On the way back westward from the Ochoco Mountain Day hikes, I stopped at Smith Rock for a sunrise hike. When I arrived at the park around 5:30 there were less than 10 cars in the entire parking lot. When … Read More

Four days and nights to day hike the Ochoco Mountains and Mill Creek Wilderness in early June. Both were new hiking areas for me, and neither disappointed. The weather was in 70s and a couple of nights the temps dropped … Read More

Like last year’s attempt at backpacking Newberry Caldera (National Volcanic Monument), weather and especially snow were key factors – but, what should one expect hiking and camping BEFORE officially open? Most campgrounds were closed, no facilities to speak of, and … Read More

Looking for an OR backpacking trip the first week of June 2023 while our deep, wonderful snowpack melts proved a challenge. First attempt was Rogue River, but had done that last year, and the road conditions were sketchy. Watching snowpack … Read More

If one can hit the rhododendron (rhody) bloom peak in OR, there are few places better than Hendricks Park in Eugene. The park folks had just watered the plants (hence the water on some petals). This is a good flower … Read More

That’s a mouthful. Yet, a wonderful trail. My partner and I hiked this several years ago and it was not this nice – the trail is in great condition, and one can hike further than All Trails curated trail. This … Read More

Early season backpacking when the snowpack is so deep and wide-spread is a challenge. Rivers seem to be the best plans, like hikes a couple weeks ago, Smith Rock/Crooked River, John Day River, Deschutes River. The plan was open and … Read More

On the way to backpack the Middle Fork Willamette River National Recreation Trail, some serious elevation work seemed the right first day hiking. Hiking Hardesty Mountain from the Hwy 58 trailhead to Sawtooth Rock, and maybe June Mountain if conditions … Read More

After Tuesday’s elevation workout, a calmer, tourist-like hike seemed right. Within 60 minutes drive, William Finley National Wildlife Preserve offered opportunities for ~15 mile leisure hike with birding potential. We visited William Finley several years ago later in the summer, … Read More

After hiking over 75 miles last week mostly along rivers, my legs, feet and heart needed some serious elevation work. The weather was clear getting warmer (like 70 later in day), and sunrise was before 06:00. A large carbon karma … Read More