; Mt Hood and the oak tree

Oak grove

Columnar basalt mesa

Looking down the labyrinth

Raptor above the cliffs

Greeting one of my oak tree friends on the way down.

October 27, Coyote Wall, WA

A walk with friends up the basalt cliffs and down the dry meadows of the eastern Gorge (5.8 miles, 1230 feet).

Bald eagle above the Columbia River

Dry slopes above Coyote Wall

Looking across to the Oregon side, the orchards of Mosier

Oak trees

Oak leaves

Cloud mirror to the east

Coyote Wall

Looking east toward the Labyrinth

Walking back along Look Lake

Coyote Wall

September 2023 Hiking

October 23, 2023 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

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.

Italy 2023, part 3, Dolomite Mountains, Tre Cime area

October 10, 2023October 10, 2023 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

July 2nd to 4th, 2023 – Sesto Dolomites, hotel in Dobbiaco. The first few days of our tour we had cloudy and rainy weather, but still completed three awesome hikes, with plenty of time to admire wildflowers, and to appreciate the stunning views that occasionally appeared in the brighter weather windows.

Our three hikes in the Tre Cime area area

#1. July 2 – Rifugio Citta di Carpi – We drove from Bressanone past Lake Misurina to the Refugio Col di Varda (6950′). We rode up to our first trail in an open two person chair lift, above an amazing array of wildflowers in the tangled vegetation beneath us. We hiked up through damp forest and open meadows that were completely full of wildflowers – so many that we kept stopping to take pictures. Green lumpy meadows completely spangled with bright yellow globes, buttercups, cinquefoil and trefoil; pink alpenrose, valerian and daphne; purple orchids, clematis and gentians. We had our first Rifugio lunch at the Refugio Citta di Carpi. As we walked back down our trail, the clouds cleared enough for us to see the mountain views we had missed on the way up. And back at the bottom, we could see all the way across Lake Misurina. A very fun, damp first day. (5.6 miles/1300 feet)

Map of our trail from Col di Varda to Citta di Carpi.

Trail from the top of the chair lift

Flowers in the forest

Flowers in the meadows

Along the dolomite path toward cloud-covered peaks…

Purple orchid and buttercup meadows.

Up the rocky trail…

Nearing the Rifugio, peaks coming out of the clouds.

Flowers all the way…

So many different kinds of flowers!

Avens, buttercups,

Alpenrose, globes,

Avens and yellow trefoils…

Avens, alpenrose,

And more flowers…

Valerian, Buttercups, forget-me-nots?

Gentian and daisy

Buttercups, orchid

Salvia

Blue gillia?

Orchid

Eventually we reached the Rifugio for lunch –

Rifugio Citti di Carpi

After lunch, we could see the surrounding mountains a little better as we descended back to the chair lift that would take us back to Lake Misurina.

Mountains beyond the clouds and flowers

More flower meadow and peaks

Close up of the Cadini peaks

Cirque wall

Looking down on Lake Misurina from the descending chair lift

Lake Misurina

Later that evening the clouds cleared more, and we could see the Cadini from our hotel in Dobbiaco…

View of the Cadini from our hotel.

#2. July 3 – Tre Cime – Our bus took us from our hotel in Dobbiaco to Refugio Auranzo. We hiked up to Refugio Locatelli, mostly in clouds. After lunch, as we circled back to our starting point, we finally saw the Tre Cime, or three chimneys. We also saw a million flowers, bedded dolomite, and glacial cirques. The rain started again just as we reached the bus. A hard hike for me, on tired legs from yesterday. (7.3 miles, 1500 feet)

Trail sign, with our locations highlighted. Purple are Rifugios, and Blue is the Tre Cime Massif we are hiking around, and trying to see through the clouds.

We passed this Alpine Chapel on the first part of our walk.

Then we passed the Rifugio Lavaredo, still not seeing many views.

Trail junction.

Now hiking toward the Rifugio Locatelli…

Green, flower-filled meadows along our way,

and flowers on the rocky slopes as well.

Some clearing, but we seem to be walking into the clouds.

At last, we can see the Rifugio Locatelli through the mist on the skyline,

And some of the craggy peaks nearby.

