Wauna Point

While I was tempted to stay home and work on projects, I jumped at the chance to go hiking with the Adventurous Young Mazamas in the Columbia River Gorge.  The wind at our gathering point was daunting, but we thew caution to the wind and headed west to the trailhead.  Our goal was Wanua Point, on the Oregon side of the gorge.  Typically this hike is done as an out and back, but the hike leader made this a more interesting loop by following an abandoned trail up a steep forested ridge. 

 

Having a blast ascending the trail less travelled...

As we ascended there were views of the Bridge of the Gods and Mt Adams.  This portion of the trail was the highlight for me.  Up on Tanner Butte we found Wauna Point and descended down a steep snow slope.

...and then descending down to Wauna Point.

At this point there was a good 6 to 8 inches of snow at our feet.  We carefully made our way out to the Diving Board, which has a dizzying, commanding view of Bonneville Dam and the surrounding Columbia River Gorge.  We were surprised how little wind there was out on the point.

Out on Wauna Point aka The Diving Board.  Swimming trunks are not recommended.  Kevin Clark photo.

After lunch we hiked back up to Tanner Butte and sought out the Tanner Butte trail.  The hike leader had done his homework as his GPS lead us to a set of footprints heading in the right direction.  We did it!  We descended down past several waterfalls back towards the trailhead.  Since we had made such good time, we hiked down the Gorge Trail to Eagle Creek and returned via the Tooth Rock Viaduct. 

We really lucked out with the wind.  Returning home I read reports from fellow Mazamas getting blown about at Table Mountain and Devil's Rest.

Returning home I cleaned up and then biked out to Mago Hunt Theater at the University of Portland.  There I joined some friends at saw the play Fuddy Meers.

Happy 150th Birthday Oregon!

To mark Oregon's sesquicentennial, I though I would post some of my photos from around the state.  Believe me, I have not yet even scratched the surface of what my home state has to offer.

Mt. Hood from Tom, Dick, and Harry Mountain.

Umpqua Dunes, Oregon Dunes Recreation Area.  This place is incredible.  Hello Jamiee and Roger!

Looking north from Middle Sister summit.  North Sister is in the foreground.  In the distance is Mt. Washington, Three Finger Jack, Mt. Jefferson, and (barely) Mt. Hood.  Hi Ginny!

Erath Vineyards, Dundee.  Hi Jen! 

Oregon Coast from Neahkahnie Mountain.  Hi Tom and Carol!

Painted Hills in John Day National Monument

Monkey Face and the Crooked River in Smith Rocks State Park

Tunnel Falls at Eagle Creek.  Hi Keith and Susan!

Umpqua Lighthouse

Anroid Lake from Pete's Point, Wallowa Mountains

Blue Basin, John  Day National Monument

Steins Pillar, Ochoco Mountains

Eagle Cap, Wallowa Mountains

Columbia River Gorge from Crown Point

Nesika Lodge

Even though most of my outdoor activities are with just the Mazamas, it is refreshing from time to time to see what other organizations offer.  This weekend provided such an opportunity with a joint activity of the Adventurous Young Mazamas and the Trails Club of Oregon.  While the Mazamas have their lodge at Government Camp, the Trails Club of Oregon has Tyee Lodge at Government Camp as well as Nesika Lodge on the rim of the Columbia River Gorge.  This weekend I spent the night at the latter.

Who needs the Elevator Shaft, we got Wahkeena Falls in the background

We assembled at the Multnomah Falls Lodge parking lot, splitting into three groups.  One hiked up via the strenuous Elevator Shaft while another hiked along the Multnomah Falls trail.  The group that I was with took the long, scenic route passing by Wakhneena and Fairy Falls.  The weather was sunny and we had a pleasant walk through the woods.  At one point we saw our fellow hikers hiking above the Elevator Shaft.

At the Nesika Lodge Gate

Nesika Lodge consists of the main lodge plus two dormitory buildings.  After relaxing in the sun we took a short hike to Big Cougar Rock and climbed up this 4th class scramble to soak in the view of the Columbia Gorge.  The snowfall has been tame compared to the previous year as there was not a whole lot of snow on the hills across the gorge.

Nesika Lodge

Back at the Lodge we assembled a potluck dinner.  My Quinoa salad was one of two that were offered.  Despite my dislike of beets, I sampled both of the beet salads.  At one point of the evening we ventured outside, away from the cozy fireplace, to another stellar viewpoint of the gorge.  It was not necessary to have our flashlights one because the moon was incredibly bright.

It was a easy Sunday morning by Mazama standards.  Our Trails Club host didn't even set his alarm for getting up to start preparing the pancake breakfast.  We cleaned up, locked up the lodge, and set out back to the trailhead.

Our return hike did not turn out to be a routine hike back to the trailhead.  Near Weisendanger Falls (the name of this cascade should have tipped us off) we had a near miss with some rockfall.  I was at the bottom of this zigzagging portion of the trail when the hikers above us started yelling, warning us of rockfall.  As I yelled to alert others I saw a large rock bouncing down the hill.  It dislodged another rock that flew within inches of Keith, who was standing near me.  I cannot remember if that rock went by before or after I hit the deck.  Thankfully no one was hit and the hikers above us were able to safely descend.  We learned from them that the rockfall was spontaneous, not triggered by hikers.

You don't have to be mountain climbing to get rockfall.  Kevin Clark photo

Looking back at this near miss, I observed two things that the hike leader had done well.  First, he had noticed the potential for rockfall and had the front of the group waiting for the everyone else in a safe location.  Second, he promptly cleared everyone out of the danger zone, then focused on getting the rest of our party safely down.   

