April flowers & birds between showers
Several days of rain finally broke and between the seemingly infinite spring showers brining out flowers and birds … Flowers From people’s yards and trees lining the street Birds The geese family out and about getting as much of that … Read More
An Indiana no-wake lake in spring
Spring sprung big time on an Indiana no-wake lake in early April. Sunrises, a full moon, swans and neighbors celebrated! Sunrise over and around the no-wake lake Spring full moon over and around the lake Swans Neighbors living around no-wake … Read More
Hunting hawk, nesting osprey and a duck
Out and about around Pres Trail this morning and several neighbors were definitely in ‘spring mode’. The nesting osprey at Autzen were both in a well built nest (it looks like), and a solitary red-tail hawk perched above the meadow … Read More
Feeding hummingbirds again
Feeding hummingbirds again this winter after stopping because neighbor’s cats invaded the feeding area – just not fair. For most of the fall, the feeder remained empty. But with all the cold weather this winter, around the solstice, I started … Read More
Nesting herons and osprey and flowers, oh my!
Nesting herons and osprey and flowers, oh my! Urban hiking Alton Baker around sunrise with birds everywhere, even an eagle flew up / down the Mill Race looking for a meal. Sure looked like spring, even though it rained, snowed … Read More
Fast-packing from Gossamer Gear
Gossamer Gear posted a good summary of “Fastpacking” which is about as close to what I practice as I’ve seen published. Here is their definition: Fastpacking is the love child of trail running and ultralight backpacking. Fastpackers cover long distances … Read More
Ridgeline equinox sunrise
Hiking Ridgeline and Spencer Butte for the equinox sunrise in dense wet fog as the woods turn toward spring – just spectacular. Birds were everywhere, the cooler temperatures and wet fog kept most but the dedicated out of the woods, … Read More
Urban hiking the parks along Willamette River
With ice and snow covering the Cascade foothills, urban hiking the parks along the Willamette River all from my front door made for a perfect cold but dry March morning. Hikes at OR coast or in the valley were considered … Read More
Ridgeline and Spencer in ice and fog
Hiking Ridgeline and Spencer Butte in ice and heavy fog after last week’s snow and yesterday’s good hard rain made for a) difficult hiking above the trees on the stone steps covered in thin clear ice, and b) beautiful foggy … Read More
Last winter snow on Spencer Butte
Last winter snow on Spencer Butte hike on only 2 small stretches of the trail and more than 15 deer around the trail pre-dawn. Compared to last week with snow limiting risk-free hiking above Ridgeline Tr, the trail is almost … Read More
Latest posts
Fall returns to Spencer Butte
I had a permit and plan to hike Mt Jefferson Wilderness yesterday, but the are was closed due to the Bingham Fire and a refund returned for permit. Tuesday’s Ridgeline hike showed all the smoke in Cascade foothills, and a … Read More
Sunny, hot October on Ridgeline Trail
A couple of days to hike later in October than normal with hot and sunny weather … the decision on where to hike and in what order had to comprehend all the wildfires still burning in both the Willamette and … Read More
Late summer flowers hanging on
While taking care of my short-legged granddaughter for a few weeks, trips to the mountains have to wait. Sometimes a squirrel-hunting very small dog is my top priority and everything spins around her (just what grandpas are supposed to do … Read More