Fractured dolomite in the switchback cliffs heading up to the Rifugio

Rifugio Locatelli, our lunch stop.

Patio dining, hoping for a view of the Tre Cime.

Small lakes in the valley on the other side of the Rifugio.

After lunch, we started our return loop. We could see the trail we had taken in the morning,

and our trail down through the cirque and up the other side (blue arrow). The Tre Cime are mostly behind the clouds.

Zooming in on the bedded dolomites in the face of one of the Tre Cime cliffs.

Crossing the green, wildflower filled cirque,

with partial views to the valley below

Plenty of wildflowers along the way.

Up on the shoulder on the other side, looking back to the Rifugio Locatelli, and our day’s journey. A little more clearing.

The cliffs we walked under in the morning.

A little while later, we finally had an almost clear view of the Tre Cime, for about ten minutes!

Some of the other surrounding peaks we had yet to see.

As we continued hiking, we passed one last mountain hut – the Manga Langalm.

Vertical dipping rocks along the trail

And one last view of our day, before we hiked out of this view, and finished our hike back at the Rifugio Auronzo in yet another cloud burst.

A selection of the day’s wildflowers…

avens

gentian

primula

campion

linaria

trumpet gentian,

potentilla

Trail sign with local flower names.

# 3. July 4 – Rifugio Fonda Savio – On the drive to our hike today, we passed the Tre Cime view point and got a great view of the peaks we had hiked around yesterday from the bus.

View of the Tre Cime from the bus.

GPS Track of our hike to Rifugio Fonda Savio.

From our trailhead, we walked through the meadows of the Pian dei Spiriti, and then up a rocky dolomite trail, and along a cirque, through green grassy meadows full of flowers. The trail passed under the pulley that hauled our lunch up to the Refugio. Some of our group hiked down the steep side, with cable railings along the trail. The rest of us returned the way we came, but with better views as the skies cleared a bit. We saw rock climbers and all the mountains and flowers, and more clouds but no rain. (5.5 miles, 1800 feet)

Our trail goes between the two peaks into the Ciadin dei Tocci.

Looking back, we can see a wide panorama, thanks to our clear skies today.

The cable in the foreground goes up to the Rifugio

Trail upward into the cirque, lined with flowers.

We passed under the pulley carrying Rifugio supplies upward.

Panorama of our surroundings

And a closer look at some of the peaks beyond.

First view of the Rifugio on our trail up the cirque

So many flowers!

Backward view again, on a rest stop.

Sun on this mountain

Avens along the Rifugio trail

The last rocky pitch up to our lunch stop, with flag flying above.

Delicious lunch at the Rifugio Fonda Savio.

After lunch we climbed to the ridge above the Rifugio,

then up to the flag pole, and looked out at the views on the other side.

View on the other side to the Val de la Cianpedele.

Some of our group started down the iron trail on the other side, and they would rendezvous with us at the bottom.

Close up – you can see the trail-side cable they are holding on to.

The rest of us returned the way we came, admiring rocky peaks and flowers all the way down, and trails not taken. There are a lot of other options here.

Starting down past the pulley infrastructure, with raven.

Down the dolomite path.

Rock climbers in some of the cracks above us.

Flowers and peaks…

Flowers and peaks..

And more flowers…

columbine

daphne

alpenrose and clematis

gentian

gentian, globes

orchids, salvia

orchid

poppy

We had enjoyed this day, with no rain, and were looking forward to clearer skies as we moved westward for our next few days of hiking.

Hiking in August 2023…

September 14, 2023 / margaretquilts / 1 Comment

We had five outdoor adventures in August.

August 1 – Bird Creek Meadows, Mount Adams, WA

The hiking trails in the Yakama Nation Track D were opened earlier this year, in good time to see the lush wildflower meadows the area is famous for. We repeated the loop we hiked in September last year, this time seeing the full midsummer display.

We began again at Bird Lake:

Mt Adams and Bird Lake

Bird Creek Meadows hike track

We started uphill through the burn zone toward Bluff Lake, lush flowers along the trail:

Bluff Lake

We continued upward toward the Trail of Flowers, passing Staircase Falls on the way.

