Three hikes this month. Our fall hiking areas on the Washington side of the eastern Columbia River Gorge are still impacted by Burdoin Fire damage. We hiked twice on the Oregon side, and once in the Cascade foothills east of Salem.
10/14 – Deschutes River Trail, Oregon
Our usual loop, up to Ferry Springs, and then return along the Deschutes River (4.5 miles, 600 feet).
Blue sky today, a light breeze.
Walking along the Deschutes River. Reflections, a few water birds.Rising up above the river, view to the confluence with the Columbia River.Upstream viewUphill toward Ferry Springs.
Still losing my breath on the uphill. There are clumps of white and pink blooming buckwheat, yellow rabbit brush, and a few scrabbling lupines. Dried out balsamroots and thistles punctuate the slopes of golden grass where it was blackened and burned a few years ago. Very little sign of the fires now, so much has regrown. Once again, it is peaceful out here – down by the river there are many people fishing for steelhead; we saw one train on the western bank; otherwise a rock wren, a raven call, and us.
RabbitbrushSnow buckwheatLupine
We crossed over Ferry Springs, then looked down toward the river.
The Ferry Springs CrossingLooking down on Ferry Springs as it joins the Deschutes River.And the view to the Columbia River and Columbia Hills.Almost back to river level, looking through the arch.
Back along the river, walking north –
SumacSumacRiver viewDucksNorthern flickerMilkweed seeds getting ready to disperse.Milkweed seed
We appreciated the golden slopes we just walked down, especially after seeing the blackened slopes at Catherine Creek. As we drove back west along south side of the Columbia River, I took a few shots of the Burdoin Fire area in Washington that was burned last summer. There are some very black slopes, but also some unburned areas. I can’t quite see my favorite trees from this view.
Catherine Creek hiking area, from I-84, westbound.Catherine Creek areaCatherine Creek area. The Arch and Tracy Hill.
10/20 – Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
Another place we have hiked many times. Today we saw six of the ten famous falls (5.8miles, 600 feet).
South Falls
Looking down toward South Falls.Our trail goes behind the falls.Looking downstream from behind the falls. This time of year the spray doesn’t soak us.Looking up toward the rim.And looking back from the other side.
Lower South Falls – We continued downstream along the South Fork of Silver Creek, eventually descending switchbacks and staircases to walk behind Lower South Falls.
Descending toward Lower South Falls.Walking behind the falls.Downstream view.Looking back from the other side.
Lower North Falls – Next, we passed the confluence of the North and South Forks of Silver Creek, and began walking upstream along the North Fork.
Mushrooms and mossCrossing the North Fork.Lower North Falls
Drake Falls – Continuing upstream along the North Fork…
Autumnal trail – lots of big leaf maple leaves drifting down.We only get a sideways view of Drake Falls from the viewing platform.
Middle North Falls – A side trail goes under the falls, but we didn’t take it today.
Middle North Falls
Winter Falls – From here, we crossed the river again, and passed the nearly dry Winter Falls while ascending to the rim and walking back to our starting point.
Winter Falls trickling down.
10/28 – Tom McCall Point, Oregon
One of the prime wildflower locations of spring; orange oak leaves color the slopes on this quiet autumn day (3.6 miles, 1000 Feet).
Our destination – Tom McCall Point, through the mist.Parsley alley is rather bare.Looking north from the lower plateau – Rowena Curves below; Lyle, Washington across the Columbia River.Bright orange oak leaves; Memaloose Hills to the west.Zooming in on the shoulders of Mt Adams – the most we would see of it today.
We startled a small family of deer near the summit.
Mule deerMule deerSummit of Tom McCall Point, covered with clumps of dried balsamroot foliage.View toward the Columbia HillsPanorama from this top of the world…The neon orange oak leaves that brightened our day.
We returned from Philadelphia during the first week in October. I have been at home for the remainder of the month, watching the Halloween enthusiasm and the changing foliage fill the neighborhood with color and whimsy, against a background of quiet and not so quiet resistance throughout our city.
