2015.2.28. Let's Dance - Oregon Symphony

Let's Dance is part of the pop series. I received 3 tickets from work. So I invited a neighbor and a friend who lives in downtown, where I could take a shower before the concert.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the dancers. I didn't care for the orchestra, nor the singers: lack of spontaneity, a bit mechanical. The conductor and the tap dancer is quite funny.

Jeff Tyzik, conductor 

BERNSTEIN/ARR. PERESS   Overture to West Side Story
STRAUSS                 Blue Danube Waltz
                           Forrest Walsh, Melissa Shahin, dancers
ARR. TYZIK              Charleston/Shimmy
                           Stephen Edward Sayer, Chandrae Roettig, dancers
ARR. TYZIK              Kiss of Fire Tango
                           Patricio Touceda, Eva Lucero, dancers
ARR. TYZIK              Sway
                           Michael Lynche, vocalist
                           Forrest Walsh, Melissa Shahin, dancers
BIZET                   Bohemian Dance from Carmen Suite No. 2
O'FLYNN/MESKILL/RICH/   Smile, Darn Ya, Smile
                           Ted Louis Levy, tap dancer
ARR. TYZIK              Blue Suede Shoes, I’ve Got a Woman, Johnny B. Good, Twistin’ the Night Away
                           Michael Lynche, vocalist
                           Edward Sayer, Chandrae Roettig, dancers

OFFENBACH               Can Can (from Orpheus in the Underworld)
ARR. TYZIK              Swing Dance Medley
                           Edward Sayer, Chandrae Roettig, dancers
MATOS/ARR. TYZIK        La Cumparsita
                           Patricio Touceda, Eva Lucero, dancers
SAINT-SAËNS             Danse Bachanale from Samson and Delilah
ARR. TYZIK              Fever
                           Julie Jo Hughes, vocalist
                           Edward Sayer, Chandrae Roettig, dancers
MORES ORCH. TYZIK       Tanguera
                           Patricio Touceda, Eva Lucero, dancers
ARR. TYZIK              Cute
                           Ted Louis Levy, tap dancer
ARR. TYZIK              I've Had the Time of My Life

2015.2.28. Catherine Creek for Grasswidows

I planned to walk to Coyote Wall view point, but didn't get this far: tuned south too early. The east part of this route went steady up, gentle, along old route 20. Mostly in the woods. Probably better to go over the meadow on unnamed trails. Once we are high up, it's a ramble. View is the typical gorge splendor: view of Columbia River and Mount Hood. Delicate grasswidow everywhere, but they are too small to form purple patches. Moss here has many shades of green. Many grass is still winter brown. Oak trees are bare. Quite a lot of desert parsley and its purple endemic cousin Lomatium Columbianum. We saw our first balsamroot in bloom this year. We passed two waterfalls, checked out the basalt columns near the Labyrinth, and finally came down among loosely set vision pits.

Total 4 women, 1 car. 8 miles. ~4 hours. Sunny, 59F in February. Most of these photos are from Stephanie and Julie.

2015.02.22. Other Desert Cities - a play

2/22 Sunday eve, on my way home, I stopped at Portland Center Stage, and watched Other Desert Cities, a new play by Jon Robin Baitz. A family reunion in Palm Spring on Christmas Eve. The parents are respectable Republicans, who mingled with Nancy Reagan and the like years ago. The sister, just out of alcoholic rehab, and trying to recover. The daughter, Brooke, who were depressed for years, and ready to publish a new novel. The youngest son, who's a mediator in the play. Brooke brought her book, a memoir about her older brother's suicide, which stirred up lots of angry accusations.

Overall, I enjoy the play very much, especially the latter half, the beautiful yet simple stages set, the surprise ending. The beginning was a bit strange. The conversation didn't make sense at first, dialogue not natural. As the story progresses, it's better. They mentioned about Jews, so I thought this was a Jewish family. Then, why celebrating Christmas. The story is a bit forced. The older brother's behavior seemed sudden. But it's complex. Trying to squeeze into a 2 hour show, not easy. I really like Ned Schmidtke who played the father, very well done. The mother, not so much. She waves her arms unnecessarily, like she knows she's on stage. All of them well played, and articulated clearly.

D'Arcy Dersham......................Brooke Wyeth
Barbara Broughton...................Polly Wyeth
Ned Schmidtke.......................Lyman Wyeth
Susan Cella.........................Silda Grauman
Joel Reuben Ganz....................Trip Wyeth
Timothy Bond........................Director
William Bloodgood...................Scenic Designer
Devon Painter.......................Costume Designer
Dawn Chiang.........................Lighting Designer
Casi Pacilio........................Sound Designer

2015.2.22. Mt St Helens Climber's Route - June Lake

2/22. Sunday. Beautiful sunny day (a bit windy). Mt St. Helens. Not much snow here.
7 of us started at Marble Mountain Sno Park (special permit required) and followed Worm Flow route, to maybe 5000', less than 4 miles in. No snow till maybe the last 1000' from rim. View of Hood most of the time out of tree line, Adam was only for a little bit, blocked by boulders. Stephanie and I walked further up, while the others were having lunch in a good small camp spot. We saw the big reservoir and the tip of Mt Jefferson, before we turned back.