Wildflower meadows all the way up.

Staircase Falls

Remnants of the picnic area along the Trail of Flowers

We continued upward, along trails through dryer slopes, also lined with flowers, to the Mt Hood viewpoint.

Mount Hood to the south

Continuing upward, through more wildflower meadows, to the Hellroaring Viewpoint…

Elephanthead lousewort in the meadows on the way to Hellroaring Viewpoint

Mt Adams from Hellroaring Viewpoint

Hellroaring Falls

Top of Mt Adams, with glaciers

We returned down, then west along the Round the Mountain Trail, then down to Crooked Creek Falls, through wildflower meadows all the way…

Crooked Creek

Approaching Crooked Creek Falls

Crooked Creek Falls

We completed the 6 mile/1000 foot loop, hiking back down through the burn zone, and back to Bird Lake.

These meadows were beautiful in their fall colors last year, but I am glad I got to see them in full summer wildflower bloom again!

August 8 – Vista Ridge, Mt Hood, OR

Another trip up to Wy’east Basin from the Vista Ridge Trailhead, one of my favorite hikes on Mt Hood.

Hiking up Vista Ridge through the burn zone, trail lined with pearly everlasting.

Panorama view of Mt Hood, the Pinnacle, the Dollar Lake Fire burn zone

Coe Glacier, Mt Hood summit

At about 5600 feet, we came across patches of avalanche lilies and beargrass, and the beginning of the alpine flowers.

Beargrass

Avalanche lilies

Heather and beargrass

More alpine flowers:

avalanche lilies

lupine

paintbrush

pasque flowers

We reached the Timberline Trail, then continued a little further uphill into Wy’east Basin, admiring the flowers.

Looking north from the Timberline Trail towards Mt Adams

Looking up toward Mt Hood and Barrett Spur

Shooting stars

Partridge foot, paintbrush and heather

Eventually we returned down Vista Ridge. The fireweed was just beginning to bloom, and we noticed lots of new fir trees in the burn zone.

Vista Ridge

Fireweed buds

Tiny fir tree

Golden rod and fireweed

Mountain ash berries and fireweed – I love the color contrast!

And of course I greeted my favorite haunted trees!

August 16-18 – Beach Walks, Cannon Beach, OR

A HOT week in town! On fairly short notice, we were able to book a room for two nights in the Tolvana area of Cannon Beach. The room was expensive, even though the view was to the backside of Mo’s Restaurant. However, it was within a short walk or drive to some of our favorite beaches. Our timing for low tide wasn’t great – around sunrise and sunset, but we made the most of our three days on the coast.

Our first afternoon, sunny and beautiful, we walked south from Tolvana Beach:

Our first pod of pelicans

sand plovers

Our favorite pizza restaurant. We bought a pie big enough to feed us for two dinners!

South Cannon Beach

After dinner, we walked north to Haystack Rock as the tide ebbed.

Haystack Rock

anemones

sea stars

The Needles, photobombed by a sea gull!

We saw more pelicans and a lovely sunset:

Pelicans again!

The next day, during high tide, we hiked at Oswald West State Park, out to Cape Falcon…

Into the woods toward Cape Falcon

Looking south from Cape Falcon

Zooming in to the southern headlands

Pelicans on the headlands

Looking down to surfers at Short Sand Beach on the return hike…

The trail is a bit rooty…

Then we drove south to the Neahkahnie Lookout above Manzanita, and as always, paused to say, “Thank You!” to Oswald West, for preserving access to our beaches!

Then we took the short walk to Devil’s Cauldron Overlook, and looked back north to Cape Falcon.

Devil’s Cauldron and Cape Falcon

More pelicans on the headlands near Devil’s Cauldron.

After a second pizza dinner, we took a long evening walk to the south toward Silver Point.

Silver Point in the distance

The kids always called it “Big Starfish Rock” because we found so many sea stars the first time we went there.

Low tide

Oyster catchers

The Sphinx of Arcadia

The next morning, after packing up, we visited another favorite beach, Hug Point, even though the tide was coming in.

Hug Point Beach

We could see the tide coming in at the foot of the road that is carved into Hug Point.

