2018.6.24. Silver Star - Ed's Trail

6/24, Sunday, a dozen of us met at Gateway at 3pm. Someone was still on his way when the first 3 cars took off. I had to pile into the backseat of a Toyota Tahoma, not very comfortable, but was grateful to the ride. The last 2 miles to Ed's Trail TH is terrible, worse than I remembered. Our driver enjoyed this bumpy road. Saw people hiking out on this road.

We didn't start hiking until about 5:30pm. Quite hot. 90°F in Portland today. I carried my umbrella. Ian, a transplant from Florida, only carried his white camera, no water. Amazing that he survived the heat. Flowers were everywhere. Beargrass was doing well. Some irises. All along we could see St Helens, Adams, and barely Rainier. Too hazy today. We did a skinny loop, up on the east to get a tiny bit of shade, and back out on the road. Saw a goat near the arch and some avalanche lily there. I scrambled up a plateau near the turn around point. Nice, but other than 1 small spot, it's not flat enough to put tents down. The ground is rocks, so not smooth.

After 7:30pm, light got softer, temperature dropped, the moon was out: 3 days till full moon. Pretty soon, it is apparent that we were not going to have a proper sunset. Clouds were too thick. The group gathered around and agreed to leave. We were pretty much the only people there. It's nice to have this beautiful place to ourselves. Easier to see Hood in the evening sun, than in the hazy heat. It's also good to drive out of the ditches in the remaining day light.

We got back to Portland ~10:30pm, and Ian and I got a lift home.

2018.6.23 Grizzly Peak from Pamelia Lake

6/23, Saturday. 9 women + 2 dogs met at 7am in Tualatin P&R, piled in 2 cars headed to Pamelia Lake restricted entrance area to hike Grizzly Peak. Only 3 group permits per day (more permits for small parties). One car chattes too much and missed the I-5 exist. By the time we started on the trail, it was already 9:50. A ranger and 3 of his co-workers (friends) sat at the picnic table next to the trailhead. He checked our permit, and gave a long speech about the 12-person limit that's granted by our permit. He emphasized 12 for countless times.

There were at least 30 cars. I saw a family at a picnic table, but where were the rest who came in these cars? The lake is 2 flat miles from the parking lot. Thanks to the limited entry, we didn't see the many people, less than 10. Can see Pamelia Creek from time to time. The trees are good size. The camp sitea here have no view of the lake. I saw only one tent. The lake is quite nice. You have to scoop to the right on the logs to see Jefferson. The logs are big to walk on, but no place to relax for this view. We had a long break here looking at the lake.

Trail branches before the lake. Right to Grizzly Peak, left to Hanks Lake and maybe PCT. We headed up. The slope is gentle. About 3 miles to the top. All along, view is limited. At a few openings, Jefferson is right in your face. At one point, you can see the lake below: looks marshy from this angle. Rhododendrons were starting to bloom in lower elevations. A few pink flowers here and there. Would be nice to come back here in 2 weeks for that. The top is flat, not large. Seems to have had some lookout before. Again, the view is somewhat limited. You can see south to Mt Washington and Three Fingered Jack. Had lunch, before heading back. Reached the car ~3:40pm.

Total about 11 miles, 2600'. I got a ride to and from home for this hike. Nice.

2018.6.22. Volunteer at Portland International Beerfest

6/22. I signed up the Friday 6:46-9:45pm shift about a month ago, and received a confirmation stating that 2 weeks before the event, I'd receive detailed volunteer info. I received no communication after that. So, on Wednesday I shot them an email. Someone responded by asking my full name so he could look me up, but then no more response. This morning, I sent another request, and I was told to show up at the North Park Block and ask for the volunteer booth.

It took me a while to find the volunteer booth. Lots of people. Very lively. At the edge of the 2 blocks are long tables of beer. Along Park Ave are drafts came in cookers, along 8th Ave are bottles/cans in ice buckets. The middle of the lawn is other vendors: foods, nitrogen fixed ice cream, marijuana booths, and a gambling place (I didn't look carefully what it is). Plastic tables and chairs. It's interesting to see this homeless hangout transformed to a party scene.

Deschutes Brewery and Hopworks Urban Brewery have the most interesting and distinctive vending vessels: a barrel and a bike.

A long line at the volunteer booth, so much so, that someone asked me what this line was for. After one batch of volunteers checked in, they were given a talk (too noisy for me to hear, even though I was just next to them). Before I got to the cehck-in table, the last ~10 of us were told that they don't need us any more. Since not all registered volunteers show up (no wonder if you don't communicate with them), they always overbook. We checked off our names on the list, and were given 5 drinking tickets and a small plastic cup. Fine with me. 5 tickets don't last long. The most expensive beer here costs 7 tickets. Most of them require 2-3 tickets for a 3 oz pour. No free sampling. There're also a couple of places that offer a full glass. I tried these 2 from the same enthusiastic volunteer: Pinkus Organic Munster Alt from Germany (was okay) and Green's Green's Enterprise Dry-Hopped Lager from Belgium (gluten free, suggested by the girl, which I like better). With only 1 ticket left, my option is very limited. I finally settled on Viva la Pineapple Cider. Boy, very pineapple. I like it.