Around the neighborhood…
Halloween decorations. Some folks go all out. New or notable for me this year:
I finished three hats for donation, a scarf, and a pair of socks:
Books
I finished eight books in October:
October books
Ribbitting with the resistance in PDX…
National ‘leadership’ continues smashing everything, like a giant wrecking ball. I am proud of my Portland people for exhibiting a mostly peaceful resistance, responding with whimsy and relentless persistence. Some highlights of the month:
Some of our famous Portland Frogs, from Instagram.Still protestingNeighborhood poetry postWall muralAnd my son took this picture in Paris, France!
August began with a birthday week stay in Bandon on the southern Oregon coast. The rest of the month went by with the usual home activities, in Portland, Oregon, which, contrary to some news reports, is a very pleasant place to live.
Around the neighborhood –
Lots to look at this month while walking – gardens…
Sidewalk art, architecture, and more Portland quirkiness…
Yard creatures…
Homegrown treats…
Asters that survived the roofing, painting and tuck pointing.Our neighbors shared their abundant tomatoes.
Knitting –
I made progress on my cardigan and a pair of socks. Our local coffee shop, KISS Coffee, has taken to reserving our Friday morning knitting table.
Reading –
Of the eight books I finished in August, my favorite was There Are Rivers In The Sky, by Elif Shafak. It is set in Victorian and modern London, and ancient and modern Mesopotamia, and links several character’s lives through water and literature. There is a hopeful conclusion, despite the hardships endured. I also enjoyed rereading the Elizabeth Von Amin books set in her German garden.
Eight books read in August 2025
8/19 – A walk in the Wildwood Recreation Area –
This was the only hike for me in August, after our trip to Bandon. Usually August is a prime hiking month for us, but I had to address some health issues. There were many appointments, including PT for my wonky hip. Everything seems to be getting better, so I hope to have many more challenging hikes in the future. But one hot day, we drove up Mt Hood to the Wildwood Recreation Area, which we had not visited before. This is a BLM site, at about 1200 feet elevation, on the Salmon River. There are several miles of mostly flat trails through shady forest, and along the Salmon River. I imagine many school field trips come here because of the easy access, and abundance of educational signage and picnic tables.
Trailhead sign… we walked trails on both sides of the Salmon River.In the parking lot, I watched a Big Leaf Maple leaf slowly float to the ground.The first leaf of fall?Salmon River from the bridgeView to the nearby ridge across a marsh on one of the nature trails.Shady reflections in the waterForest bathing here…More reflectionsSalmon sculptureRiver access for picnickersUnderwater viewing chamberWe saw a few very small fish in the viewing window. Salmon pass through here in spawning season.
The Wildwood Recreation Area was a great spot for some easy forest bathing on a hot summer day.
And lastly –
A few birthday gifts and cards…
An aspirational window sticker seen in the neighborhood…
There is so much going on that I am constantly whiplashing between system overload and full ostrich. It is a challenging time, and yet we will continue to do what we can to be hopeful and helpful.
A hot day inland- a good day to go west to the Oregon Coast and walk on one of our favorite beaches, deliciously foggy at first, then sunny.
7/17 – Hug Point
We first walked over the old road at Hug Point – our timing was such that tide would be coming back in soon…
The waterfallApproach to the road around Hug Point.Circling the point.View north from the high point.Beach to the north.Sea anemones on the old road bedRock wall plant gradient.And back to the south side beach.
Then we walked all the way south to Arch Cape, passing our favorite landmarks…
The cave – with an addition – a giant stump stranded on the rock ledge – probably from a winter storm.Big barnacle rock,with a few sea stars among the barnacles and mussels.Walking south toward Arch Cape, fog starting to disperse. Photo credit to my husband.Arch Cape Creek and Castle Rock.Lunch view near Arch Cape, with a flock of sea gulls.
And the walk north – about five miles round trip today.
Fog rising, tide coming in.The seagull flock accompanied us most of the way.Blue skies ahead.
Of our five hikes in July, three were on or near Mt Hood.
7/3 – Picnic Rock and Umbrella Falls
This hike begins at the Elk Meadows trailhead. We walked uphill along flower-filled ski runs of Mt Hood Meadows, and across to the knob called Picnic Rock. We visited Umbrella Falls, then circled downhill through flower-filled forest to complete the loop.
Trail map, about 6 miles, 1000 feet elevation.
