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.
The shortest month seemed very long. I went from skiing the neighborhood snow to admiring the early spring blooms. I knit, quilted, and read as productive activities to counter the political upheaval. We honored the boycots. I made progress on the recycle/repair/upcycle four-year home improvement project. And we went on two hikes.
Crafting/Home Improvement:
Another pair of socks completedHat for the Guild service projectI started sewing these quilt blocks togetherBack hall carpet installed, almost the last step in that project.
Reading – I read nine books last month, many by or about women: writers, artists, a river guide, a Supreme Court Justice. After watching the Bob Dylan movie last month (A Complete Unknown), I was very interested to read Suze Rotolo’s side of the story. She was a politically active artist. She made a lasting impression on Dylan and his music, but she wanted to pursue her own artistic and life goals, not be just another string on his guitar, his ‘chick’, who would wait for him while he did whatever, wherever in the world. I really admire her for that. There are many great, less celebrated women out there, and I plan to read more of their stories. Meanwhile, I have been listening to the early Bob Dylan music – it fits the mood of this time in the world.
March 2025 Books
The neighborhood:
February 14th – I always love a chance to get out my 35 year old cross country skis, and kick-glide for a couple of miles down the quiet, flat streets of Irvington. The snow was perfect this day! And almost completely gone the next day.
Skiing out the front doorJust enough snow…Sunny and calmNice flat streetsJapanese Maple
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, our son and his fiancee were attending the Super Bowl Victory Parade! Wearing hats that I knit for them last year.
Around town – flowers and rainbows…
Yellow crocus are earlyDaffodilsPurple crocusLavender crocusWindflowersRainbow seen while driving north on I-5 in Portland
Hiking –
We hiked out in the eastern Columbia River Gorge twice in February –
February 20th – Crawford Oaks, WA – We hiked about 5 miles on the Lower Vista Loop, past the full Eight Mile Creek Falls, and around the lower plateau. We saw very few early flowers and just a bit too much wind that day.
February 27th – Memaloose Hills, OR – A beautiful, perfectly calm day. We could see the blue heron rookery on yonder cliff top and a few flowers. It was an easy, enjoyable 3.5 mile hike with dear friends.
Eastward view from the Memaloose OverlookView to the north, with a peek at Mt AdamsWestward view, heron rookery circled in redFuzzy zoomed-in heron rookeryTrail up the south approach to Chatfield HillView to Mt Adams from the topA few grass widows up thereColumbia Desert ParsleySpring Whitlow grassLunch at the top, and a view to Mt Hood (photo credit to my husband).
Meanwhile, the news is worse every day – we are doing what we can, and trying to hold on to the glimmers and small victories. The daily reports of the shredding of the constitution by anti-empathic billionaires is trying every nerve, but I try to stay positive…
I went on a few hikes, knit a little, read quite a few books, and embarked on what I have decided is my personal four year project.
New Years Day was the last day of Hannukkah. We had a small gathering, with latkes.
Menorah and latkes
Neighborhood walks – the low sun position intensified shadows and sky…
Shadows in windowsShadows on wallsShadows on sidewalksLow light lit treesIndoor and outdoor lighting and shadowsThe first snow drop of winter
Hikes
Early in the month, we spent five days on the sunny southern Oregon Coast (see previous post), where it was cold, but not windy! We took several long beach and headland walks. More locally, we hiked in the eastern Columbia RIver Gorge a few times:
January 13 – Klickitat River Bald Eagles and Lyle Cherry Orchard Trail, Washington – Our annual trek to the bald eagle nesting area on the Klickitat River began with disappointment this year. We saw no eagles along the river in the morning, other than one down on the delta just as we were moving along.
