Monday, June 27, 2016

Dickey Creek Scramble- June 18, 2016

Analise, Amy, and I all headed out to Dickey Creek trail in the Bull of the Woods Wilderness. The road was quite overgrown and we ended up on quite a challenging 4 mile hike in the rainy old growth forest.
There were TONS of salamanders on this hike.
We made our way across the old growth forest. 
We took a lot of salamander pictures on this hike.
Analise stopped to look at every salamander. After lunch we had to decide whether it was safe to climb down the steep hill further into the big trees. Amy said Yes and led the way!
Selfie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look at the big nurse log!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sit on the big nurse log!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peyeu skunk cabbage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big skunk cabbage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We cross a salamander infested stream.
Big tree stump.
Queen of the forest
Mossy rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunny spot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big rooty tree
Tree house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rhododendron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
More Rhododendron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steep rocky part!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We came back to the car a bit cold and wet but glad we had pressed on further into the woods.

Tom McCall Wildflower Wonder- May 2015

 It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day in May.  Amy needed to stay at home and rest, but Sarah, Analise, and I headed up to one of our favorite destinations in the Gorge, Tom McCall  Point. Analise was still riding in the backpack, making this climb a bit more of a challenge.
The wildflowers were beautiful. I love to see them clinging to the cliff sides.
Analise was not that in tune with her surroundings and was interested in a baby fruit snack.
More wildflowers all over the hillside.
Indian Paintbrush is a favorite of mine.
Mt. Hood loomed large in the distance.
Close up Mt. Hood.
Mt. Adams was visible as well.
Taking a little rest at the summit/ butte.
Analise got to enjoy being free at the top and dancing in the wildflowers.
We took some time to gaze at the mountains.
The gorge was lovely below us.
The combination of flowers and mountains makes this a favorite each year!
Analise wanted to walk a little downhill.
Mt. Hood + flowers were incredible!
Analise stopping to smell and examine the wildflowers.
More beautiful flowers!
We hiked down below to a lily pad pond.
Many more wildflowers greeted us!
What a lovely spring day!

Tom McCall High Meadow- June 25, 2016

On a bright, sunny June day after the peak of wildflower season, we drove to Rowena Crest and hiked up to the Tom McCall Preserve high meadow. Above is a picture of what we climbed. Amy and I were up to the 3.4 mile challenge.
There were a few blue and white wildflowers but we only saw 2 groups of purple ones.
The river was beautiful today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The mountains were out and it was not cloudy.
Me and the mountain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Selfie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A very camouflaged lizard.
Mt. Adams has a belt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Selfie in the shade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My hair, the wind, a pole.
Sophisticated me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mt. Adams is more visible.
Another river picture.
Mom foot picture.
Top picture.
Beautiful fields.
Lake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!