Flowers along the uphill trail…
Uphill meadows – penstemon and lupineWashington liliesBead lilies and Solomon sealLupine and tiger liliesMarsh marigoldTrillium and violetsPaintbrush and Elephant’s head
This was a blooming bear grass year in the ski run slopes, with a view of Mt Hood
Bear grass, Mt HoodMt Hood close up.
At Picnic Rock we had great views…
Ascending Picnic Rock – Mt Jefferson off to the right.Closer look at Mt Jefferson and more Cascade Peaks to the south.Looking east toward Bluegrass Ridge (burned in 2006), above Elk Meadows.West toward Mt Hood and Clark Creek.Clark Creek.Stonecrop on Picnic Rock.Penstemon clinging to the face of Picnic Rock.
We passed back through the bear grass meadows on our way to Umbrella Falls.
Bear grass meadows and Mt Hood.Umbrella Falls
On the downhill trail, we passed through meadows full of sitka valerian, and swampy areas full of shooting stars and buttercups. Once in the forest, the Oregon anemones were sparkling up in abundance.
This was only my second time doing this hike, but it has become a favorite! Especially at this particular time in the bloom season. I hope to be back to explore some of the other trails in the Mt Hood Meadows area.
7/10 – Lookout Mountain
The next week, we hiked the short, sweet (3 miles, 550 feet) loop to Lookout Mountain from High Prairie trailhead. We have done this one many times, and it never gets old! The lower part of the trail crosses a couple of large meadows.
Shooting stars, buttercups and bistort at the High Prairie Trailhead.Subalpine fleabaneElephant’s head, buttercups and astersAnd a view to Mt Adams.
Eventually, we ascended to the ridge where views opened up…
Mt Hood ahead, with paintbrush, scarlet gillia, and lupine.Full view of the mountainClose up of the southern flank, where we were hiking last week near Mt Hood Meadows.The summitCooper Spur, and the Eliot Glacier, near where we will hike at the end of the month.A last snow bank on the approach trail.Mt Hood from the top of Lookout Mountain.Mt Jefferson and the other Cascade Mountains to the south, with ground squirrel.Mt Jefferson and Mt Washington
Lots of wildflowers to look at here, as well…
The summit slope has tufts of wildflowers.Sulphurous buckwheat, transitioning from red-orange to yellow.Penstemon and buckwheatDusty maidenAnd a rock wren
More views on the return trail…
The iconic volcanic spire, with Mt Hood beyond,And back through the lower meadows.
The main challenge for this hike is the slow bumpy road up to the 6000 foot trailhead.
7/10 – Cloud Cap Shelter and Timberline Trail High Point via the East Eliot Moraine.
This long favorite hike also begins with a long bumpy drive up gravel switchbacks, and through a burned ghost forest. From the Cloud Cap Saddle Campground we hiked about up along the crest of the East Eliot Moraine to the Cloud Cap Shelter for lunch. Then we continued south along the Timberline Trail, the high point, about 7300′, for a total of about 5 miles, 1500 feet.
From the crest of East Eliot Moraine, our trail goes up hill toward the Eliot Glacier.Eliot Glacier Glacier close upCrevasses
We crossed south toward the Cloud Cap Shelter for our lunch break.
Approaching the Cloud Cap Shelter.Lunch view of Mt St Helens through the haze.Also, Mt Adams to the north, beyond the Hood River Valley; and Cloud Cap Inn, near our trailhead, on lower near right.Cloud Cap Shelter; Cooper Spur and Mt Hood beyond.
After enjoying a good rest rest in the shade at the shelter, as it was a hot day, and I was having trouble with the uphillness of it all, we decided to continue on to the trail high point.
We crossed a few snow banks in the shaded wrinkles of the mountain.Timberline Trail High Point.
Then we retraced our steps, back along the seemingly barren slopes, with lots of subalpine flowers blooming amid the rocks.
Our trail carved out of the edge of the sky.Tufts of yarrow and buckwheat on the slopes.Yarrow and lupineA last look back at the snow banksPussypawsPenstemon and astersPartridgefoot and Mt Hood.
As we walked the Timberline Trail beneath the Eliot Moraine, I spotted the giant teetering boulder that I have noticed in previous years. It’s still there…
Teetering boulder on the edge of the Eliot MoraineTeetering boulderLewis monkey flowers, asters, and lupine in Tilly Jane Creek, almost back to the trailhead.