On the way down, Shannon, Stephanie and I took Pika Ski trail 2440 (the other 4 attempted and decided not to go forward). Boulder hopping most of the time, until a ditch. Small red flowers among boulders.Went down and up the small ditch to the flat shore of June Lake. From afar, it was just a dark shape. June Lake is very small and shallow. But pretty enough. A waterfall flows down to the lake, with perfect reflection. To the left, there's another small waterfall, not as pretty, but it's an easy 5 minute walk. From June Lake, it's an easy flat trail to the June Lake TH parking lot. Take the road, turn right, and right, until our cars, maybe 10-15 minutes.

2015.2.14-16. Family visit to BC

Drove to BC to visit family for this President Day long weekend. Forgot my passport, and had to turn back: added 2 hours of driving. Plus work from 8am, it is a long day. I didn't get to Canada until Saturday 6am, when the border had only one lane, but completely open.

Saturday, lunch at 錦江上海菜 with all family members (9 total). Food is good, service is good too. Don't know why Yelp has such a bad review, maybe the service is only good for Chinese speaking customers. Price is a bit high though.

Sunday, sunny and warm, after a thick and lengthy fog was burnt off. Dad and I walk to Hyde Creek salmon hatchery. The creek is right next to residential area and a college. But it looks quite wild.

Before sunset, we drove to Grant Narrow regional park. our 3rd time here. It's an 30 minute walk to walk across Katzie Marsh to the other side of Pitt Lake. It's as beautiful as I remembered. Need to come earlier and walk the loop. map

Monday on the way down, I stopped at Mima Mounds natural prereserve. Not a destination by itself. But okay to stop by if you are in Olympia area.

2015.1.8. Wilson River Trail in Tillamook State Forest

Sunday. Cloudy. 12 people + 1 dog. Another hike led by Lou, the 71 year old, who just did Larch Mt in the rain yesterday (16 miles). 7am meeting. But one was late by 20 minutes. At trailhead at 8:15, after a bathroom stop at a Mcdonald off junction of Hwy 6. Then we waited for the drivers to shuttle cars to the Keenig Creek TH 7.5 miles down the road. We didn't start until close to 9am. We finished at 4:30pm. Craig's GPS says 18 miles and 3100' gain. 7.5 hours (including multiple stops of 1+ hour) is not too shabby. The entire trail actually starts at Elk Creek TH, which makes it longer. There're a number or other starting points along this trail, making it mendable according to your time/fitness level. An area map is on this PDF.

Many small creek crossings and falling waters. The river is rushing with force. Not a bad hike. 0.1 mile in from King Mt TH is a 4 way cross-section. Up ahead is King Mt summit (in 2.4 miles, and hit Elk Mt trail is in 3.7 miles), to the right is Wilson River trail (goes to Elk Creek TH in low elevation). We took the left (7.4 mile to Jones Creek TH, 10.9 to Footbridge TH, and 17.1 to Keenig Creek TH). The first couple of miles go up, not steep. Good trail. A very nice bridge when we hit road again, where a dirt bike trail is located nearby (Diamond Hill) and big parking lot and privy. Craig tried his water-wading idea: two big bags over his legs. Then, it's flat and following the river to Jones Creek TH. Tillamook Forest Center is closed with 2 padlocks on each side. Picnic tables and benches. More easy walk until Foodbridge TH. Then it's uphill and back down to the end.

2015.1.30-2.1 Winter Camping

Two friends of mine, unknown to each other, came to Oregon during the same weekend. They graciously agreed to go for a winter camping trip with me. I tried for the first time my new purchases: Gossamer Mariposa backpack (light and comfy: need to test with more load and longer trails), Big Agnes Q-Core air mattress (a bit too long to blow up), REI Igneo sleeping bag (need to wear down for the snow. Won't work for colder weather), Soto Wind Master stove (the ignitor is fast and micro controller works great), and Fire Maple heat exchange 1.5 litre pot dad bought me from China. I'm quite happy with all.

Friday, 1/30. Sunny. We drove all the way to Crater Lake (only the south entrance is open in winter). Picked up a wilderness camping permit at the visitor center. The ranger was slow, and it took almost 30 minutes. Had lunch on the snow next to the Rim Village Cafe (closed). A bit windy if you want a view. Then we backpacked ~2.5 miles north for a camping site. Sunset on snow is very pretty.

Saturday, 1/31. Sunny with clouds. Watched sunrise at one of our tent site. After a hot breakfast, snowshoed up to Watchman Tower. Great 360° view. But the lake doesn't have the deep blue that it's famous for. Packed out. Saw a group of mentally challenged, one wasn't happy because he was by himself. It's good that these kids have the opportunity to enjoy the scenery and activity. Turns out that the visitor center offers a free guided short snowshoe tour. I almost forgot to return the camping permit.

A 3.5 hour drive to Smith Rock state park. Arrived just before sunset, and checked the camping area. We went ahead and hiked Misery Ridge loop hike. A bit cloudy. The walk back under the moonlight by the creek is very nice. The reflection of the rock walls and the moon was very clear in the water. The camping area is also nice. Cooking is restricted near the bathrooms (has HOT water), effectively made is somewhat festival. The tent area is spacious, flat and dispersed.

Sunday, 2/1 Drove along 97 towards The Dalles, to avoid going over Mt Hood, due to the rain. Took Hwy 84 to Horsetail Falls TH, did Horsetail Falls loop hike with an extention (in and out 1.2 mile one way) to Triple Falls. The extension was closed due to a landslide (about 0.7 miles in), which took a bit of time to go over. Quite a few people ignored the sign. A typical NW hike: rainy, mossy, and scenic. It's about 5 miles. So we managed to get home not too late.