Seagulls and salmon in the Balfour-Klickitat Lake, no eagles in the trees.Osage oranges scattered on the slopeOne bald eagle on the Klickitat River Delta
We then took a short hike along the lower benches of basalt at the Lyle Cherry Orchard site. It was a beautiful day out there, calm and cold! We saw a pair of eagles flying along the cliff face. We also saw a hawk on sitting a rock, then devouring prey that it pounced upon as we watched. Circle of life…
Hiking up through oak woodlandOak treeLooking down on the Convict RoadEastward viewLunch view toward Lyle and the Klickitat River DeltaOne of the eagles flying along the rim rockOn the return hike, my husband spotted a hawk perched on a rock.Closer viewHawk in the grass, after finishing their meal
We stopped back at the Klickitat River later in the afternoon, and were rewarded with seeing about a dozen bald eagles – a few perched in the trees, and others flying up the canyon, past us and farther up river, beyond our view, seemingly heading home after their day’s outing.
The bright white of an eagle head, across the lakeCloser viewEagles perched in a snagEagle, with the sunlit Oregon slopes beyond the riverCloser viewAnd another angle, with Osage oranges still clinging to some of the trees.
January 22 – Wind Mountain, Washington – a short, sharp hike. I hadn’t been up this one in a while, and was looking for a test for my hip bursitis rehab, after about four months of steady focused exercises. This trail goes up about 1000 feet in a mile, leading to the top of this conical mountain at a bend in the Columbia River.
Reference photo – May 2013. View of Wind Mountain from Dog Mountain. Our trail zigs and zags up the back side of the peak.
It was quite windy up top on the river side, so we didn’t spend much time looking at the river and Oregon view.
Windy westward viewWindy westward view
We found a windbreak on the landward side, so ate our lunch looking at Mt Adams and Dog Mountain – also nice landscapes to admire. It was cold, but a good short hike, and a good work out for my legs. Progress!
Lunch view toward Mt Adams and Dog MountainCloser view of Mt AdamsCloser view of Dog Mountain (where the above reference photo is from), and the river, looking east.
January 30 – Catherine Creek – Rumors of a few blooming grass widows drew us out east in the gorge, on what will probably be the last dry hiking day for the next week or so. We did not find any blooms while wandering several of the lower elevation trails. We visited several vernal ponds that were frozen, and saw foliage of blooms to come…just not yet.
Catherine Creek Trailhead on a cold day in JanuaryMt Hood across the riverBitterroot and grass widow foliageFrozen pond on the lower trailCatherine Creek FallsIce along the upper trailFrozen fairy pondsIceWider viewThe archAnother frozen waterfallwith iciclesFrosted moss and leavesTrail for the day
Knitting
Unfortunately, I overdid the knitting action on a pair of socks – right around the time I needed knitting the most to keep my hands busy while my brain was exploding with the national news. I reactivated an overuse/arthritis knitting injury in my right thumb joint. Blah! I wore a brace and knit not at all for two weeks. I am now allowing myself a few rows per day, and it really helps! I’m trying not to overdo it again. Here are the guilty socks, in progress. But I don’t blame them.
Wanaka SocksBlue gradient socks
Less Knitting = More reading…
I finished all these books in January.
Four Year Project
Sometime after the disastrous election outcome last fall I decided I would need a four year project, something I can do in my own home, when the outside world is too much to take (more than sitting on the roof.) It is time to edit, sort, rehome, recycle, and organize the lifetime of belongings we have accumulated during the 33 years we have lived in this house. Three children have grown up and moved out and left behind many things they ‘might want someday’ but don’t have room for yet. I had a career as a geologist before I settled into family life, and I still have boxes of rocks, maps and books (that apparently nobody wants because it is all digital now). Photos and slides, both professional and personal; quilting fabrics and textile art materials for my creative life; personal writing and memorabilia. We have already made some progress during recent renovation work. We recycled all the old paint, thinned out our shelved books in the rooms where we got new carpet, and delivered usable items to new homes. We gave the unplayed banjo to a local music school, and have recycled many magazines that we were shelving for no good reason. A little action every day will make a big difference in four years, and be much more productive than doom scrolling. I plan to find a means of more outward action/resistance, in addition to donations we make to human rights and environmental organizations. And I will knit more hats (thumb permitting) for the guild service project.