Forget Cape Horn, let's hike the Clackamas River Trail

Two years ago, Paul Steger and I ditched our plans to to climb the Bailey Traverse in the Olympic Mountains when the weather went south.  We ended up fleeing east for four days of scrambling in Mount Rainier National Park.  It was a great example of having a viable alternative plan.  Last weekend I played the Plan B card again, when high winds were blasting the Columbia River Gorge.  Initially I wanted to stick with my plans to hike at Cape Horn on the Washington State side of the Gorge.  However, the winds at our assembly point at Gateway Transit Center in Portland were just brutal.  I figured they could only be worse in the gorge, so I suggested the Clackamas River Trail as an alternative.

Although it was a longer drive to the trailhead, the mileage and elevation gain were about the same.  My guess that the winds would be gentler was right on, but I was not aware that a previous wind storm had wrecked havoc with the trail.  There were countless trees that had fallen across the trail.  There was snow, but thankfully it was solid and our steps were not sinking down.

Our progress was slow - I think we hiked about 2.5 miles in two hours.  We did not make it to Pup Falls for a lunch spot, but it was still a pleasant day to be outside with good company.  I learned something valuable about alternative plans as well.  Ideally the alternative is similar to the original plan, deeper snow could have made our hike even shorter. 

Provisional Climb Leader

Thursday evening I learned that the Mazamas had promoted me to Provisional Climb Leader.  Getting to this point was one of my main goals in 2008 and it has been a fun ride.  Granted, I would have been doing many of these activities anyway, like helping out with the basic and intermediate climbing classes, and serving as an Assistant Climb Leader.  What was different was that Climb Leadership Development gave me focus.  It put me in the position to step out a little more and benefit from the experience.  Also important for me was to enjoy the process and not to fixate myself on its completion.  This was helpful when I experienced a couple of setbacks. 

I received notice of my promotion just before getting together for a beer with Paul Steger, who was the first of the Mazamas Climb Leaders to give me the chance to serve as their Assistant Climb Leader.  It just felt right to have Paul be the first to tell the good news.

The next step is that I have to lead three climbs in the capacity of a probationary leader.   That means I have to plan and lead the climbs, while a full fledged climb leader will serve as my assistant and then evaluate me.

Winter Weekend 2009

Last month when I attended the SnoBall at Mazama Lodge I was leaning towards not attending the Adventurous Young Mazamas Winter Weekend.  As it turned out, I was very happy to be up at the lodge that weekend.  So upon my return home I signed up for the 10th Annual Winter Weekend.

So Friday evening I joined approximately 65 folks at Mazama Lodge.  I arrived just before dinner - who says timing isn't everything.  Outside my fellow Mazamas had built an igloo, inside people were socializing and playing various games.

Games are serious business at Winter Weekend

Saturday I loaded up my snowshoes and led a hike to Mirror Lake and then up to Tom Dick and Harry Mountain.  Unfortunately the trailhead was closed so we had to park at the Ski Bowl parking lot and hike a mile to the trailhead.  This outing was an excellent opportunity to practice some of the skills that I had learned at the Avalanche Skills class that I took last February.  At one point I pulled out my clinometer to measure the slope of a slope that the trail crossed.  After arriving at Mirror Lake we headed towards the ridge that would provide access to our goal.  I avoided the snowshoe tracks that would have led us across the open leeward facing open slopes, possibly loaded with wind blown snow.  

Here we are at Mirror Lake.  Our high point is on the ridge, directly above my head

Instead we made our way up through the trees to the ridge.  At the top of the ridge I saw a dark front of clouds moving our direction.  With the wind picking up, I opted to enjoy our lunch on the ridge rather than the summit.  Taking everything in account, it seemed the best course of action.  After we descended the clouds did move in, but precipitation did not fall.  It is so easy to second guess myself, but I've been learning to make peace with the decisions that I make, no matter how they turn out.  

View of Mt Hood from our ridge high point

Dinner at the Lodge brought back some old memories of my childhood adventures.  One of the organizers of this weekend wanted to have the same dinner that has been served at the Grand Canyon's Phantom Ranch for decades:  beef stew, cornbread, green salad, and brownies.  Our family hiked down the Bright Angel trail in in 80s and spent the night at Phantom Ranch, but I could not remember what we had for dinner.  Later my folks reminded me that we had brought down our own dinner.  Anyways, just to be reminded of that great hike our family took was just a tasty as the spicy beef stew that was served at the lodge Saturday night.

It was rainy Sunday and I was tired from a long game of Settlers of Catan, so stayed indoors.   It was nice to take it easy for a change and enjoy the fellowship.

Snow in Portland

I am going through bike withdrawal.  Looking at BikePortland.org I see there are those who have been biking through he streets of Stumptown, but that is beyond my comfort level.  So, my work commute has been a mixture of walking to work and taking the bus.  Actually, the one time I took the bus to work it broke down halfway there.  My supervisor was kind enough to drive out and rescue me.  Just about each day the last week one of my co-workers has asked me if I have rode my bike, as if they were checking to see if I had any common sense.

Finally we were spared the torture of the weather trying to decide whether to snow or rain.  The first photo was taken Saturday afternoon.  The second image was captured Sunday morning.  I had several events canceled or rescheduled this week, including the Sing Along Messiah, getting together with a friend for a beer, an AYM hike, and hosting some friends at my place after a Waltz dance lesson.  As disappointing as the the loss of those social opportunities, I was grateful for the cozy feeling of watching the snow flakes fall as I gazed out the window.  I keep reminding myself to count my blessings.

You may notice there is less snow on the roofs in the second photo, which is a sign of the winds that have been blowing here.