Another enjoyable day on Mt Hood. I was really out of shape this year – life circumstances have interrupted my spring hike season. This hike, which I have done easily before, was hard! I hope I will be in better shape for the next time!
Next..
Our other July hikes were on Mt Adams, and at the Oregon Coast – to be reported in the next posts.
Having been out of town for two weeks in southern Utah where it was too hot to walk outside or exercise, and I was otherwise engaged in helping a family member with a health care situation; Having returned, exhausted, and happy to be in my own home quietly for a couple of days; Having successfully taken a couple of slow neighborhood walks in the flatlands…
Today I felt I had the energy to walk up to Alameda Ridge and do a few stair repeats. Success! And once again, I am charmed by my neighborhood where I am so lucky to live. Front yards are in bloom and colorful; and today it is only in the mid60s; how lovely to be able to walk outside without being dried and desiccated by the sun. I lived seven years in Tucson, I know dry heat; I knew my survival strategies then. The two weeks of abrupt immersion in the heat and aridity in Utah were exhausting; but now I am recovering. Soon I will be walking in mountains again.
Today I walked my way up the hill, and noticed all the whimsy throughout my neighborhood. It is part of the keep Portland weird vibe. Little doors on trees, little houses under bushes, interesting little signs painted on the sidewalk stair cases of Alameda. Little free libraries throughout my neighborhood.
I also looked at each poetry post – today there was Emily Dickinson‘s, ‘Hope is a thing with feathers’, on one signpost. My favorite poetry post, the one I never miss if I am up in that neighborhood, had a very hopeful, expressive poem today for these terrible times we are living in, with the authoritarian effort to crush anything progressive, kind, diverse, multicultural, and human in our country.
Also up on the ridge today, there is that one house with a flagpole – today they were flying three flags, the Pride flag, the Juneteenth flag, which I had never seen before, and the Ukrainian flag.
How positive those signs are to me just wandering my way through the neighborhood on a beautiful early summer day with flowers blooming everywhere. Birdfeeders and gnome doors and buckets of water on offer for the dogs; signs and flags and symbols of inclusion and acceptance and community. Our quiet mostly white, mostly financially stable neighborhood is not in the firing line of ICE raids, but I have seen my neighbors going to the demonstrations and standing in the space to support the resistance.
I did a few stairway repeats on the ridge today – and now I am ready for our next hike of the week in the mountains.
June 24, 2025 – Anthill, Herman Creek and Pacific Crest Trails near Wahtum Lake, Oregon
We usually hike to Chinidere Mountain from this trailhead near Wahtum Lake, but I was curious to try the Anthill Trail toward Tomlike Mountain, which is another rocky peak in the area.
Trail map – about 6 miles and 800 feet elevation gain.
The Anthill Trail begins above the parking area, and continues upward at a gentle gradient along the ridge above the lake. It is beautifully shaded, and on this June day, all the white flowers of the forest floor were sparkling up at us. This is a new addition to my list of favorite trails.
Beargrass along the trail as we start uphill.Green forest floor with so many flowers the entire way. Lots of vanilla leaf in this section.BunchberryStarry solomon sealBleeding heartAvalanche liliesBeargrassRosy twisted stalkContinuing shaded trail with prolific Sitka valerianQueen cup lilies just beginning to openSitka ValerianWindflowers
Near the ridge crest, a rocky view opened up, back to Mt Hood and Wahtum Lake.
View to Mt Hood and Wahtum Lake, with beargrassYellow flowers on the sunny open slope – arnica, groundsel, Oregon sunshine and wallflowersSwallowtail butterfly on a wallflower
We continued along the Anthill Trail, to the spur that ascends Tomlike Mountain. This is a less well maintained trail, a little rockier. After eating lunch at a rocky viewpoint and admiring the view, we decided begin our return hike. It was another rocky mile to the top – I wasn’t quite ready for that today.
Rocky outcrop, and view to the top of Tomlike Mountain.Glimpse of Mt Adams to the northPenstemon on Tomlike Ridge
We decided to walk along the Herman Creek Trail toward Chinidere Mountain before returning to the trailhead. We walked through shady forest for least a half mile of blooming avalanche lilies, as far as one could see, across the forest floor. And a few beargrass as well.
