10/30 Sunday 7:30pm. Portland Center Stage. The Oregon Trail is funny but simple tail of two Janes traveling Oregon Trail. “Now Jane” is playing the computer game in 1997 in highschool and then again in 10 years, now a failed and unmotivated adult; “Then Jane” is in a covered wagon in 1848, unwillingly being dragged along. Both have an upbeat sister. There could be more added, to both Janes, especially the modern Jane, whom the author has added many commentaries. A very innovative idea.
90 minutes. No intermission. Simple and efficient stage set. Good acting, and lighting.
Sunday, October 30, 2016
2016.10.30. OMS annual mushroom show
10/30, Sunday afternoon (noon-5). Oregon Mycological Society organizes its annual fall mushroom show at World Forestry Center's Miller Hall. Even though the venu is also in Forest Park, it would take me 1:15 to walk, or 40 minutes by bus but leave 10 minutes later. I wasn't feeling so well, and it was raining, I took the bus. A line for the $5 admission. Probably a larger turnout than OMS had anticipated. Very crowded for the space.3 talks at 1:15, 2:30 and 3:45. I missed 1/3 of the first talk about starting mushroom picking. 2nd talk is about the common fall mushrooms. Even though I'm not a true beginner, I enjoyed both talks. Didn't go to the last one, given by a nurse about poisonous mushroom.
Mushrooms are staged on separate tables with green, red and white labels. They are a bit mixed up. On the peripheral are tables that sell membership, books, souvenirs, photos, mushroom growing kits. A tasting table was dishing out soups made with mushroom, which I tried two kinds. Both tasty, but they came in small quantities: half a cup. A table shows the 5 stages of commercial cultivation of mushroom. A table that have a few mushrooms which they encourage you to squeeze and smell.A couple of hours well spent.
2016.10.30. Ivy basket
10/30, Sunday. Drizzle all day long. 10am. Forest Park conservancy basket weaving workshop at Lower MacLeay Trailhead at 2960 NW Upshur. There, I was informed that yesterday, there was a city wide event to rid the invasive English Ivy. Here we had a pile of yesterday's bootie to work with.
My progress is photographed here. I'm the last one who finished. I made the biggest, and probably the ugliest basket in all these workshops.Advertised as family friendly. Only one teenager came with her mother, but the girl didn't do anything. All students were women. Taught by Lise Gervais, environmental educator. Only one guy, the organizer, working for the conservancy. Work gloves, and pruners, coffee and some snacks were provided. We worked in the picnic shelter. There is a bathroom next to it. From time to time, hikers walking by would stop and looked at us. Good publicity for the conservancy.
Saturday, October 29, 2016
2016.10.29. Hamilton - Hardy loop
10/29 Saturday. Rain - cloudy. 15 of us hiked up Hamilton Mt in steady but not heavy rain. Visited the aptly named Pool of Wind (a very short but must-do detour). Rodney Falls was in full swing.
The next view area is above the rocky cliff overlooking the cloudy gorge. This is the best view of the hike. By the time we reached the summit, it was foggy. Not much of a loss. The summit of Hamilton is Anticlimactic. There isn't good sitting area even when it is clear, due to tall brushes blocking the views. You can see something only if you are standing. 
We opted for the baldy saddle a mile later for lunch break. Again, too cloudy to see anything. Here, I remembered good bloom in the right season.
As previous 2 times, we took Don's cutoff. But instead of coming down (left) the Upper Hardy Ridge trail, we headed further out (right). Not much of a ridge. No view, except for the autumn leaves, which were covering the road-like trails. Then we walked down on Bridge Trail #76, joined East Hardy Trail. Then left on Equestrian Trail, right on Hardy Creek Trail. 
Eventually back on Hamilton Mt Trail, where we crossed the roaring Hardy Creek and Rodney Falls again. By now, sun has poked through the clouds.
There're many loop options. Check out the official trail map.
