2014.5.3. Columbia Hill State Park (WA)

Saturday, sunny with clouds on the east side of the Cascades. 5 car-loads of women drove to Columbia Hill state park. There're two entrances: one on each side of the Horsethief Lake. We visit Horsethief Butte on the eastern side first, where rock climbers polish their skill. A very short hikes up to the butte for a great view of the Columbia River (limited parking, 1 toilet). Quite fun. I scrambled down the butte.

Then we drove to the west side, where rocks with petroglyph were lining along the road (taken from lower elevation before Bonneville Dam was built which flooded the gorge. At 12:30 we had a ranger led walk for some pictograph, including the She Who Watches. This was a large group (a few others on top of us), so it was slow going.

By the time we sat down at the picnic table (after 2pm), I had already eaten my lunch. It's a very nice green area with a proper bathroom. Neatly aligned poplar trees.I saw a guy caught a trout (his 2nd). Some canoes for rent.

On the drive back, we detoured to Tom McCall preserve, now carpeted with bright yellow and blue. A truly lovely place. Possible to do a short (1.25 mile) hike up to Rowena Crest.

We stopped at the same place in Hood River for ice cream, then 4 of us ate an early dinner at Horsefeather (a bit pricy, but not bad).

Not enough exercise, so I had to go to gym after I got home: need training for my upcoming big hike in a couple of weeks.

2014.4.26. Final Fantasy with Oregon Symphony

Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy

Arnie Roth,          conductor 
Pacific Youth Choir, Mia Hall Miller, artistic director 
Dru Rutledge,        soprano 
Ian José Ramirez,    tenor 
Matthew Hayward,     baritone

Fresh off the 25th anniversary FINAL FANTASY celebration, music from Final Fantasy video game. A screen is lowered to project video. Some imagery is quite fanciful, some dull like old DOS screen. The three soloist have beautiful voices. However, English is hard to make out when you do airas. I could use some super title, instead of silly image. Music is more fanfare like. Not bad. All in major chord. Pleasant. Most characters don't look like Japanese: blond hair, blue eyes. I have never even heard of Final Fantasy. Received two tickets from work. Lots of fans in the audience. 1/3 - 1/2 was first time in Arlene Schnitzer hall.

2014.4.26. Siouxon Creek

Saturday 4/26. Cloudy - drizzle. Siouxon Creek in Gifford Pinchot forest, offers view to three big waterfalls (Horseshoe, Siouxon, Chinook), countless small cascades, on a nice and mostly leveled trail. Pleasant, very green, the water is so clear that it reflects the color of the stones in it. Quite some camping spots by the creek. A nice log bench to view Horseshoe Falls, and another nice log bench for Siouxon Falls. We did an out and back without fording water, instead of the standard lollipop, which would be easier in the summer. Right now the water is high enough that only me went as far as Chinook Falls. The rest all turned back at Siouxon-Chinook Trail Junction, where you need to cross a small cascading creek which drops to Siouxon Creek (requiring balancing on 2 small logs over the water: see the above photo) and cross a "closed" bridge. A nice camping area is right across the bridge, a least 2 tents and a bunch of kids already there. Half of my group is too slow, plus that our hike leader (who wrote about this hike in her latest book), however nice she is, missed the turn (we didn't start the hike until 11:40!), we came back into the town at 7pm, too late for me to grab something to eat before my concert. Total ~7.5 miles, ~1000'. Saw 3 bikers, a group of teenage campers with huge load (for just one night), ~20 other hikers.

Direction: from Seattle I-5 exit 21 for Hwy 503, turn south on 503 after Mt St Helen's Aero Ranch airport. Or from Portland I-205 exit 30B for Hwy 500 east which becomes 503. Just north of the Mt St. Helens National Monument Headquarters, turn east on NE Healy Road / FR54, for 9.2 miles. Left on FR 57 for 1.2 miles, at a large gravel turnaround, left on FR 5701 (no sign) for 3.8 miles just before the road ends. Mostly paved. Some broken pavement and a little gravel.

2014.4.20. Catherine Creek on Easter Sunday

Almost sunny. ~13 women showed up for this stroll through the meadows. The most common are the white popcorn flower. Some nice fields of camas, vetch, fiddleneck, or Rosy Plectritis as in the photo. I like the large slope of grass, waving in the wind. We went along Atwood Road, visited the natural bridge, then we went the bridge (no longer allowed to walk close), and big the big sloping meadow.

Had lunch at the hanging trees. Afterwards, Julie brought cut cleaned strawberries (a bit too cold), pond cake, whip cream and paper plates! Michelle shared her "pesto" made of nettle. What an Easter Sunday! I dozed off on the way back in the back seat of Star. When I awoke, Star and Abby were discussing their dating strategy and whether to switching dating women to men. Gee, I am glad I missed most of the conversation.

2014.4.19. Beacon Rock state park

Rain is forecasted. 7 of us headed to Beacon Rock state park. We hiked Hamilton Mountain loop first, and then the rock itself.

Hamilton Mountain peak is about 2000' gain. On the way, visited Hardy Falls (obstructed view) and Rodney Falls (very nice, clear view from a well constructed wood bridge. A 2 minute hike up to a small refreshing plunge pool called Pool of Winds). The loop starts shortly after. The rain started while we had lunch on the summit. Came down via Don's Cutoff, a short but very night ridge walk. Then a logging road, back to the waterfalls.

Beacon Rock is a ~1 mile walk with lots of steps and zigzags, ~500-600' gain. Concrete and wood board nailed to the rock. Possible to rock climb here. Quite a lot of people considering the rain, which stopped when we were on the top. The sun came out.

Trail map.