Right now it is difficult to think this new year will be a good year, given the chaos at the national level. I call to mind a passage from the novel, Dune, by Frank Herbert, which I first read in the 70’s, as a teenager. Potential future leader Paul was given a test to prove he was human. There was a good chance he might not be, and would not be made leader. The fictional character passed the test. But I can’t believe the current ‘leadership’ ever would – there has been no sign of human empathy, only selfishness and cruelty. Yet we will resist in the ways we can, and hope that our actions in our own lives will contribute to persistence of human rights beyond the next four years…
Instagram memes I collected in January expressing gratitude, encouragement, and hope:
Honoring Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.I will miss these humans.Reminder to be supportive…More words of encouragement…Keep trying…Music might help…
We returned from our California/Thanksgiving road trip on the first of December, with the Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah and home repair to look forward to. In the neighborhood, some folks went all in on their decor – a few of my favorites:
Rudolph and friends
Giant ornaments
All the snow people
We had a stretch of cold, clear days, one of which was an appointment at OHSU for me – all well, for the moment, and I got a great 7th floor view of Portland.
Tram, Downtown Portland
Willamette River, Mt St Helens
And, during that clear weather stretch, the roofing crew we hired put a new roof on our very steep roof.
New plywood
Tar paper
Shingles
Hiking
I went on two hikes – one out to Catherine Creek, WA, on a foggy day, and one to Powell Butte, in Portland.
December 10th – Catherine Creek, WA –
We stopped at the Starvation Creek Rest Area on our drive. The sun was out, and we could see the frosted trees at the top of Wind Mountain.
Wind Mountain from Starvation Creek
Clouds were sitting on the hills at Catherine Creek. We walked up Sunflower Hill through the recent controlled burn zone, then back down along Rowland Wall. The sun never came out here…
Walking up Sunflower Hill toward the burn zone.
Green coming up through the blackened soil.
Springtime view of that same slope – 2023
Walking down Rowland wall
The leaning tree and Rowland Lake
Fields of Mosier beyond
Golden grass of winter
December 19th – Powell Butte – We could see Mt Hood, Mt St Helens, and a few deer.
We watched the lenticular cloud forming over Mt Hood
Mt Hood
Mt St Helens had already donned her own cloud cloak
A few deer in the forest
And a sentiment from the Bard…
Knitting
I finished my Christmas gift knitting, and then made a new cowl after Christmas.
Socks, mitts, hat
More socks
Lancelot Cowl
Winter Solstice
The sun was out. I walked through the neighborhood looking at shadows and puddle mirrors in the low bright light.
Christmas
Christmas arrived, a little quieter this year, with no out of town company. We celebrated with local family and our usual trappings – tree, gifts, cookies, tamales…
Cookie baking
Cookies and grapefruits
Tamales
Gifts from the Paris Olympics and Dollywood
Gifts from Dollywood
Iceland ornament, with puffins!
Cozy fireplace
2024 Christmas Tree
Hanukkah
The first night was Christmas evening this year. The next day, we went with friends to the old Hollywood Theatre, not too far from us in Portland, to see the new Bob Dylan biopic – which we thoroughly enjoyed. I grew up listening to that music as a child, because my older sister played it non stop on the record player in our shared room.
First night
Hollywood Theater, Sandy Boulevard
New Years’ Eve
Another sunny day. I walked through the neighborhood, thinking about choices for next year as I passed some of my favorite shadows and cracks, and found some new shadows and reflections…
We lit the seventh night candles at sunset, than enjoyed a phone call with our son, who had just gotten engaged to his partner – a splendid, cheerful moment to end the year!
Everything so tense before the election, then a blurred time of surreal disbelief afterward…meanwhile, we had a late, very colorful fall, with Mother Nature screaming, “Look at me!”, which I did on neighborhood walks and one hike. At the end of the month we took a road trip to California for Thanksgiving – see next post.