Avalanche liliesAs far as the eye can seeShady forest with liliesAnd beargrass
My husband took the side trail to the top of Chinidere Mountain, while I continued a very short distance along the Pacific Crest Trail to the rocky open slope below Chinidere’s cliff side. From here I could see many of the sunny blooming cliff flowers above me, and a view back to Mt Hood the other way. Then I rested in the shade near the trail junction – it was beautiful and quiet in the forest!
Looking up at the cliff side of Chinidere MountainMariposa lilyPaintbrushBuckwheat and columbineChickweed and phloxMt Hood
We completed our circuit by descending along the Pacific Crest Trail above the lake.
Bunchberry and coral root were prolific along our return trail.
This had been a thoroughly enjoyable hike. We had seen some of the wildflowers blooms at their best, though there are more to come. It was lovely to be back in the woods!
We went on five hikes in May, all in the Columbia River Gorge, following the wildflower bloom…
May 6 – Lyle Cherry Orchard, WA
Warm and a bit windy today – we got a chance to see the waning balsam root – everyone’s favorite!
Purple ookow blooming on the Convict Road.Ookow and the seedpods of Columbia desert parsleySwales of lupine on the middle plateauThe last of the yellow balsam rootA poppy patch.
On our drive home, we stopped briefly at the Catherine Creek Trailhead so I could get a peek at the bitterroot that blooms there – probably my only chance this season.
And there it was, on the rocky outcrop just above the parking lot.Lewisia rediviva, bitterroot – one of my all time favorites!
May 10 – Cape Horn, WA
Tall larkspur season at Cape Horn – it is always a treat to walk on the neatly groomed trails here. Today we started at Strunk Road, and walked to one of the lower overlooks – less than two miles, but with rain in the forecast for the next few days, we took our opportunity.
Tall larkspur along the pathCloser viewWhite fringe cup and candy flower also prolific today.Nancy Russell Overlook – we stop to look at the view and say, “Thank you!” to Nancy Russell for her conservation work.Up river view toward Beacon Rock.Continuing downward, the purple path continues…And the fringe cup…A few other flowers tucked in – Hooker’s fairy bells,Fern leaf biscuitroot,and vanilla leaf.
May 13 – Wahkeena-Multnomah Loop, OR
Back again to this five mile long, 1500 foot loop.
We began at Multnomah Falls, and started west along the old highway toward Wahkeena Falls.After passing Wahkeena Falls, the trail ascends up many wildflower-filled switchbacks,to Lemmon’s Viewpoint, overlooking the Columbia River.Continuing up Wahkeena Creek, past Fairy Falls,passing more wildflowers along the way. Columbia windflowers, and salalBaneberryA few fading trilliumLarkspur and fringe cup
After a lunch break at the trail junction, we walked eastward toward Multnomah Creek. This part of the trail has always felt rather magical to me – mostly flat, through a forest of tall firs. The undergrowth has changed a bit since the 2017 fire, but it is still one of my favorite places.
2013 Lookback – Magical trail before the fire.May 2025, Lots of redstem ceanothus filling the forest floor under the burned trees.Still very pretty, and with a view to the river…More wildflowers along the trail as it descends into Multnomah Creek – thimbleberry, columbine, arnica.CorydalisWiesendanger FallsHoneysuckle and inside out flowerBack to the trailhead at the bottom of Multnomah Falls.
May 22 – Cape Horn, WA, again
We wanted to take our son and his fiancee for a hike – though they didn’t bring proper shoes, and it was a bit rainy. We settled for going back to the tall larkspur-lined path from Strunk Road to the Nancy Russell Overlook at Cape Horn. It was less than two weeks since our previous visit, the tall larkspur were even more profuse, and the cow parsley were starting to spread their umbrella heads. Lovely, even with a bit of our Oregon sunshine misting us.
Previous week, May 10, with older hiking gentleman.Same path, May 22nd, with cow parsley and a cute young couple.Misty view from the overlook.Cow parsley
May 27 – The Labyrinth, WA
The Labyrinth was one of the first trails we ever hiked in the eastern gorge, and we have returned many times. The path winds through piles of columnar basalt that provide some protection from the wind, and the views are great! Wildflowers change throughout the bloom season. Today was the first time I have seen this particular suite of flowers – blue and purple bachelor buttons and ookow; white buckwheat, yarrow, and mock orange; pink clarkia and onions; all accompanied by a full gauntlet of poison oak.
