2025 Hikes

 I've created a new page for the new year to record all my hikes for 2025.

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Hike No. 1 - 1/8/25 - Gales Creek and Storey Burn Trails, Oregon Coast range.  First hike of 2025!  I joined friends Debbie and Barry for a nice stroll on a favorite loop trail that I hadn't hiked for a couple of years.  It was a dry, partly sunny day - welcome weather after so many rainy days.  We encountered some blow-down but it wasn't insurmountable.  We were surprised to see the last segment of our loop, the Gravelle Brothers trail, had been rerouted to higher ground.  More climbing at the end of a hike that wasn't welcome at all!  But we survived.  8.6 miles, 1800 feet elevation gain.

Hike No. 2 - 1/19/25 - Hamilton Mtn loop, Columbia River Gorge, Washington.  It was a sunny, but cold day.  Taking advantage of the dry weather, I convinced my hubby to join me for a trek up Hamilton Mtn.  Despite the cold, the uphill slog soon warmed us both!  There were some great views from the saddle, even saw the tip of Mt. Hood.  Great exercise, and it felt good to be outdoors.  8 miles, 2500 feet elevation gain.

Hike No. 3 - 1/26/25 - Wilson River Trail, from Jones Creek Trailhead to Wilson Falls, Oregon Coast range.  My friend Catherine invited me to join her family on a hike along this lovely riverside trail.  It was a chilly but sunny day as we set out from the trailhead.  The mossy coast range forest is always a treat to hike through.  And the blue-green waters of the Wilson River make a nice place to sit beside for a lunch break.  5.5 miles, 600 feet elevation gain.

Hike No. 4 - 1/29/25 - Various trails in Stub Stewart State Park, Oregon Coast range.  After over 2 weeks of cold, sunny weather (unheard of in January!) today was supposed to be the last day of this break from the usual gloom.  Taking advantage of this final sunny day, I decided to get in a quick hike at the closest state park to home.  I discovered there's a lot of logging (thinning, they claim) of trees going on right now, so there was hardly anyone in the park.  But I had a nice romp through frosty forests and frozen mud, past an icy Boomscooter pond.  6 miles, 1000 feet elevation gain.

Hike No. 5 - 3/1/25 - Gnat Creek Trail, Oregon Coast Range.  Yeah, it's been over a month since I've hiked....been too busy skiing.  But today's beautiful warm weather was perfect for a romp in the woods.  I introduced friends Debbie and Barry to this lovely trail that winds through moss-covered forests following a charming creek.  This time we made it all the way to the trail's end (two years ago a landslide prevented access to the terminus.)  Birds were singing and the air felt almost muggy.  Spring is on its way.  8.1 miles, 1000 feet elevation gain.

Hike No. 6 - 3/7/25 - Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge, Washington.  When the grass widow flowers begin to bloom, I know it's time to start my spring wildflower hikes.  And this year's crop at Catherine Creek were plentiful.  I made a visit to the paved path adjacent to the river, and then crossed the road and climbed uphill for a quick loop.  It was a lovely sunny day, perfect for wildflower viewing.  4 miles, 900 feet elevation gain.

Hike No. 7 - 3/24/25 - The Labyrinth trail, Columbia River Gorge, Washington.  Wildflower season is underway in the eastern gorge, and friends Debbie and Barry invited me to join them to check out the bloom.  The Labyrinth is one of my favorite spring wildflower trails and today it didn't disappoint!  However, we encountered some unexpected rainy and foggy weather for the first two hours of the morning before the skies cleared to lovely sunshine.  Grass widows and desert parsley were prolific, and I spotted my first balsamroot blooms of the year!  7.4 miles, 1800 feet elevation gain.

Hike No. 8 - 4/16/25 - Memaloose Hills, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon.  I've been logging lots of ski days this year, but when I heard the Gorge wildflowers were blooming, I took a break from the slopes to check things out.  This area is one of my favorites for spring wildflowers, and lucky me I hit it at peak bloom!  Chatfield Hill was absolutely stunning, and I arrived early enough in the morning to have the place to myself the entire time.  Marsh Hill was nice too, and I stumbled upon a "new to me" loop trail wandering through lovely oak woods from its summit.  I think it's time to stow the skis for my hiking boots and camera!  3.5 miles, 500 feet elevation gain.

Hike No. 9 - 4/18/25 - Tom McCall Point and Mosier Plateau, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon.  I just couldn't get enough of the Gorge spring wildflowers, so two days later I was back with friends Debbie and Barry.  We hiked up Tom McCall Point and soaked in the colorful beauty of its slopes.  Then, after a quick lunch at Mosier's famous taco truck, we did a quick climb up to Mosier Plateau.  It was a warm day and the afternoon climb in the heat wasn't fun.  But our reward was more lovely wildflower meadows and killer Gorge views.  About 5 miles between the two trails and at least 1000 feet of elevation gain.  

Hike No. 10 - 4/21/25 - Crawford Oaks Loop, Columbia Hills State Park, Washington.  Back to the Eastern Gorge I went for the third time in a week.  When it's wildflower season, I go!  This time it was to take in the spectacular wildflower bloom at the Dalles Mtn Ranch (ie Columbia Hills State Park.)  My hubby joined me for the trek and it was fun to show him this outstanding wildflower paradise.  We started our hike super early, and enjoyed being serenaded by several meadowlarks.  Not many people at this early hour and it was nice to have a usually busy trail mostly to ourselves.  And the lupine bloom was the best I've seen.  It was really windy and cold but better than hot temps in my book.  7.5 miles, 1050 feet elevation gain.