Thursday, November 27, 2014

2014.11.27. Multnomah-Wahkeena loop hike

Thanksgiving day. Rain at times. My sister, her husband and I hiked this traditional all season hike Multnomah-Wahkeena loop. 5 miles, 1600' gain. The trail above Benson Bridge was ribboned off. We went anyway. At Wahkeena TH, there's a construction going on. The link between the two trailhead was closed. We had to walk on the narrow road. Not the best idea. Quite some people came on this raining morning. Most of them didn't go over the ribbon. My sister wore my waterproof hiking boots and my rain coat, her husband put on the new rain jacket. We were fine with the weather, but they complained about their legs after a mile in. We all enjoyed the waterfalls (5 major ones and countless small cascades) and the company.

Before returning home, we joined the shopping crowd for the ever earlier Black Friday sale. The checkout lines are huge, so had to be on our legs more. Did find some good bargain.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

2014.11.25. Santaland Dianries at PCS

Portland Center Stage puts a one man show of SantaLand Diaries, by David Sedaris. Funny (satiric), and well acted. The protagonist works as an elf leading (or distracting) kids (or rather their parents) to take photos with Santas in Macy's. Exaggerated accounts of the interview progress, the training, his fellow elves, managers.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

2014.11.23. Trans-Siberia at Moda

Sunday. I won 2 tickets at work for a Christmas theme rock concert by Trans-Siberia. It was okay. I like the narrator the most, the laser is quite good. Otherwise too loud, and repetitive. The performers are energetic, love their acts and looks. Maybe I'm getting too old. Was hoping to leave at the intermission, which there wasn't one.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

2014.11.16. Gearhart and the coast

Sunday. Sunny and warm on the beach. Freezing in Portland. My hike yesterday (Saturday) was canceled (I couldn't understand why. The excuse was high wind.) It was a beautiful day too.

Gearhart is a small unrushed beach communities almost without tourist, just north of Hwy-26. It has the oldest (1891) golf course west of Mississippi. Summer vacation home of one of the most famous Portland sons James Beard, where he was accustomed to fresh seafood and berries. The little two bedroom 1 bath house changed hand in April 2012 for $327,500. We had blackberry tart at Pacific Bakery. Probably being low season, not too many options. Quite pricy: croissant is $3. My tart could be yesterday's leftover: the dough was not flaky. The cafe is little and cozy, and the waitress was friendly. Julie asked her which house was James Beard's, and she consulted someone and came with an answer. So, we followed her direction. I took a photo of a house which I thought could be it.

Then, we walked back and forth on the wide and long (18 miles long) beach, where a few trucks drove on. Saw a bald eagle fighting with a few gulls for a dead crab. So far, all according to the plan. Since only I showed up at the meeting place on this crisp morning, Julie decided to take me on a tour of Cannon Beach. She showed me the best place to park (Chapman Point) for great beach access, views and swings!, and her favorite hotels (White Heron and Stephanie Inn for different purposes).

We then drove south to Neahkahnie Mountain trailhead. Instead of going east and up the hill, we walked west and down to Devil's Caldron and Treasure Cove in Oswald West state park. You can see me walking toward a precipice on both sides for a better view of Devil's Caldron (a blowing hole), the trail to the right (north).

The trail to the left (south) goes to Treasure Cove. There's a faint trail going steeply up to the hill south of Treasure Cover. Near the top, you can see the town of Manzanita. The very top has too many trees blocking the view to the south. The good thing is that there's ground just with big enough for 1 tent, almost flat, with great view to the north and west.

I'd prefer to stay for the sunset. But Julie was keen on driving back with enough day light. Of course, the night fell on our way home, so was the temperature (dropped below freezing).

Saturday, November 08, 2014

2014.11.8. Larch Mountain from Multnomah Falls

Saturday, fog, then sunny. 7 of us started at Multnomah Falls lodge (only 30 minutes from Gateway P&R) ~9 am for Larch Mountain. 14 miles, 4000' gain, but not steep. It was still early: not many people. It would be a zoo when we returned ~4 pm. Paved switch-backs until the top of Multnomah Falls, ~1 mile. The trail follows Multnomah Creek, passing a couple of waterfalls and cascades, very scenic. The autumn leaves add much color. Passed trail junction to Wahkeena Trail (turn right to loop to Wahkeena Falls), Multnomah Basin Rd, then Franklin Ridge Trail (turn left to Oneonta Falls, Horsetail Falls) at mile 5 (?). Eventually, you'll see picnic tables and a giant empty parking lot. Turn left for steps to Sherrard Point.

