Lake swim and high viewpoint loop challenge

On a hot July day, Amy and I headed up to Mt. Hood to get a little higher and avoid some of the Portland heat. We were headed to Twin Lakes which has been on my bucket list for awhile. After all of my adult trips this season, it was wonderful to hike again with Amy!

The flowers were blooming. It was a lovely sunny day.

Our first choice was the dog mountain challenge but it was supposed to be in the 90s so we decided that would not be the hike for today. We enjoyed the shady woods of the Mt. Hood wilderness.

Before long we came to Upper Twin Lake.

Amy was determined to go swimming.

Oreo doesn't like water too much but always wants to be with her pack so she waded a bit today with me.

Amy spent quite a bit of time in the water. She is a strong swimmer and Oreo and I did not venture quite as far.

Part of Oreo wants to like the water but she is just not too sure.

Amy enjoying the lake to the max on this sunny warm day.

Mt. Hood poking out in the distance.

Teeth chattering, clothes went back on.

We then continued up to Palmateer Point to complete a 7.5 mile loop hike.

The high meadows were quite lovely.

Amy started getting warm and tired.

Almost there!

Mt. Hood view, worth the climb.

I took a selfie and enjoyed the view.

The blue sky was lovely.

Amy decided she liked this piece of shade and that the view from here was good enough for her!

The view from the shady tree.

After enjoying some lunch we started down the other side.

Amy and Oreo took the lead.

We got back down to the PCT. We met hiker who said he was "trying to be" a thru hiker. I think he was a Southbounder- Sobo.

All in all a lovely day- we escaped some of the heat in Portland but were still quite warm by the end.

On Top of the World- Basking in the Fall Mt. View

It was a beautiful SUNNY October day. Oreo dog and I set out for the Mirror Lake trailhead on a Monday without the crowds with our friend Sarah who I have missed hiking with. I have been under an amazing amount of work stress so hiking with or without children has been a huge priority.

With Oreo dog pulling me up the hill we made it to Mirror Lake in record time.

We wandered around Mirror Lake. The reflection of snow covered Mt. Hood was lovely.

We continued up toward the top of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain stopping to enjoy the fall color.

When we got to the top we enjoyed the amazing view of Mt. Hood!

The panoramic mountain view was fantastic- Mt. Adams in the distance.

Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier could also be seen in the distance.

We savored in the view from the top and worked on cooking some lunch and making coffee.

Oreo dog tried to steal the lunch and drink the coffee as well as wanting to chase a chipmunk off the cliff. I held tightly to her leash.

Sarah enjoyed the view while Oreo dog could not figure out why we had stopped!

Mt. Jefferson?

Enjoying being so close to Mt. Hood.

Oreo dog and I hanging out at the mountain viewpoint.

Mt. St. Helens looking lovely in the distance.

We headed back down and enjoyed the fall colors reflecting on the lake.

What a wonderful fall day to let go of stress, catch up on future hopes, and bask in the mountain views.

We gave the lake one last look and headed down toward the car.

Oreo dog led the way. I gave her a B for hiking today because she is pulling hard after all the little animals but having a dog pull you up a mountain is not always a bad thing!

Fall Family Salmon River Hike

Mom: We headed out as a family with our new foster dog Oreo to a favorite fall hike along the Salmon River. Amy and I took the lead and enjoyed this log.

Analise: 😡😰😱😷😵😄😅😗😏😛😮😫😲🙈 I went to see a rainy forest. I didn't like it, too rainy and too much walking.

Amy: This is the first beach where Analise and dad stopped to play while mom and I hiked on.

Mom: The river was clear and green. We were worried about Oreo eating dead fish.

Analise: I love Oreo Dog. 💔👹👺👰👳😅😰😸😹😺😻😼😽😾😿🙀🙈🙉🙊🙍🙎💃

Amy: These trees are super tall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mom: Gazing on the rapids. We saw a few salmon swimming but none jumping this year.

Amy: The river was beautiful and the trees were awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mom: Enjoying the old growth and the moss covered trees.

Mom: A little Fall color across the river.

Amy: Oreo is a hunter, that is why she tried to eat the dead fish!!!!!!!!!!!!! IMPORTANT: OREO IS A FRIENDLY DOG AND NONE HAVE TO FEAR HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SHE IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mom: Enjoying the "raging" river rapids.

Analise: I like mom but I don't like hiking in the rain. 😨😡😖💧💦💥👯👀👽😷😚😐😜😋😾😟😊😝💫😀😕😳😔😉😈😝😛😤😐💣

Amy: Our obligatory selfie. VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Analise: I liked the forest and the pumpkins? 💂💃💅💆💋💑😗😝😝😧😥😤😚😛😓😪😾😾🙌😻😹😯😔😓💕😅

Mom: We enjoyed the old growth forest with all its moss.

Mom: The tall trees gave us some canopy from the light rain falling.

Analise: I loved the moss and Oreo wanted to play the flute? 😼😧😦💫🂶🎅🏊🏉🎵🎭🎱🎅🀫🀪⚽♥♦🎄🎈🎇🃚🎆🎶🎺🏄🏆🎰🎹🎷🏁

Mom: Amy and I had some quality introvert time!

Amy: Oreo was so happy the "pack" was back together.

Analise: The trees kept me finished on the pumpkins? 🐹🐥🐙🍹🍘🐎🐦🍀🌳🌲🌺🍫🍵🐋🐟🐝🍱🍛🍱🐅🐤🐚🐏🍜🍜🍒🍅🍅🍓🍄🌼🍂🍔🌼🌻

Mom: Oreo was given a B from me for hiking. Amy kept saying Oreo got a solid A in her and Gil's book.  We got home and Oreo was all tired out.