The first surprise – abundant wildflowers surrounding the Lower Labyrinth Waterfall on the old highway approach trail – mock orange, bachelor button, ookow, buckwheat, and monkeyflowersMore mock orange, poppies and buckwheat, the Columbia River, and Mt Hood.Mock orange
Starting up the trail along Labyrinth Creek –
Buckwheat, golden grass with late season flowers. YarrowOokow, and bachelor buttons. The bachelor buttons are considered disturbed, but they do add a pretty color to the late season wildflower suite.Winecup clarkiaSwales of flowers in the drying grass
Continuing up along Labyrinth Creek –
Monkey flowers surrounding the upper waterfallHomage to the poison oak gauntlet that we carefully walked through today.Colorful slopes beneath one of the volcanic buttes.My favorite oak grove, with a lush poison oak understory.
Lunch views, with mule deer…
Westward, mule deer on the next ridgeMule deerEastward – Columbia River shimmeringHooker’s onions
It was getting warm, and I was losing my uphill motivation, but I wanted to go a little higher, to the rocky bluff where bitterroot blooms.
Mt Hood and buckwheatAs I expected, the bitterroot is shriveled up – I’ll have to wait until next year.Looking farther uphill, toward the slopes that lead to Coyote Wall – green grass turning to gold.Another look at Mt Hood, then we begin the return hike…I didn’t notice these White Brodiaea on the way up.Ceanothus blooming in the oak groveAnd past the waterfall again on our return to the trailhead.
It was beautiful day in the Labyrinth. But it is getting too hot for me in the eastern gorge – we may not be back until fall! I am going to southern Utah in June, where it is already very HOT, to help a family member. I may not hike much in the next month, but there will be red rocks and possibly some dinosaur tracks…
We went on one hike on April 1st, before my husband’s neck surgery on April 4th. After a couple of weeks of rest, we found some shorter, easier hikes in the last half of April, following the wildflower bloom, but keeping activity level within medical guidelines.
April 1 – Catherine Creek: Lower Tracy Hill – Arch Loop, WA
One of our usual trails. It was lovely to see the next phase of bloom in the meadows here.
View from the trailhead: the meadows are full of white saxifrage, also purple shooting stars, and a few camas beginning to bloom.Looking south toward Mt Hood, the orchards of Mosier are glowing as the leaves unfurl.Along the trail – rosy plectritus and purple broomrape.Pockets of camas liliesSaxifrage and shooting starsColumbia desert parsleyPonderosas reflected in a vernal pool, and yellow desert parsley.Our trail passed above the ent who guards the slope…He’s still standing.On our return trail, we passed below the Arch, with eagles soaring above.Some early bloomers were hanging on in this cliff shadow – gold stars and grass widows.A few larkspur were just starting to bloom among them.
April 21 – Mitchell Point Tunnel and Mosier Plateau, OR
Last month I mentioned seeing the nearly completed Mitchell Point Tunnel from the highway as we drove by. The tunnel is now open. We stopped on our way to Mosier Plateau to see the views from the tunnel.
Mitchell Point from the parking lot. The new pedestrian and bicycle tunnel replaces the original automobile tunnel on the Old Columbia River Highway that was destroyed when Interstate 84 was built. The tunnel passes around the north side and through Mitchell Point.Western tunnel entranceWestern view from the western tunnel entrance on a windy day.There are five or six viewing windows in the 600 foot long tunnel.View through one of the windows.Another window view.Eastern tunnel opening.View from the eastern opening toward the highway and the eastern gorge.Back through the tunnel.The western entry patio was comfortably sheltered from the wind today.We walked a short way up the Mitchell Point Trail, which has been closed during tunnel construction. There were lots of wildflowers blooming in the woods. The trail becomes quite steep and rocky, and not suited for a surgical recovery hiker, so we didn’t go very far.
We drove on to Mosier Plateau, where the lower part of the hike is protected from the wind. Eventually, the trail emerges onto the open bench above the river, where the blooms and views were beautiful, but the wind too strong to want to walk the full length of the plateau.