Knitting and Home Improvement
I attended the Sacred Sheep Fiber Festival on November 2nd, with my knitting friends. We saw the sheep, and I bought some vintage buttons for my Icelandic vest, and a mini skein for a future project. I have several gift knitting projects on the go – more about that next month.
One of the sheep
New buttons and mini skein
Finished Iceland vest – Calidez by Jenjoyce, made with Allafosslopi yarn
We are still in home repair/declutter mode. I reorganized some of my bookshelves, and I am particularly happy with this shelf dedicated to Jane Austen.
Jane Austen shelf
November 7, Catherine Creek Arch Loop, WA
Once again walking this oft repeated hike, visiting familiar views.
Mt Hood to the west
Eastern view along the Columbia River to Oregon
Passing our ent friend
Ent
Rock spires, fall colors
The arch
The road
Big leaf maple
From the trailhead, we could see the controlled burn swath on Sunflower Hill – and that it is already greening up. Hopefully, native species recovery is occurring there!
View from the trailhead up Sunflower Hill
Closer view
Zooming closer to see the green
Neighborhood color
Our transplanted blueberry bush
The day after the election, this invasive, poisonous pokeweed bush, and lingering demonwraith caught my eye.
But fall colors were late and glorious this year, all through the neighborhood, saying, “Look now! We will be gone tomorrow!”
I felt punched in the gut by the election outcome, that we did not finally elect our first woman president, and now have to face a term of inanity. However, I have my own survival/resistance plan, which includes inspiring my children, who were also gutted by the outcome. I saw the the “Ozymandias” poem shared around on the internet, one of many examples of past overtopping failures, and eventual recoveries and progress. History repeats, but it is painful to be living through the regression, when we could be doing so much better for the people and the planet. I appreciate the lingering yard signs in my neighborhood even more. We are in this together.
In the interest of keeping up, I’m posting a brief chronology of what I did in October after our visit to Mt Rainier during the first week.
Hikes and other adventures:
Portland Art Museum – Our son visited from Philadelphia, and we visited the Beatles photography exhibit during his stay…
I got my first glimpse of the extensive remodel of the Portland Airport.
Portland Art Museum – we all like the Beatles, and my husband and I are just old enough to remember the early 60’s.
Most of the photographs were taken by the Beatles during their early 60’s American tours.
Beatlemania from the inside of the car…
October 10 – Our son joined us on a hike from the East Crater Trailhead, Indian Heaven Wilderness, WA.
East Crater
Junction Lake
Small lake along the Old Cascade Crest trail
Frozen bog
October 16 – We went up to the Hoyt Arboretum in Forest Park to see the Japanese Maple, but it was still mostly green.
Vine maples changing
Japanese maple still green
October 18 – We hiked with friends in the eastern gorge, Lyle Cherry Orchard Trail, and could see over to the Catherine Creek area, where a controlled burn had spread to nearby forest.
Convict Road viewpoint
Lyle overlook, smoke from the Top of the World fire
Closer view of the fire
Wide view looking west
October 24 – Back in the eastern Washington gorge the next week, for one of those perfect fall hikes at the Labyrinth trail – colors blazing, views forever.
Rowland Lake, near the trailhead. A late bunch of poppies; destination ponderosa on the skyline.
Mt Hood on view
Hello to the trail guardian oak tree
Creek almost dry, but a few ponds in the stream bed
Oak leaves
Oak grove
Lunch view
Ponderosa near our destination…
From which we can see over to the controlled-burn area above Catherine Creek.
Going down past the ridgeline oak tree
A glorious day!
October 29 – We went back up to the Hoyt Arboretum, to see the maple tree now in nearly full color.
Meanwhile – Neighborhood walks…
Sunflower
Sumac
Shadow
Joan of Arc
GrantPark
Sumac and tupelo
Neighborhood Halloween –
Ghosts
Witches
Spider
Peanuts
Bushes with eyes
Neighborhood Hope – I am writing this in November, but we did have hope in October…all through the neighborhood.