The view at Sherrard Point is outstanding. 360°. To the north: St Helen, Rainier, Adams. To the south: Hood (22 miles away) and Jefferson are clear. This is more pleasant now, because the road is closed half way down. So only hikers and bikers come this far. A long lunch break. Warm enough to walk bare foot. My 2nd time here this year. Last time I saw nothing: rain.

Monday, November 03, 2014

2014.11.1-2 Backpack seminar weekend

Trail Club of Oregon hosts a backpack seminar weekend at Nesika Lodge up the Larch Mountain rd. Seems like this is an annual event to introduce people to backpack, and to recruit more members. Linda, the organizer and her crew did an excellent job, attracting younger members. When I hiked up here this spring with the club, everyone else was in their 60s or older. This time more people in my age group or younger. Even I considered joining. My deterring factor is that most outings, including this one, doesn't provide carpool arrangement.

Saturday. Foggy. Lisa picked Julie F from her home, me and Carrie at Gateway at 7:45. She drove to the lodge, because she was carrying a box of her newly self-published hike books. A group hiked up from Multnomah Lodge from 8am. I'd rather hike up, but needed a ride to the TH. Quite a few miles on gravel. We claimed our bunks, visited the open outhouse, then congregated in the main lodge. There're two dorm buildings. The 2nd floor of the women's dorm is coed for couples. The main lodge is quite beautiful and airy, and with 2 flushing toilets and shower. All these 3 uses wood stove. There also are a couple of shacks.

Linda gave a talk before lunch, introducing the club and its history, as well as what's to be raffled off. Each one of us was given 2 tickets, one for 2 backpacks (donated by Six Moon and Gossamer), and one for little things. Then, Lisa was given 20 minutes to pitch her book, without her prior knowledge (she sold all that she brought). Then Jeff Lawton of Trail Keeper of Oregon talked briefly the 4 loop hikes close to Portland and the logistics: Wonderland Trail around Rainier (93 miles - Jeff recommends to start at Sunrise), Loowit Trail around St Helen (30 miles, start at June Lake), Timberland Trail around Hood (41 miles, start at Timberline Lodge), Round the Mountain Trail around Adams. After a lunch of soup, sandwich, salad, apple sausage, and Costco cookies, the main program began at 13:30, and I started to doze off.

Whitney Laruffa, president of American Long Distance Hiking Association - west talked about Chinook Trail, a newly linked route along the Columbia Gorge from Silver Star in WA east to The Dalles and then west to Angel's Rest. Shane Von Kemp, speaking about the newly proposed Desert Trail in eastern Oregon. He had to cache water in 8 different spots, and at one stretch had to swim 3 times to in Owyhee canyon. After an early (5pm) dinner of pasta, more salad and sausage, Erin Saver talked for 2 hours about her last AT trip. Her photos are very well done. Afterwards, she answered question candidly, including how to relieve yourself in the tent. We even had an intermission for Costco pie and just baked brownies. The power was scheduled to turn off at 22:00. Enough time to talk with fellow hikers. Notably Mary from Ashland. Linda was consulting her about Grand Enchantment Trail in New Mexico, where she and her husband are leading a group next spring.

Sunday. I got up before 6 to use the bathroom. There were already plenty people in the kitchen. Power was turned on. Breakfast is toast, fruit salad, more sausage and some mushroom she picked the previous day. Jeff Lawton gave a 30 minute talk about backpack trails in the Portland area. Then Linda lead a short loop hike around the lodge in the rain. Julie didn't feel well and Tim led her back to the lodge soon after we started. Turns out she might have been "poisoned" by the wood stove in the dorm. Carrie and I moved to upstairs, where the stove wasn't in use. I hesitated to walk out into the rain, but very glad I did. It was refreshing. Linda knows the area like the back of her hand. She showed us Dr. Franklin's mostly disappeared home site and various connecting trails. She also picked some oyster mushrooms, which she calls Angel Wing. I carried a grocery bag hoping for chanterelles, but found none. Maybe too high. Vine maples are quite colorful now. At noon, lunch of leftovers, and the rest was put in ziplock bag for everyone to take home.