Yesterday’s hike decision rubric came down to a) where will it rain least; b) where can miles with options be hiked, and c) where will wildlife, trees and / or wildflowers be? … Rain crossed off the cascade foothills and with threatened snow above 3500 ft – *pipe-dream*? With no intention of driving far to…
With a small group of 3 hikers, we headed out to do a warm grey day wildflower tour of Mt. Pisgah, leaving the North TH around 11:30 and returning about 2:00pm. Both parking lots were >3/4 full, but the trails didn’t feel crowded. We took Tr #3 to the Quary Road junction and then the…
A week of sun and 70s for March before equinox? My sister was heading to Camp Sherman so I joined for two days of hiking and an overnight at Camp Sherman Campground. This early heat wave and winter’s dismally low snow pack set up great hiking conditions, but both of us thought we were in…
… and, flowers! Weather peeps were all over the map about Tuesday morning and while last week felt ‘spring’, winter seemed intent on coming back. Snow and rain possible through noon up in the foothills, but Eugene promised dry. So I stayed local to hike in better conditions. They were not correct! Rain and hail…
An after breakfast local hike at Mt Pisgah with grey and threatening skies, but the weather peeps promised ‘showers maybe’ … I met hiking buddy at North TH at Pisgah around 10:30 to start. I never put on rain jacket nor pulled out umbrella – just mist periodically. Spring is further along than last week…
Three hikes were considered within 1 hour drive, Alpine, Hardesty and King-Castle. Weather being same, key choice lever was Alpine’s south-facing hill – drier. A good choice as Alpine Trail was a 3-layer water cake. Lower elevations were muddy, middle elevations between TH #2 and #3 dry, and above TH #3 very muddy from last…
After Tuesday’s rain and yesterday’s sunshine, I anticipated better conditions at Pisgah but not so – most of the trails were wet, muddy and sloppy – though shoe uppers were not dirty when finished. An after breakfast start from the North TH parking lot that was not as full as typical and the fog was…
After two days of serious Willamette Valley rain, the weather peeps suggested a break Tuesday with only cloudy, foggy morning and maybe showers early afternoon. I rechecked right before leaving, and was same … how wrong they were. It rained all day from the moment I left Spring Blvd Trailhead at 7:30 until I returned…
Yesterday it snowed at higher elevations the weather peeps had everybody expecting more this morning. I waited for better conditions leaving home around 7:45 and headed for North TH at Pisgah. Uncharacteristically empty parking lot due to conditions … The hills early held last night’s new snow Across the valley, Spencer Butte received the same…
The valley was to have late morning fog, but the foothills warmer and fog-free earlier. Logical good hike -> Alpine Trail from the best Willmatte National Forest TH @ Westfir Covered Bridge park. Driving from Hwy 58 to Westfir, frost was everywhere in the hill’s shadow sparkling in headlamps, and on the park lawn too….