Passing Mosier Creek Falls on the lower trail.Heading uphill within Mosier Creek drainage, well protected from the wind.Looking up along the trail,Northward, toward the river – clumps of bright yellow balsam root bloom becoming more abundant.BalsamrootWith a few poppiesOn the windy plateau, looking west down the Columbia River and toward Mosier.Northern view, looking directly at Coyote Wall in WashingtonA perfect view of the black basalt outcrops of the labyrinth, where I can pick out a couple of my favorite trees.And farther east toward Rowland Wall, Catherine Creek, and her famous Arch.
April 23 – Camassia Nature Preserve, West Linn, OR
A one mile loop trail through a natural area near Highway 205 and the Willamette River – somehow preserved from surrounding housing and industrial development.
Walking boardwalks through the green forest, with fringe cup and ferns.A few blue-eyed Marys that always remind me of my sister.Open meadows of camas and rosy plectritisCamas meadows and mossy rocks.Another meadow.Cell tower osprey – the bird can see the Willamette River near Oregon City from their perch.CamasCamas, rosy plectritis and buttercupsTrillium and violets in the forest on the return trail.
April 25 – Round Lake Lily Fields, Camas, WA
Another short, easy walk in a suburban area where large slopes of camas lilies are not far from housing developments.
The lower trail near Round Lake…Several paths wind through open slopes of camas lilies.Camas lilyContinuing upwardMossy rocks and camas liliesNear the top of the hillA few glacier lilies still blooming at the very top of the trail.
April 29 – Weldon Wagon Road, WA
The wind continued strong and steady all week in the Gorge. We chose this hike, in part because it has fabulous displays of balsam root along a smooth trail, but also because it is a bit protected from the relentless blasting wind in the main Columbia River corridor.
Oak woodlands along the lower trailBastard toadflax – my first time seeing this small white cluster flower.Purple lupine and white manroot along the upper forest trail, just before the opening to…the wide view across the balsamroot filled slopes.We took a side trail up the ridge with a view to Mt Adams to the north for our lunch stop.Back on the main trail, balsam root all the way…And big headed clover,BalsamrootThe upper trail is wooded, with blue flowers of Pacific hound’s tongue and yellow violets in the understory.Returning down the way we came. Pale pink phlox among the yellow balsamroot.Our descending trail back down through the flowering slopes.
On the drive home, we stopped at the overlook on Highway 84 just below Corbett, where the perfectly calm air allowed a river mirror to form – we don’t see that very often on our gorge excursions.
Eastward, up river, Crown Point/Vista House on the right skyline.Westward toward WashougalPanorama viewHistorical Marker at the viewpoint
Thus, we enjoyed another month of wildflower hikes, with more to come in May.
We enjoyed three wildflower hikes in the eastern Columbia River Gorge in March, all trails we have been to many times in different seasons. I love tracking the phases of wildflower bloom each time we go.
March 3 – Catherine Creek and Lower Labyrinth, WA
Early March is grass widow season at the lower elevations of the Catherine Creek and Labyrinth trail systems. My camera doesn’t do them justice, but the swaths of purple grass widows are so very pretty!
Fields of purple grass widows carpeted the lower meadows along the ADA Trail at Catherine Creek.Grass widowsLooking eastward…Early yellow parsleys in the woodland.More grass widows on the rocky outcrops.There was nothing blooming at the slightly higher elevation fairy ponds, so we went to the nearby Labyrinth/Old Highway 8 Trail to see what was happening there.The Lower Labyrinth Falls along Old Hwy 8 was full.The Upper Labyrinth Falls was also full, but there were no flowers up here.The flowers were concentrated in the lower elevation areas…Grass widows, gold stars, pink woodland stars.
March 11 – Rowena Crest, OR
The next week, on the Oregon side of the river, we saw more swaths of purple grass widows along Rowena Crest – both in the lower part of the Tom McCall Trail, and the Rowena Crest Trail.
We started by walking toward Tom McCall Point, where grass widows filled the meadows.Grass widows and tiny white spring whitlow grass bloomsWe walked through the oak tree lined Parsley Alley, and saw purple Columbia Desert Parsley beginning to bloom.Columbia Desert ParsleyLooking east toward Lyle Cherry Orchard and the Rowena curvesYellow bells popping up in places.
