2013.8.25. Yocum Ridge at Mt Hood

Yocum Ridge is another beautiful yet strenuous hike with up close views of Mt.Hood and still some wildflower bloom. However, it started to drizzle as soon as we left parking lot. After crossing Sandy River over the seasonal log bridge (@ mile 1), we stopped at Ramona falls (3 flat miles in, not the best waterfall). Flowering meadows appear when close to 5 mile mark, as well as bad clouds. Soon rain fell earnestly. We continued up for about a mile and ate lunch under dripping trees. Turned back soon after, and stopped for a sometime around mile 5, when clouds finally lifted. Here flowers galore, Sandy River's source is right under our feet. Excellent view. Will try this hike again next year when the weather is better, and go up to the glacier.

Distance: 16 miles RT (we did ~12 miles due to the weather, and Chatchay was visibly close to hyperthermia).
Elevation gain: 3600 feet (we did ~2600', turned back a bit over 5000')
Driving distance: 110 miles round-trip
Direction: From the community of Zigzag on U.S. 26 (18 miles east of Sandy and 10 miles west of Government Camp), go north for 4 miles on the Lolo Pass Road (FSRD 18). Turn right on Road 1825 labeled "campgrounds and trailheads". Stay right on the bridge (at 0.6 miles) going over the Sandy River. Past McNeil Campground (1 mile from Lolo Pass Rd.). Stay left past the road to Riley Horse Camp (1.8 miles from Lolo Pass Rd.). Stay left past the road to Lost Creek Campground (2.2 miles from Lolo Pass Rd.). Go 0.3 more miles to the Ramona Falls Trailhead (2.4 miles from Lolo Pass Rd.)

2013.8.18. Trek in the Park

5pm every Saturday and Sunday in August, Atomic Arts stages free act of episode "Trouble with Dribble". When I arrived at Cathedral Park ~3:30pm, the lawn was already full of blankets, at least those in the shades. Being just one person, I was able to carve out a little plot between 2 blankets, very close to the front, yet in the shade (however, the shade moved). People are very nice here, convivial, chatty, watching each other's blanket and picnic. It feels like a big happy family. At 3:50 sound check. At 4:15pm music started playing through loud speakers. Right, you don't have to sit close to hear. I brought some food, and ate while waiting. The show was only ~1 hour. They did a good job, without much prep. Well, a lot of Tribbles (sent in from all over the world for listeners). A silly story really, but I had a good time.

2013.8.17. Stagman Ridge - Looking Glass loop @ Mt Adams

Saturday, cloudy. Stagman Ridge - Horseshoe Meadow - Looking Glass Lake. ~10 miles, ~1800' gain/loss. Passed through a big burnt area due to 2012/9/10 fire.

I got up in dark in order to catch my 5:50am train for the 7am meetup. I was so sleepy that I missed my stop. Had to take the next train back for one stop. Tom, and his group kindly waited for me for 12 minutes. Slow going. After 2 unnecessary stops, we arrived at the trailhead shortly after 10.

A brief introduction of 10 of us, finally we hit the trail at 10:30 after another meetup group and some horses. Tom talked about the trees like last Saturday. Good to refresh my memory. We hiked through burnt area. Remnant of 2012/9/10 fire. Reached the first meadow around 12:40. Very green and flat. Not much flowers. 10 minutes later, turned to PCT. Then more trees, burnt or not, more purple asters. At 1:30pm reached Horseshoe meadow. Bigger. Not many more flowers. Maybe 2 weeks too late. Saw a tent. There's a small creek. However, judging by the horses going by, treat the water before drinking. From here, we hiked towards Looking Glass lake. On the way, saw some very nice aster field, a couple of small creeks lined with flowers. The lake itself is nice, but nothing special. Good camping area.

Lucky to have both Tom and Mary on this hike, I smelled the citrusy Subalpine pine, tasted Sickletop lousewort. Also learnt the golden Hawkweed, Partridge Foot.

~8:30pm, we stopped at Full Sail tasting room and pub for dinner in Hood River. Burger and beer. Had to wait. Food is not bad. No outdoor seating. By the time we arrived at the P&R, it was already 10:30, and my next train is 11:13. Tom, the hike leader, kindly offered me a ride home, and I got home ~11:10.

2013.8.10. Tilly Jane - Polallie Ridge loop

Saturday, cloudy. 8.5 miles, ~3000'. 6 people attended this Tilly Jane - Cooper Spur - Polallie Ridge lollipop hike.

Shortly after the start, we headed onto a ridge covered with yellow and white flowers and burnt trees. About an hour later, we hit the cabin in the undamaged forest.
Tilly Jane is accessible by road. The large A frame cabin is managed by Oregon Nordic Club. Questions can be directed to tillyjanecabin@gmail.com. Reservation through http://reserveamerica.com/", up to 20 overnight guest and may include multiple parties. There's a campground and an "amphitheatre". Plenty logs for lunch. Another hour of hike takes you past Timberline trail to an expansive view of Hood at Cooper Spur hut.

Tom gave us a lesson of conifers. He identified and showed us the difference of 13 varieties: Douglas-fir, Western Red-Cedar, Western Hemlock, Grand Fir, Silver Fir, Subalpine Fir, Englemann Spruce, Western Larch, Lodgepole Pine, Western White Pine, Subalpine Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Mountain Hemlock. Most abundant flowers are endless Goldenrod and Pearly Everlasting.

2013.8.4. Paradise Park from Timberline Lodge

Sunday 8/4. Sunny, a bit hazy. Very warm 85?

We hiked the easiest of 3 options to Paradise Park. 12 miles, 2300' gain (more like up and down, so no absolute elevation gain). Very dusty: walking in sand half of the time. Plenty creek. Half forested, half hot and open. Mountain aster and mariposa lily are a big show here. Paradise Park is nicely open, filled with flowers, some short trees shading a few camp sites. But the access here is long and somewhat boring. However it's interesting to see how different the west side and south face of Mt. Hood.

10am, start from the busy and sun drenched Timberline parking lot. One lift is still operating. We could see Mt. Jefferson very easily, but too hazy to see 3 Sisters. First mile is not interesting: traversing the ski lift area. Enough lupine on the dry soil to make it not too boring. Sure, Mt Hood is right in your face. So dry and hot this summer that Hood doesn't seem to have much snow left. At mile 1, Little Zigzag Canyon is easier to cross. Then 1 mile of small meadows and grass without view of Hood, before we reached the overlook of Zigzag Canyon. Then, ~1 mile down in the forest to cross Zigzag River (hate to go uphill on the way back). Good view here. Crossing is not a big problem. 12:30 lunch at a lovely creek strewn with pink monkeys, white valerian, lupine. Paintbrush here is more raspberry color. A good shaded campsite before crossing the creek. At ~mile 4, turn right to Paradise Park trail. Further up is more open, but less flowers. Too exposed. We went to investigate a big boulder, looking like a cracked dinosaur egg. A couple of plagues. Some people camp here.

On the way back we went along PCT, passed a waterfall. Just a few steps side tracked, can see the upper cascade. Not bad at all. A lollipop kind of trail. The first half is better.

I was 7 minutes late, because I checked Saturday's schedule. The trip leader, Tom, and others graciously waited for me. 12 people today. We stopped at Zigzag inn for pizza.