2014.4.12. Elk + King Mountains

4/12. A beautiful Saturday. Not too hot. Went up on Elk, continued to King's and down. Took Wilson Creek back to the car (at Elk Creek Campground)- No elks of course. Our loop is desccribed at here. According to both Marc and Dave's GPS gadget, their readings are:

Distance: 11 miles loop. 
Time elapsed: 8 hours: 5 hours moving, 3 hours stationary.
Elevation gain: 4400' (accumulative), min 860', max 3243'.

Both summits offer good view of the surrounding half-logged hills, and enough flat space to sit for lunch (I took a nap on King's). Both have some log box (made by the same guy). On a clear day (not today), we should see the ocean. I like this trail, more rugged than others around Portland. In the dry months, you should avoid coming here: little stone make some steep sections very slippery. There's even a stupid rope to aid you descending Elk (I didn't use it). Even though the total elevation gain is quite significant, this hike offers enough flat parts to let you recover. Yes, some sections are quite steep, produced a lot of sweat!

Trailhead to Elk summit is 1.4 miles, and steep. Took 1.5 hours with breaks. Another 1.5 hours later, we reached the junction of King's Mountain tail (only 1.3 miles to go). 30 minutes later is the rope, which took awhile. 30 minutes later, lunch near King's summit. Rested for an hour. A steep descent. Almost at the trail head, walked 3.5 miles on Wilson Creek trail (mountain bikers).

2014.4.8. The Quality of Life at Artists Repertory theatre

4/8 Tuesday. Jane Anderson's The Quality of Life opened today. Directed by Allen Nause, the recently retired artistic director of Artists Repertory. Theme: how to deal with grief. No answer though, but showed two different ideas. Two families. One lost their daughter to a murder (approach: God). One just lost their house to a forest fire, and is about to lose the husband to cancer (approach: suicide). Very poignant and touching. Great acting. However, the God believing husband was too aloof at the beginning of the play (didn't want to hear his wife's rambling). His return at the end of the play showing his caring for his wife seems too dramatic.

2014.4.6. Sing-along at Pioneer Square

30 years ago, 1984/4/6, Portland's Pioneer Square was inaugurated. Today, 1984 free cupcakes were distributed, some umbrellas and 2 hours of sing-along led by Pink Martini's Thomas Lauderdale and China Forbes. 2 of the Von Trapps kids were also present. At the later half, Carlos Kalmar joined his colleagues. They ended with a performance of "Be Happy", a title song of their latest album. It was very good. See a video on this newspage site.

Pioneer square is lucky. It was pouring yesterday. Quite a bit of sunshine today. Feels like a spring day.

2014.4.5. Catherine Creek to Coyote Wall

2014/4/5, Saturday. Catherine Creek to Coyote Wall and back. We took the lower trail west, and came back via the higher trail. This is a place for wander. Lots of trail for hikers and bikers (Coyote Wall). Large grassy meadow, a couple of creeks, a patch of oak trees and basalt cliffs. Excellent view of Columbia River. On the good day, even Mt. Hood. Grass Widows are almost all gone, camas and balsamroots are coming.

6 of us today. Encountered ~20 bikers and ~10 other hikers. Quite quiet. We drove out from Portland in pouring rain. Only a little bit of rain, some sunshine on the slope. A good location for a wet day.

2014.4.2. Les Ballets Trockadero

4/2. Wednesday. White Bird presents les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the beautiful Arlene Schnitzer Hall. It's a group of men in tutu from New York, now in their 40th year. All performers use Russian stage names, including two black guys. These men, slim or not, balance on their toes in pink dresses, but still with hairy chest and underarm. Some dance very well. Mistakes are hard to tell, because they are made into the choreography. Very funny, exaggerated faults, modern street gestures into classical routines.
Act 1, Swan Lake, act 2. (Very nicely done)
Act 2, Pas de Deux (shows their Ballet competence, excellent), Pas de Quatre (boring), Dying Swan (short and funny, a bit tacky. Should be more traditional).
Act 3, Raymonda's Wedding. (so so)