My husband opted to wade through, and visit the point.

I visited the nearby waterfall, still a favorite spot for children…

Hug Point stream meets the sea…

We turned and walked south toward Arch Cape, along the lovely wide beaches where we spent many family holidays.

South toward Arch Cape

Big Barnacle Rock and Castle Rock

The Cave

Before driving inland, we stopped for a picnic lunch at Ecola Point, and for a last look at the beaches we had visited. We had walked almost 20 miles on the beaches and headlands within this view, and enjoyed our time on the edge of the continent.

August 22 – Wildwood Trail, Portland, OR

On a hot day we hiked a three mile loop on the Wildwood Trail in Hoyt Arboretum.

Into the woods, looking for shade.

Found some on the Redwood Trail

Vine maples

Took a rest on the Redwood Deck.

Tupelo trees beginning to turn near the archery grounds

No view of Mt Hood from the Viewpoint

Asters

Beech seedpods

Beech trees in the Winter Garden

August 31 – Coyote Wall, WA/Multnomah Falls, OR, in the rain

Our son visited from Philadelphia, and brought a friend. She had never been here before, and as luck would have it, her week coincided with a spell of old school Portland summer – lots of overcast and/or drizzly days, which seem to be more of an anomaly in recent years. She didn’t even see Mt Hood until the day she flew home. We drove to the eastern Columbia River Gorge to look for sun, and took a slightly rainy hike at Coyote Wall.

Coyote Wall – not crowded today!

Looking east across the golden grasslands

Looking down over the wall at our trailhead

Turnaround point – we went about 2.5 miles, round trip.

Silvery buckwheat among the golden grasses

We made the mandatory stop at Multnomah Falls on the way home; still a bit rainy, but also, relatively uncrowded as a result.

Multnomah Falls

The rest of July 2023 in Portland

August 10, 2023 / margaretquilts / 2 Comments

We arrived back in Portland (from our Italian Dolomites hiking trip), on July 13th after about 23 hours of travel. The next few days were a mush of early bedtimes and wee hours wakefulness.

Our front garden bed was bursting with blooming zinnias and snap dragons when we returned.

On July 16th, we visited with family in Eugene, and had an al fresco lunch in one of my favorite gardens:

One of my sisters returned with us for a long delayed visit. We enjoyed walks in my neighborhood and other neighborhoods in Portland, as well as a visit to Powells City of Books.

dahlias

roses

lavender

lilies

nicotiana

Wishes

Cosmos

painted garage

rudbeckia

sidewalk quilt pattern

handmade flowers

sunflower

hydrangea

floral bouquet

Hikes

We hiked to two areas east of Mt Hood with blooming wildflower meadows:

Location of trails hiked in July east of Mt Hood

Cook Meadows, July 18th – We wanted to take my sister for an easy, beautiful wildflower/forest hike, so we tried to go to Lookout Mountain, just east of Mt Hood. Unfortunately, it was closed due to recent fire activity, but some Forest Service workers pointed us to the nearby Cook Meadows Trail. While we didn’t reach a high point, we walked along the shoulder of the ridge, through both shady forest and sunny wildflower meadows, with views to Mt Hood. The meadows were red, with more scarlet gilia in bloom than I have ever seen before. I also saw catchfly and horkelia, two new-to-me flowers, though I have known they were out there for the spotting.

Scarlet gilia and Mount Hood

Red meadows of scarlet gilia

Scarlet gilia

Dusky horkelia

Oregon catchfly

The trail passed through patches of meadow and forest, with so many wildflowers!

Heading into the forest

Buckwheat and butterfly

Arrowleaf groundsel, butterfly

Emerging sugar stick

Columbine and mountain bluebells

penstemon

asters and Sitka valerian

Scarlet gilia and horkelia

Scarlet gilia, penstemon, buckwheat

Zoomed in views of Mt Hood:

Close up of the giant boulder on Cooper Spur, and the Eliot Glacier beyond

Elk Meadows, July 25th – Later in the month we returned to Elk Meadows on the east side of Mt Hood, a few weeks earlier than last summer, so saw an earlier suite of wildflowers.