We went back down, and walked all the way to the end of the Rowena Plateau Trail.
Grass widow meadows along Rowena Plateau TrailYellow parsleyWhite salt and pepper parsleyGold Stars in the meadows at the west end of the trail
Reflections in the ponds along the way provided some abstraction distractions…
Pondwith ripplesZooming inCloserand closerand back out.Another pond.
We walked back along a side trail near the cliff edges – so many flowers!
Looking toward Lyle, WA.And back toward Tom McCall Point.
March 18 – Rowland Wall/Stringbean Loop, WA
By mid-March in the Catherine Creek area, grass widows were joined by other flowers – saxifrage, gold stars, yellow bells, more of the parsleys, and the first balsam roots.
At the trailhead, white saxifrage were speckling the meadows along with grass widows.Gold stars becoming abundant in the rocky areas overlooking the arch.Plenty of grass widows, looking toward the orchards of Mosier.The burn areas from last fall’s Top Of The World Fire are prominent around the trees, but the slopes have turned green.There were many robins hopping along today. We watched these two playing in some puddles while we ate our lunch.RobinWe continued uphill on the burned, but now green, slope of Sunflower Hill.Two robins in the top of the oak tree.Looking east from our high point. We dropped down over Rowland Wall, then decided to walk the inside-out switchbacks of the String Bean Trail. We didn’t find many flowers in the woodlands.Looking back toward Rowland Wall, and the Needle.We crossed the lava flows, then went back up over the wall at the lower trail.We saw the first of the balsam roots blooming along the wayRowland Wall scree slope and NeedlePlenty of yellow parsleys blooming along these west-facing slopes,And pockets of yellow bells.Grass widows and gold stars.
It was a beautiful day, and I am looking forward to the next phase of wildflower bloom in the eastern gorge!
Preview of Coming Attractions –
Driving home westward on Interstate 84, we passed under the base of Mitchell Point. The tunnel on the old highway was destroyed when I-84 was built, but has recently been reconstructed and reopened as part of the bike path through the gorge. I grabbed a photo as we passed – and we hope to walk there sometime soon. The views are supposed to be amazing!
Mitchell Point Tunnel, above the highway on the left.
We made our way to the spring equinox with a lunar eclipse, a St Patrick’s Day parade in the neighborhood; more knitting, quilting, home improvement, and reading; blooming plants in the neighborhood; three wildflower hikes in the Columbia River Gorge (next post), and a lot of rain…
Lunar Eclipse, March 13th
My photo, with camera set to fireworks…The sky is light because of the time delay, but the stars are out.My husband’s photo, with fancy zoom lens on tripod.
March 16th – Neighborhood St Patricks Day annual parade…
Knitting:
Hats for the Guild Service ProjectSock progressAnd a new scarf
Quilting –
I sewed together these quilt blocks. They may become pillows – I’m still trying to decide.
Home Improvement –
New dining room blinds and patched wallpaper
Reading –
I read six books in March.Nancy Russell and John Yeon, Columbia River Gorge
I learned so much in the two books about Nancy Russell and John Yeon, two conservationists who worked indefatigably for many years to create the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and then to implement the plan. It was a huge political and fundraising challenge to cobble together all the different government and formerly private lands, preserving the ecosystems and creating many of the trail systems we hike regularly. I think grateful thoughts every time we drive through or hike in the gorge!
Neighborhood blooms –
Flowering plumHyacinthDaffodilsCamilliaRain, in puddlesCherry treesTulipsSidewalk of the monthYard sign of the month
A change of plans…
At the end of the month we cancelled our planned trip to the east coast to visit family in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, so that my husband could get surgery on his neck, where a bone spur on the C3 vertebra was causing neurological symptoms and weakness. The procedure will be during the first week of April. More on the outcome next month… ( Update – it went well, he is recovering as expected.)
Two final notes –
1) I still have not gotten the hang of blog editing in the block mode on this site, so it is taking me a long time to create posts.
2) We are trying our best to stay positive in a constantly chaotic, hateful regime, so I am posting a couple of positive internet memes here at the end, to remind me to stay hopeful…
Margaret Quilts 