2013.10.20. Devil's Peak Lookout

Sunday. Sunny. 6 of us hiked to Devil's Peak from Cool Creek trail head. 7.6 miles, 3200' gain. Somewhat steep at times.

Wet where we started, dry later half of the hike, but not dusty. Lots of rhodies in the middle. The best view point is about 1/2 miles before the lookout. Can clearly see Hood, Adams, Rainier and St. Helens. No clear cut. Mt Hood certainly looks a lot prettier now than in the summer. More exposed, a bit windy. The lookout is somewhat shadowed by tall trees, hard to find a good slice of unobstructed view. You can see Hood, and Jefferson (not at the same time). The lookout is open, and two beds were occupied by two sleeping bags. No running water nearby.

Total 6 people. I picked some mushrooms on the way down. Even though I barely had 4 hours of sleep, I still decided not to let this continuously glorious Indian Summer day to go waste: high probably hit 20°C. However, when I left home, it was 3°C.

Direction: Highway 26. ~1.5 miles east of Zigzag (past the ranger station), turn right on Still Creek Road. A short distance later, turn right on NF2612. This is one lane paved. Go about 2.5 miles. Then it turns to gravel. 0.4 miles further is the trailhead.

2013.10.13. Trapper Creek

A nice sunny Sunday. 重阳节. Unfortunately the group I went with are mostly old ladies who don't want to hike high. Otherwise, I'd like to go to Observation Peak lookout. We followed a nice creek in the Trapper Creek wilderness area, lots of lichen and moss, plenty old growth trees. Some fall foliage. Vine maples are only yellow. The view along the drive (via Columbia Gorge, and for some moment I could see Mt Adams from the car) is nice too. But it's a long drive. The best of today's hike is chanterelle. I picked quite a few (a couple of white ones too), and one hedgehog. Lots of lobsters and coral too (I didn't pick those). Saw two couples coming with big grocery bags as we exit. They were here for the mushrooms only. Yes, along the first mile or two, all is picked clean. As with all Mary V's hike, we were slow, but learned something: Rosy Gomphidius, Violet Cortinarious, Milk Cap.

On the way out, we did a detour of ~200m, to visit the Government Mineral Spings. The guard station looks closed. There're some spacious camp sites. According to Mary, when she was here last Memorial Day weekend, only 2 out of 4 sites were occupied. The spring is no longer usable (pump is gone). There're also some homes (private cabins) very close to the trail.

Direction: north of Carson on Wind River Road for about 10 miles. Right on Little Soda Spring road for ~1/4 miles.

2013.10.6. 白先勇's lecture at UW

Sunday, sunny and warm. 白先勇 talked about his book 《父親與民國》(Father and the Republic) at Kane Hall. The book (as well as the lecture) follows general 白崇禧's military life, with many historical photos. The lecture hall #120 was full, and the next room was used as an overflow to project the lecture (albeit without sound). I was 1.5 hours late, but 白 went on for 3+ hours. If not for the closure of rooms, he would continue chatting. At the Q&A session, some audience members asked about 崑曲 and his political views. He shows optimism in both the relationship between the mainland China and Taiwan, and the prosperity of traditional art. At age 76, he was enthusiastic and indefatigable.

2013.10.5. Johnston Ridge at Mt. St. Helens.

2.5 hours drive. Johnston Ridge observation center was closed (due to the government shut down?). More floating woods on Spirit Lake, than I remembered in June. We hiked ~7 miles R/T, to an excellent view point of the lake, Mt. Adams, and St. Helens. Fall color is here, nothing vibrant, but still quite nice.

2013.10.4. Ecola State park and Fort Stevens State park

Friday. After two weeks of continuous rain, finally a day with blue sky. Drove to the coast for a leisurely sightseeing.

First stop is Ecola State Park. We walked a short distance to the "closed" pathway to get a good view of the beaches (see photo). This is probably the best view along the northern Oregon coast. High on a cliff, windy. Then we drove to Indian Beach and walk on the sand and water. Saw some surfers in the later. It's possible to walk there in stead of driving.

2nd stop is Fort Stevens State Park, NW end of Oregon. Very few people here in this very large park. Peter Iredale is an interesting site. Mostly buried in the sand now. Built in 1896, grounded in 1906, it was big: 287' long, 30' wide, 23' deep. Then we drove to the mouth of Columbia River. "Investigated" the southern jetty, and the birds in the swampy area of the estuary. We finished our tour at the remain of some 1865 battery to protect the mouth of the Columbia River from Confederate gun boats and the British Navy during the Civil War. So far off the shore now, that it would be useless, and offers no view whatsoever. The main military complex is closed (maybe open in summer only?). Fort Stevens has the distinction of being the only military fort in the United States to be fired upon by an enemy during time of war since the War of 1812, when it was attacked by a Japanese submarine on June 21, 1942.