Crafting – was mostly knitting, but also, near daily prep and painting over numerous patches in the walls from plumbing repairs.
Icelandic vest – just needs buttons
New gift hat started
Gift socks finished
Donation hat finished
Painting in progress
And I carved my Halloween pumpkin with inspiration from my kitchen sock monkey.
We like to look at where we’ve been, we like to look at where we’re going…
And we could do that from both trails this month – we looked up at Hamilton Mountain, first from the Columbia River level, then from half way up the mountain.
September 16th – Strawberry (or Hamilton) Island, North Bonneville, WA
We have been out here before once, on a foggy day when a herd of elk emerged from the mist. Today, it is a good place for a flat walk with no danger of falling (hand healing protocol). We saw some birds, crossed a dry channel to an island in the Columbia River, and had a good view of the mountains on both sides of the river (2.5 miles, 100 feet).
Totem at the Trailhead
Trailhead map
Our Gaia track for the day
View of Hamilton Mountain from the west end of Strawberry Island
A selection of fall foliage, flowers and berries:
Hawthorne
Blackberries
Wild Carrot
Tansy
Blackberry leaves
We circled around the to the south and saw that the channel between Strawberry Island and Ives Island had mostly dried up, with a pond in the middle. As we walked down to investigate, we noticed two egrets along the shore.
South side of Strawberry Island, two egrets in the channel
Egrets
They flew up, and then to the west side of the channel slough,
and joined two Great Blue herons there.
Herons and egret
Heron and egret
It was a beautiful view down to Beacon Rock.
We then walked eastward, crossing the dry river channel over to Ives Island.
East end of the slough
View back to Beacon Rock
And a wide panorama view from Beacon Rock to Hamilton Mountain.
Micro-mudcracks on the rocks at the bottom of the channel.
Our return took us over the high point of Strawberry Island, where conveniently placed benches provide a nice place to admire the views in all directions.
Up to the high point
South – Columbia River and Oregon
East – Bonneville Dam
North – noting the shoulder of Hamilton Mountain (Little Hamilton Mountain), where our next hike would take us.
September 23rd – Little Hamilton Mountain, Beacon Rock State Park, WA
My husband’s hand is sufficiently healed, and he has the surgeon’s okay to hold a hiking pole. We need to get some elevation in our legs, so we will see how far up Hamilton Mountain we can go. I think about half way, and I am right. Without the hanging cliff gardens of spring wild flowers, I lost my “up” legs about half way. It is a steep trail and a good work out. Also, the views from Little Hamilton Mountain are better than the tree-obstructed views at the top, though we won’t see Mt Adams from here. It was a good day, a little warm, so I appreciated the tree cover on the way down (4.2 miles, 1355 feet).
View to the top of Hamilton Mountain from the power line cut on the trail.
Rodney Falls and Pool of the Winds, about a mile up the trail.
Downstream from the falls.
The next section is shady and steep!
No flowers, just reddening poison oak…
Looking up at the cliffs we must climb…
We made it to the viewpoint at Little Hamilton Mountain, in time for lunch and a good look around.
Western view
Mt Hood to the south
Looking down on Strawberry Island, where we hiked last week.
Zooming in on the benches at the top of Strawberry Island.
Eastward view toward Bonneville Dam
And Hamilton Mountain looming behind us – another 1000 feet up, but not today.
We rested in the shade for a bit at the falls on the way down.
Hardy Creek and falls
We have plans for more adventures next month, and hope to finish the year strong, after this time off for my husband’s hand surgery.
We went on five hikes in May. Though most were repeat hikes, we return for good reason – to see the wildflowers. And we found a new trail with mountain lady slippers in bloom!
