1/5 – Balfour/Klickitat Eagles, and Labyrinth Trail, WA
Our annual visit to this eagle nesting area near Lyle, Washington…
Osage oranges on the trail to the eagle overlook,Lagoon with salmon, ducks, and eagles hiding in the trees. We saw about 20 while watching for a half hour.EaglesEaglesZooming in on the snag in the distance – more eagles.
Next we went to the Labyrinth Trail, our first time here since the fires last summer…
Looking up to the guide Ponderosa Pine tree above the Rowland Lake Trailhead.Zooming in, I can see it is partially burned.The waterfall – quite full this time of year.Hiking upward through the mosaic burn…The burned areas are sprouting new grass.My favorite oak grove is scarred, but trees are still standing.View upriver from our lunch ledge.The ridgeline oak tree is intact.We didn’t get all the way to the guide tree on this day, but zooming in, I can see it is less burned on the west side.
1/14 – Catherine Creek and Rowland Basin, WA
Another rainy day in Portland, but nice and sunny in the eastern Columbia River Gorge…
First we walked the lower loop at Catherine Creek, looking for the first grass widows, which we had seen reports of…
Trailhead. The burned slope here is turning green.We found a few clumps of early grass widows along the ADA trail south of the road. This area did not burn.Catherine Creek waterfall viewpoint.
Next, we walked up the trail that starts at the base of Rowland Wall, and walked about a mile up into Rowland Basin, having never started our hike from this point before, just to see what we would see.
TrailheadUphill, again, plenty of burned landscape, all in recovery mode…And we can see the guide tree from here.Another zoom in on my favorite ponderosa.All the usual undergrowth is gone under the oak treesLooking back eastward toward Rowland WallWe found a few clumps of grass widows out hereAnother view of Rowland Basin, before we start back.Hiking back down.
1/20 – Hummocks and Boundary Trails, Mt St Helens, WA
And now for something different – It had been a low snow January, so we drove up to Mt St Helens to try the Hummocks and Boundary Trails. As long as we stayed among the hummocks, we could enjoy the day. There was a cold wind blowing along the Boundary Trail, so we only walked a short way up…but we had great views, and a real change of scenery from the Columbia River Gorge.
Mt St Helens, as seen from I-5 as we drove north.Snow in the parking lot. The trail was mostly clear. The trail winds around through hills of volcanic debris that were completely barren after the eruption in 1980. Forty five years later, the hummocks are covered with vegetation and there are many lakes and ponds throughout this landscape.On this day the lakes were partially frozen.I was fascinated by geometric patterns in the ice, apparently caused by differential melting due to plant shadows.More ice patternsSnow patches along the trail.Groves of alder trees have filled in much of the landscape.Alder treesToutle River Overlook – this downstream landscape is unstable and constantly changing.Another pond with tree reflections.Tree reflectionsJunction with the Boundary Trail, toward Johnston Ridge…into the wind we go.The trail switchbacks up onto the ridge on the left, toward Johnston Observatory, with great views of the northwest side of Mt St Helens.View from our turnaround point…the wind was getting stronger the further east we went.Closer view of the summit on this side.The return loop passes by this inverted tree, still buried where it landed in May, 1980.And one more reflective pond picture…
We stopped for a last look from the Elk Rock viewpoint on Hwy 504 on our drive home.
Panorama of the Mt Margaret backcountry, Mt Adams, and Mt St Helens.
1/28 – Eagles and Catherine Creek, WA, again; with a side of Multnomah Falls, OR
My sister was visiting, and interested in an easy hike, so we took her back to a couple of our favorite places in the Columbia River Gorge.
We could see a few bright white spots in the trees as we approached the overlook at the Balfour/Klickitat Reserve.Three bald eagles. We saw about a dozen this day.The pond is icier than it was earlier in the month.
Next we walked the lower ADA Trail at Catherine Creek, and found just a few of the early flowers.
Catherine Creek ADA trailGrass widowBudding Columbia Desert ParsleyWaterfall OverlookWe walked up to the fairy ponds, now frozen around the trunks of slightly burned oak trees,and looked over to the Arch.
And finally, we drove back through the rainy Gorge, and made a quick stop at Multnomah Falls.
Multnomah Falls
I am gald to be back out on the trails, though I have some work to do to regain my stamina!
I am having a hard time keeping up here – real life is getting in the way, as it should, I suppose, but I want to keep my record. Future me wants to read about what happened. So this post is my summary of 2025, written in February 2026, to the best of my current memory.
Last year I still managed to knit and read a fair amount, but our hiking and travel were somewhat curtailed by health issues, and I did very little sewing and quilting.
Knitting
I finished 17 projects in 2025, including nine donation items, mostly hats.
My 2025 Knitting Projects, from Ravelry
One goal for 2026 is to finish the Zephyr sweater I have been working on for two years.
Zephyr Cardigan, in progress
Reading
I always set my goal to my age, but lately have zoomed past it. This year I read just over 100 books.
Quilting, Sewing and other projects…
Stitching was mostly helping my daughter work through her mending pile whenever she visited. I also briefly worked on these quilt blocks. Next year I hope to quilt four languishing quilt tops, and I have several planned tops in my minds eye…
Hands All Around Blocks, Modern Quilt Studio
We also made progress on home maintenance and repair: interior wall repair; new dining room blinds, new hallway carpet; new kitchen faucet; window repair; storm window cleaning and repair; exterior paint; and exterior brick tuck pointing. This 1932 house will always need something!
