2014.12.14. Cascade Head

Beautiful sunny day after the fog was burnt off. Very windy. Saw a falcon (?) at the parking lot, a large herd of elk, and some sprouts of whales. About 5.4 miles RT (~1700') in the Cascade Head Nature Conservency. No dogs. No camping. The trail is also closed in Jan for endangered Oregon Silverspots butterfly. From the lower trailhead by the river, you started on a long boardwalk next to a swampy creek, then a road and some private properties, before going into the woods. Nice old growth, and big ferns. Soon emerge to the grassy headland, with some big piles of animal droppings (cow like). Views begin here, to the coast (lines of waves), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_River_(Lincoln_County,_Oregon)">Salmon River</a> estuary (flat sandy beach, access via Roads End State Recreation site?), and the town of Lincoln City. As you switch back up the slope, you'll see Devil's Lake south of Lincoln City, seems like 2 big bodies of water instead of one. There's a survey marker at the summit. 3 of us continued up to the next summit, not much from here. Have to come back here in mid May to mid June to look for the rare Cascade Head Catchfly and Oregon Checker Mallow.

Direction: 101 north of Lincoln City, turn west on Three Rocks Road. At 2 miles, take the left fork and park in Knight Park. 1 pivy at the parking lot. For an easier hike, can park at the upper trailhead.

2014.12.13. The Good, The Bad, and The Muddy -- a hike

Saturday, cloudy, rain at times, sunny when we finished. 10 people went to Angel's Rest to Devil's Rest lollipop loop. Very muddy indeed, especially on the way down, after the rain. We went from Angel's Rest trailhead (right off I-84 exit 28), passing Coopey Falls, Boyscott camp (very big, in the woods, right after cross a creek), Wahkeena Spring (100m before the junction of Wahkeena Trail), continued right & up to Devil's Rest, which is just two rock piles, no view. Along the way, a couple of viewpoints now completely obscured by rain and cloud. Then we took a different way down (the lollipop). Finally the weather cleared up, and we had a great view at Angel's Rest, with a small crowd. From here, it's ~2 miles down. Drove to Bridal Veil Falls TH for bathroom (2 stalls each, with flushing toilet, and soap by the sink).

2014.12.7. Silver Falls state park

Sunday, cloudy. 9 of us walked the Ten Falls Loop. About 7 miles, minimum elevation gain. Part of the trail was ribboned off, in case of slippery ground (when it's cold, the water blown off of the falls can make the ground icy). We walked over the first ribbon at South Falls, after much debate among ourselves. A minute later, we encountered a ranger. Fortunately he okayed our action. This is a delightful and easy loop. South Falls, Middle North Falls and North Falls, you can walk behind the curtain of water. Double Falls is small, but quite elegant. The park itself has some good timber lodges, now in holiday decoration.

We had a late lunch at Oregon Garden. I didn't care for the food, but a Frank Lloyd Wright's building Gordon House, which was painstakingly moved from Wilsonville to this location.

2014.12.6. Cape Horn loop

Saturday. Despite the rain, 9 people showed up for Cape Horn loop hike. 7 miles, 1350'. Barely enough elevation gain to keep me warm, and the weather isn't cold. All elevation gain was done in the first mile. The ridge had a lot of ice cubes, as low as Phoca viewpoint (a round stone structure). Quite curious. Looks like those in your glass of water. Maybe it was freezing a few days ago, instead of thawed by warmer air, it decided to fracture. The top of Salmon Falls were icicles.

The lower half (cross highway) is closed from February to July for a pair of peregrin falcons. Of course we didn't see any falcon. Did see a bald eagle flying on the river. We met an old gentleman (Jim?) who talked us to take a side (lower, and according to him, the original trail) trial closer to the river. The view is great. At some point, we were standing on top of the railway tunnel, right by water. Cape Horn Falls is mossy, without ice. The talus field next to it was very green (with moss).

This trail crosses roads a few times and ends on Cape Horn Road (walk up to trailhead), so, people's home and goats on their pasture. Drizzle most of the time, saw brief moments of sunshine. Clouds moved in and out, adding to the beauty.

Direction: SR 14 east to milepost 26.4 (about 20 miles east of the I-205 bridge). Left onto Salmon Falls Road. Parking lot right there, with privy.

2014.12.2 Simone Moro speaks at North Face

The North Face athlete Simone Moro gave a talk today at Portland North Face store. The celebrated Italian alpinist is renowned for his daring winter ascents. He spoke to his experiences in the mountains, discuss his new book "The Call of the Ice: Climbing 8000m Peaks in Winter", and presented a couple of video clips and a screening of Cory Richards' film "COLD".

Over Q&A, he talked about his safety philosophy (he is 47 years old), and his helicopter school project in San Diego (about to start), to train Nepalese for alpine landing and rescue. Very noble and useful idea. He already has a commercial pilot license, and his brother's family has moved here. Why US, instead of his homeland? He said getting a commercial pilot license costs half in US than in Europe, and it takes less time. Why CA, especially at an expensive city at sea level? I don't know.