May 2, Stacker Butte, WA – We hiked along the road above Dalles Mountain Ranch to the top of Stacker Butte on a foggy day – the clouds lifted and did not rain on us. All the wildflowers were out! (5 miles, 1000 feet)
Looking up from the trailhead…
Paintbrush, lupine, and balsamroot
Daggerpod, desert parsley, large head clover, and buckwheat
Looking toward the crest and some of the many cell towers at the top
Paintbrush, phlox, and all the rest
Lunch view from the top, looking north. Clouds blocked our view of Mt Adams; bight yellow wildflowers painting the slopes above Swale Canyon.
Long view to the east, with wind turbines.
And looking south, back to the river, The Dalles, and Dalles Mountain Ranch.
Lupine and balsamroot
One of many meadow larks, singing.
There is a famous rusted out jalopy near Dalles Mountain Ranch – often seen in flower-filled photographs this time of year. The short trail usually has lots of visitors, but there were none today, so we visited for the first (and likely the last) time, and took our share of photographs.
May 8, Weldon Wagon Road, WA – We took the usual hike up through the forest to the open slopes painted yellow with balsamroot and desert parsley (4.7 miles, 1200 feet).
The open slopes, and Mt Hood
Along the trail
Fern leaf parsley
Bare stem biscuitroot/parsley
May 14, Tom McCall Point, OR – Again, our usual hike to the top, on an almost too warm day, with some later season blooms near the top (4 miles, 1000 feet).
Our objective – Tom McCall Point from Rowena Crest trailhead; Mt Hood peeking up on the right.
Looking back at Rowena Crest, the Columbia River and Mt Adams.
Penstemon, balsamroot, paintbrush and Mt Hood.
Looking toward Lyle Cherry Orchard from the top, and a distant yellow canola? field. We’ve never noticed that before.
Another view down river, with Mt Adams.
Blue flax
Clarkia
Whitestem frasera
And another pass through parsley alley on the return.
May 20, Cape Horn, WA – Our daughter joined us for this hike through the tall larkspur-lined trail – a seasonal treat! (3.3 miles, 600 feet)
Much of the trail looks like this – shady forest and tall larkspur, this time of year.
Larkspur
We walked all the way down to the waterfall viewpoint.
View up the Columbia River to Beacon Rock from the Waterfall Overlook.
A few other wildflowers seen today…
Red columbine, blue-eyed Mary, purple iris, white thimbleberry
Fringecup and larkspur
Honeysuckle
And more larkspur!
May 30, Lady Slipper Trail, Brooks Memorial State Park, WA – This was a new trail for us, about a two hour drive from Portland, in the Simcoe Mountains north of Goldendale, WA. We had heard that the Lady Slipper Trail here was a place one can see the elusive mountain lady slipper orchids. The plants are rare and endangered, so locations are not publicized. The park ranger told us approximately where to look.
Lupine in the picnic area, about 2600 feet elevation.
After lunch in the picnic area, we slowly hiked along the Lady Slipper Loop, looking carefully. We eventually found one patch of about a dozen blooming plants! (1.5 miles, 200 feet)
Mountain lady slippers near the trail
Another few clumps in a nearby clearing
Closer view
The other cheek
With forest beyond
Very pretty!
And we could see Mt Hood in the distance on the return trail.
After our hike, we stopped at the Maryhill Art Museum, as described in the previous post, before driving home. We have certainly seen our share of the wildflowers in May!
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…
Crocuses are blooming…
My monthly collection of shadows and cracks…
Wildlife in the neighborhood…
Raccoon
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.
Gaia track of our West Hills Walk.Ascending one of the Cemetary HillsView to Mt HoodView to Mt St HelensWe passed the Willamette Stone site, but couldn’t get down to the actual point due to fallen trees from a recent storm.
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…this beautiful quilt top!
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.
Lodge Quilt back, in progress…
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. Rose City Mystery ShawlThis view shows the beads and cable textures.
Finished socksNew socks
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…
Upstairs hallYellow bathKitchen ceilingOld pipes
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.
Dragon by Emily, 2nd grade
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.
Margaret Quilts 