Hiking
I have had the goal of at least a hike a week in recent years. I only made it to 49 in 2025, mainly due to health setbacks. Hip bursitis, and a complete cardiac work up for me, and neck surgery for my husband, kept us on shorter and easier walks for a while. I have noticed that I have much less stamina on hotter days, and we seem to have many more hotter days now.
Highlights:
March – Grass Widows at Rowena Crest, ORApril – Green meadows with Death Camas, Shooting Stars and many other wildflowers at Catherine Creek, WA…these meadows would burn in July….April – First walk through the new hiker/biker tunnels at Mitchell Point, ORMay – Return to that one trail between Multnomah and Wahkeena Creeks, ORMay – Tall larkspur at Cape Horn, WAJune – Avalanche lilies on the Ant Hill Trail, Mt Hood, ORJuly – Bear Grass near Picnic Rock, Mt Hood, ORJuly – Bird Creek Meadows, Mt Adams, WAJuly – Elliot Moraine and Timberline Trail High Point, Mt Hood, ORDecember – First return after the fires to Catherine Creek, WA
Travel
Travel was mostly local this year. We had to cancel plans for Paris, Switzerland, and Mt Rainier due to the previously mentioned health issues. We spent two lovely weeks in January and August at Bandon, on the southern Oregon Coast.
January – Bandon, ORAugust – Bandon, OR
We visited family in Connecticut and Philadelphia in the fall.
Sleeping Giant, CTDelaware Water Gap, PAWashington Crossing, PAValley Forge, PAPhiladelphia, PA
And I spent two weeks in southern Utah in June, but that was mostly within health care settings, and too hot to go outside.
June – Snow Canyon, UT
RIP
I will miss these family members who left too soon.
Mary (1950-2025)Nathaniel (1986-2025)Art by Nathaniel
Etc…
2025 was worse than expected, with the government now being run by corrupt criminals who have a stranglehold on the checks and balances built into our government. Someday, someone will figure out why Congress and the Supreme Court won’t do their jobs (Epstein files?). In the meantime, people are protesting in the streets, and every avenue of progress has been set back; basic rights are denied to many people. I thought this was behind us! I wish I was living in that other reality, with a woman president, all people feeling respected as humans, climate change initiatives proceeding, and everyone learning to accept diversity as a natural part of the human species. In the meantime time I will do my bit to communicate, vote, knit, read, and share in resisting tyranny. In spite of everything, I have to hold an optimistic spark in my soul, for hope that we end 2026 on a brighter note!
Neighborhood encouragement…City encouragement…Literary encouragement…(From Instagram)Encouragement from a modern bard.
We only went on two hikes in December, one in town, and one out in the eastern gorge.
12/1/2025 – Mt Tabor, Portland
On a sunny day, we drove to our nearest extinct volcano, and walked around its circumference and up to the top, taking in views, and getting a good leg stretch (2 miles, 200 feet). There are many trails that circle around and through the park, and many users, running, walking, and stair climbing. It is a great public space on the east side of Portland.
As we gained elevation, we got a western view toward downtown Portland across one of the reservoirs.We continued upward on one of the forested trail to the top.There is a view to Mt Hood through the trees near the summit.And another view toward downtown.We hiked down the northern slope, and got a peek at Mt St Helens.The amphitheater near the parking lot has an outcrop of the volcanic layers.We passed Joan of Arc, glittering defiantly in the sun, in her traffic circle, on the drive home.
12/23/2025 – Catherine Creek, WA
We went with our daughter to this favorite winter hiking spot. This is our second time here since the Burdoin Fire last July. This time, we walked the East Loop above the Arch, and also made a quick trip down to the waterfall viewpoint on the lower ADA trail. (3 miles, 450 feet).
At first we planned to walk the loop that returns by crossing the creek below the Arch, but we wanted to be sure the creek crossing was possible, so we went to look.
Catherine Creek crossing on the lower Arch trail. The waterfall-like step is actually the plank bridge, now broken and underwater. The road/trail was not accessible without serious wading. So we took the trail above the Arch, and then the eastern return loop.Walking across the burned slopes toward the lower bridge across Catherine Creek. This one survived the fire.Once we reached the slopes near the Arch, we could see across the Columbia River to the west,And to the east.Bitterroot foliage coming up through a rocky, mossy area that likely escaped burning. There were a few unburned areas within this mostly burned slope.View from the top of the Arch, new fence in place.We ate lunch on the rocky outcrop just north of the Arch, then continued our loop to the east, passing scorched pine trees.We returned back across the lower bridge.
Then we took a quick walk down the paved ADA trail south of the parking area, to see the waterfall.
Catherine Creek Waterfall. This side of the road has dead, dry grasses on the slopes because it didn’t burn along the paved trail. But it looks like it did burn across the river.
We enjoyed this hike on an overcast but not rainy day. It was nice to spend some outdoor time with our daughter. And it will be interesting to watch the land here as it recovers from the fire damage.
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…
Margaret Quilts 