I picked 2 tiny chanterelles. Met quite a lot of hikers, especially in the afternoon. Back in town shortly after 3pm, in sunshine.
The next view area is above the rocky cliff overlooking the cloudy gorge. This is the best view of the hike. By the time we reached the summit, it was foggy. Not much of a loss. The summit of Hamilton is Anticlimactic. There isn't good sitting area even when it is clear, due to tall brushes blocking the views. You can see something only if you are standing. 
We opted for the baldy saddle a mile later for lunch break. Again, too cloudy to see anything. Here, I remembered good bloom in the right season.
As previous 2 times, we took Don's cutoff. But instead of coming down (left) the Upper Hardy Ridge trail, we headed further out (right). Not much of a ridge. No view, except for the autumn leaves, which were covering the road-like trails. Then we walked down on Bridge Trail #76, joined East Hardy Trail. Then left on Equestrian Trail, right on Hardy Creek Trail. 
Eventually back on Hamilton Mt Trail, where we crossed the roaring Hardy Creek and Rodney Falls again. By now, sun has poked through the clouds.There're many loop options. Check out the official trail map.
I picked 2 tiny chanterelles. Met quite a lot of hikers, especially in the afternoon. Back in town shortly after 3pm, in sunshine.
Sunday, October 23, 2016
2016.10.23 Indian Heaven: Thomas Lake to Lemei Rock
10/23, Sunday, drizzle. Too late (at least by 2 weeks) for the glorious fall colors in Indian Heaven. Most huckleberry leaves are gone. Still plenty berries left, which we feasted. But they are either too dry or too plump (diluted by the rain). Check out my previous blog when I backpacked in the area, 2 years ago.
14 of us met at Gateway at 6:45, only started hiking at Thomas Lake TH shortly after 9am. Within 10 minutes, reached Thomas Lake. A good size camp site close to late, off the trail to your right. To the left is Dee Lake. 
Soon after, the trail goes up for a mile or so, before levels out again. We took a cutoff trail via Rock Lake to Junction Lake instead of going to Blue Lake. There, we took PCT north, then 33 NE, then 34 east to Lemei Rock. Came back on #179 to Junction Lake. Out to Thomas Lake via the same cutoff (not marked). For trail map, see this USFS website.
#34 has a lot of huckleberries. Overall, very wet, water on trails, on leaves. Meadows still had nice yellow color, but no more red huckleberry leaves. Heard some gun shots. You might want to wear something colorful to avoid the guns. We didn't see anyone on the trail all day. Saw some vehicles on the forest road.
Saw many colorful amanita mushrooms. Picked a few good ones. Not many as I expected. Chanterelles are for sale for only $11.99 at New Seasons Market. But I only found 2, and at the same spot.
We walked maybe 12 miles, 2000'?
14 of us met at Gateway at 6:45, only started hiking at Thomas Lake TH shortly after 9am. Within 10 minutes, reached Thomas Lake. A good size camp site close to late, off the trail to your right. To the left is Dee Lake. 
Soon after, the trail goes up for a mile or so, before levels out again. We took a cutoff trail via Rock Lake to Junction Lake instead of going to Blue Lake. There, we took PCT north, then 33 NE, then 34 east to Lemei Rock. Came back on #179 to Junction Lake. Out to Thomas Lake via the same cutoff (not marked). For trail map, see this USFS website.
#34 has a lot of huckleberries. Overall, very wet, water on trails, on leaves. Meadows still had nice yellow color, but no more red huckleberry leaves. Heard some gun shots. You might want to wear something colorful to avoid the guns. We didn't see anyone on the trail all day. Saw some vehicles on the forest road.
Saw many colorful amanita mushrooms. Picked a few good ones. Not many as I expected. Chanterelles are for sale for only $11.99 at New Seasons Market. But I only found 2, and at the same spot.We walked maybe 12 miles, 2000'?
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