Around 8, I went back to work.

2018.6.18. Lookout Mountain - Gumjuwac Creek loop

6/17, Sunday. 10 of us (in 2 cars) did this long loop of about 16 miles, 3600' gain - most of which is at the end, which is taxing. I don't recommend this loop. The High Prairie trailhead, however, is lovely. At almost 6000', a bit chilly. The meadows next to the trailhead was filled with shooting stars. This is the best shooting star display I've ever seen. You can also see a bit of Mt. St Helens here. So I recommend coming up via Hwy-35 (to have your workout, and an easier and shorter driving - see my last trip to Lookout Mt), make the detour of 2.9 miles for the loop to High Prairie.

The first ~1 mile of this hike is gentle going up, to this pointed rock, and then leveled along a rocky cliff with excellent views, until Lookout Mt summit (~6525'), where you can see Hood, St. Helens, Rainier, and Adams. Jefferson is a bit faint. All is glorious.

From Lookout Mt, we took the Lookout Mt Trail east, slowly loosing elevation to Oval Lake (not worth the 1/4 mile detour to the lake -- going down, and it's shallow and ugly). The trail is more or less along a ridge. View is not bad for the first mile before going into the woods. Still had snow left. 20 minutes past Oval Lake, we slowly regain the ridge, and view. Saw big patches of Jacob's Ladder (and some white ones), Wild Candytuft (Noccaea fendleri), Paleyellow Ragwort. Then we hit a road. Walk in-and-out on the rocky road to the Flag Point Lookout tower (the tower is in the middle right, furthest in the photo). It was closed. But the compost bathroom was open: clean and spacious. Had lunch next to the tower. I sat under the tower, great view, but windy. The rest of the group sat in the trees without wind or view. Some Oregon anemone here.

After the lookout tower, we headed down to Badger Creek, and back up along Gumjuwac Creek. This part is unpleasant: mud patches, very overgrown (Badger Creek wilderness). Met no human. Found 3 large king boletes in the same spot, all in good shape: strange. Woodland flowers. Large ponderosa pines. Saw rusted vine maple leaves and tainted lupine leaves. Orange honeysuckle! We reached out lowest elevation at ~3000' after about 8 miles, when we turned on Badger Creek trail, which is mostly flat. Then, we turned right onto Gumjuwac Creek trail, gaining the elevation back.

As we approach Gumjuwac Saddle (~5200'), started to emerge in and out of forest. View got better, and it's dryer. Saw mariposa lily, gilia, blooming balsamroot. Back to the junction of High Prairie trail, and hike down back to car. We are back at the trailhead at 6pm. Then, I got a ride home.

2018.6.16. Saddle Mountain

6/16, Saturday. Saddle Mountain is one of my favorite flower destination in June. A better description is at OregonHikers.org. 5 miles RT, ~1900' EG. I went this time with Native Plant Society of Oregon, led by Rick Shory. 9 of us in 2 cars met at Sunset TC at 9:30am - a nice late start. However, we are too slow in getting started. By the time we started hiking, it was almost noon. I may be the youngest in this group. The oldest is Anne from Scotland, who's super fit at age 79.

Good timing. Flowers were peaking. Rosy Plectritis and Oregon Iris won the show of color today on the slopes, cow parsnip along the road. May still be good for a week or two. One new flower: Bronze Bell or Mountainbell (Stenanthium occidentale) - not many. One new lichen: matchstick (Pilophorus acicularis), Idaho Blue-eyed grass, Lewisia columbiana (with deeper color). Many were refreshed: Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum), ate the seeds of Sweet Cicely.

We were moving at the tortoise' speed, and made several long snack/lunch breaks. One stop is at this ledge that offers great view. Here, on the way back, 2 rows of red roses lined up in preparation of a marriage proposal. From here on, flowers were everywhere, and trail became loose rocks on trail. This is the only trail I know that has metal net on the trail to help with the traction. 2 wooden stairs were installed. You need to drop down to the saddle before final push.

On a clear day, you ought to be able to see 5 snowy peaks. Not today. But the 360° view is still very nice, especially that I can see Columbia River and its entrance to the ocean.

After another long break at the picnic table on the top, we slowly descent back to the car ~7pm. I actually slipped twice, within a minute of each other. Quite a few people camped at the campground by the trailhead. The bathroom ran out of water and toilet paper.