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!
In September we visited an art festival, and went on two hikes in the mountains, and one at the beach. I took my usual neighborhood walks, read a few books, and made very little notable progress on my ongoing knitting projects. At the end of the month, we flew to the east coast to visit family there (next post).
A hot day in Portland. We drove to the coast for a short hike to Crescent Beach in Ecola State Park, then went to Cannon Beach to walk near Haystack Rock at low tide.
View to Crescent Beach and Cannon Beach from Ecola Point.Trail through the forest, about 3 miles round trip.Descending to Crescent Beach, looking south.Looking north.We walked down the beach and found a spot to eat lunch.Zooming in on Ecola Point, where we began our hike. We hiked back up after lunch.South view along Crescent Beach.
After an ice cream break in Cannon Beach, we walked toward Haystack Rock. It wasn’t a particularly low low tide today. My husband took a much longer walk, while I found a good perch right in front of the Needles, and watched several pods of pelicans fly north along the breaker zone.
Walking toward Haystack Rock.View from my perch in the sand.Zooming in on The Needles, with pelican.Pelicans.
9/10 – June Lake, Mt St Helens, WA
Another hot day. Another relatively easy hike, first to June Lake, then up onto some of the lava flows (Worm Flows) on the south side of the mountain (4 miles, 800 feet).
Trail to June Lake through the forest.
Some of the late wildflowers along the way:
PenstemonFireweed and Pearly everlastingBunchberry
June lake is calm, reflecting the waterfall coming out of the lava flow above.
June Lake
Then we went up a fairly steep trail, and onto the Loowit Trail, and the lava flows:
Up the Worm Flows…Vine Maples beginning to turn orange.A few flowers along the rocky trail.A glimpse of the top of Mt St Helens beyond the clouds.We went just high enough to get the full mountain view.Zooming in on a glacier near the summit ridge.The trail not taken ahead – our knees and balance had enough for the day.
We descended, with another stop at the beautifully reflective June Lake…
June LakeJune Lake
9/16 – Little Crater Lake, Mt Hood, OR
And yet another hot day! Another easy hike, first to Little Crater Lake, then to the eastern edge of Timothy Lake along the Pacific Crest Trail (3.5 miles, 50 feet).
This small artesian spring-fed lake is always a treat, with its deep turquoise color, reflections and transparency. An indulgent photo stop.
Little Crater LakeReflectionsTransparencyGlowing imagesUpside down treesSubmerged branches
We walked to the eastern edge of Timothy Lake, then retraced our steps.
Timothy LakePacific Crest Trail – nice and shady on a hot day.Passing by Little Crater Lake again.
We were told we could see Mt Hood from the Timothy Lake Dam, so we drove around the lake to see the view – it was just a glimpse over a ridge.
Timothy Lake, Mt Hood in the distance.Zoom in to Mt Hood – almost snow free!
Neighborhood walks
Flowers and landscape elements I noticed in September:
LantanaSunflowersArbutus
I haven’t done much quilting lately, so I composed a concrete quilt from some of my favorite sidewalk cracks.
September books
September books
I finished six books in September. The most inspiring was the biography of Robert Louis and Fanny Stevenson – A Wilder Shore, by Camille Peri. They were a very unusual couple for their time. He chose writing instead of the family business of lighthouse engineering. She grew up in rural Indiana, spent time with her first husband in the mining camps of Nevada, then in bohemian San Francisco, before going to France with her children to study art. They traveled all over the world, by horse carriage, train and ship, eventually settling in Samoa. It seems amazing to me that they were so widely travelled, and that she lived her own style, ignoring much of the expected behavior of a proper Victorian lady. I was inspired to reread my childhood copy of his poem, The Land of Counterpane, from A Child’s Garden of Verses, with illustration by Garth Williams – this is one of the definitive visual memories from my childhood – the quilt, and the imaginary play it inspired.
From The Tall Book of Make Believe
Also in Portland…
Things started to heat up. Deliberate misinformation reported a ‘war zone’ throughout the city. The only actual activity is near the Federal ICE facility in southwest Portland, where the true spirit of Portland is on display in peaceful protests that defend free speech and due process. I am writing this in October, when things have gotten crazier but in September, we were just getting ready for threatened invasion! I’m sure I will be adding something about the frogs next month.
Wall art in my neighborhood.Screen shot of local fiber arts.
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!
I spent the first half of June in St George, Utah, helping a family member with a health care situation. I was extremely grateful to return to the lovely pacific Northwest for the rest of the month, enjoying our more temperate climate and the lovely flowers blooming in the neighborhood. I finished knitting a pair of socks, and cheered on the No Kings Day Protests from afar.
Southern Utah, June 4 to 15th.
It was too hot in Utah to do much more than scurry from one air conditioned space to the next. We drove through nearby Snow Canyon State Park one evening, to admire the Navajo Sandstone landscape from the car window. I paid homage to the air conditioning gods and the electric grid, praying that it didn’t go down while I was there.
The weather…
Snow Canyon State Park –
Willow trees in bloom
Birds of St George…
Roadrunner in the hospital gardenDove in the back yard
Flying home through Salt Lake City:
Great Salt Lake from the airplane windowTerminal Tunnel in Salt Lake City, inspired by the salt flatsTerminal tunnel art panelThe Columbia River, Cape Horn, and Mt St Helens; welcome views on the return flight to Portland…
Flowers in the neighborhood –
Knitting
I knit not a single stitch while in Utah, but I finished one pair of socks after I returned. I cast on a new pair of socks, and made some progress on a scarf and a cardigan.
Finished socksThree works in progress – cardigan, scarf, socks
Books
Nine books read in June
Of the nine books I completed in June, by far the most compelling was Figuring, by Maria Popova. It is a long and interwoven biographical tale of several women artists and scientists who made major contributions within their fields, yet have gone somewhat unrecognized. The women include astronomer Maria Mitchell, poet Emily Dickinson, sculptor Harriet Hosmer, writer Margaret Fuller, and biologist Rachel Carson. She includes many intersecting peripheral people, who interacted with her selected historical figures. I found it fascinating to listen to.
I also enjoyed a trip down memory lane as I read Sandstone Spine by David Roberts, a description of hiking across Comb Ridge in southern Utah, a place I did field work 40 years ago.
The rest of the world:
June 14th – While I was roasting away in St George in a care-giver role, millions of people all over the world were marching in No Kings Day protests. I am grateful that so many were able to show up!
(Instagram screenshot)
Back in Portland, I took a long neighborhood walk on Juneteenth, and a real hike near Mt Hood on June 24th – to be described in the next post…
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…
In May we enjoyed a visit from our son and his fiancee, went on five hikes (next post), and attended a live concert, while the spring flower season rolled on…
Walking the neighborhood
Blooming this month in Portland:
RhododendronsIrisPoppiesRosesDogwoodColorful tile stepsSidewalk of the monthNeighborly advice
Knitting
I finished a dishcloth for donation, and I have three active works in progress.
DishclothSocks, a scarf, a cardigan, in progress
Books
I finished eight books in May. The one I enjoyed the most was Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner, set in Post-Civil War Boston, and Portsmouth, England. It is an imagining of Americans who appreciate Jane Austen’s novels, and interact with her last surviving sibling. Ms Austen’s themes of women’s restricted access to their own money and life choices are compared between the two countries. Spoiler – neither was great, and we still have a ways to go. The judicial aspect was interesting. I love the opportunity to think deeper about Ms Austen’s work.
May books
Events
We spent a lovely afternoon in a garden in Eugene, Oregon. Pegasus pizza, toy airplanes, and lots of conversation.
Eugene garden
I passed on this beautiful dress, handmade in about 1982 by my sister for her daughters. My daughter wore it in about 1998; and my little grandniece is the next eligible little girl in the family.
The red dress, made in 1982
We attended the James Taylor concert at the Ridgefield Amphitheater with one of our sons. The music was lovely!
James Taylor concert
An upcoming event I will not attend because I will be in Utah, helping a family member with some health issues. But you should go if you have an event near you!
Margaret Quilts 