Mill Creek Backpack

Memorial Day Weekend in NW Oregon is typically cold and wet.  If my hubby and I do any camping, we always head east of the Cascades.

The trail beckons...

For a couple of years now, I've been wanting to start backpacking again.  After several failed attempts, I decided 2015 would be the year I'd make it happen, and chose Memorial Day weekend for our first trip.  Knowing this holiday's rainy reputation, I picked a trail in sunny, dry Central Oregon.  Hearing lots of glowing reports, the Mill Creek Wilderness, just east of Prineville, got the nod.

"Official" trailhead

Roger and I rose early that Saturday morning, and after a 4-hour drive, pulled into the Twin Pillars Trailhead, at the Mill Creek Wilderness western edge.  After lots of last-minute adjustments (it had been a long time since we'd donned humongous backpacks!) we set out along the trail, Roger charging ahead, and me meandering behind.

Lush forest

After passing through a pretty car campground, we found the "official" trailhead, next to a gated crossing.  Stepping through this threshold transported us into a lush, green, magical wilderness.

Entering the wilderness area

Although the trail was supposed to follow Mill Creek, the stream didn't show itself for the first half mile.  Our path finally climbed up a steep bank, and we gazed at the lovely little creek, burbling below.

Our first sighting of Mill Creek

The forests here were predominately ponderosa pine.  The undergrowth was much more grassy than the forests on the Cascade's western slopes.  But I enjoyed the change of scenery, especially when we passed through a meadow chock-full of yellow Arnica blossoms.

A meadow full of arnica

I'd read this trail was known for it's multiple creek crossings.  Realizing we might have to wade, Roger and I had strapped sandals to the outside of our packs.  Not a huge fan of water crossings, I was a tad bit apprehensive about high spring runoff creating a raging torrent.  But at mile 1.3, when we encountered our first crossing, Roger discovered a large downed tree spanning the creek.

First creek crossing

We both easily shuffled across it's trunk, no problem.  Our feet stayed dry - this time.

Tentative log shuffle

We continued on, trekking through more gorgeous scenery.  The wildflowers were out in force, and I enjoyed the colorful display of purple larkspur, orange columbine, and more yellow Arnica.

Larkspur

Then we came upon creek crossing number two!  But again the crossing was easy-peasy, thanks to a few well-placed logs.

Log balance

Crossing number three was another cinch - the water was shallow enough we could almost walk across.  Roger and I hopped over on a few well-placed stones.  Only the  bottoms of our boots got wet.

Hopping through the shallow part

I was beginning to think these creek crossings had been over-hyped when we came upon our fourth ford.  This one was different.  There were no rocks or tree trunks to hop onto.  The water was just deep enough that wading would totally submerge our boots.  Good thing we brought those sandals!

Sometimes you just have to take off the boots and wade!

Sooo......we dropped our packs, off came the boots, and on went the sandals!  It seemed a lot of work just to walk across a twenty foot wide creek.  But I didn't want wet boots for the rest of the weekend, so that's what I did.

Lovely meadow

On the creek's opposite shore, our efforts were rewarded with a wonderful bright green meadow to walk through.

Columbine bloom

And more wildflowers to stop and admire.  Or, in my case, photograph.  And, no Roger didn't pick this columbine blossom.  He merely held it up so I could capture the yellow underside.

Entering the burn zone

About two miles in, we began seeing blackened tree trunks and scorched bushes, remnants of a 2000 forest fire.  Although the burned out trees made for a somber landscape, seeing so much lush green undergrowth was encouraging.

A large survivor

Some of the larger trees appeared to have escaped the flames.

The forest is coming back to life

Around the three mile mark, we came upon a side creek draining a lush meadow.  This area was  reputed to have some nice campsites, and I'd hoped to find one for ourselves here.  But after counting a half dozen tents set up, I decided to keep going in hopes of finding something more secluded.

Evidence of rebirth

By this time, Roger was starting to tire.  Carrying our tent and a couple other items, he definitely had the heavier load.  That, and since he didn't hike as much as I, wasn't as conditioned.  And, in our haste to leave, he'd accidentally grabbed his old worn-out hiking boots, and now his feet were beginning to protest.

Creekside campsite

I offered to hike ahead, and scout for possible campsites.  A short quarter mile later, I stumbled upon the perfect spot.  Situated on the creek's bank, we'd be serenaded by it's babbling waters.  The site also boasted a fire ring, a couple of log benches, and a private wooded area to pitch the tent.  And, best of all, there were no other campsites nearby.

A peaceful place

Yes, this place would do quite nicely!  After setting up camp, and enjoying a leisurely lunch, it was barely noon.  The day still young, we decided it was time for more exploration.  The trail continued to a rock formation called the Twin Pillars.  Since we now had lightened loads, Roger and I decided to go check it out.

Stop back for my next post and see what we found.

Sharing with:  Weekly Top Shot and Scenic Weekends.

Multnomah Basin

(Still playing catch-up, this latest adventure took place in early May)

How do I describe my trek through Multnomah Basin?  This was a hike bookended by waterfalls, with a bunch of gorgeous old-growth forest sandwiched in between.

Oh - and I discovered my friend John needs to brush up on his distance measuring skills.

At the trailhead, ready to go!

John and most of his hiking buddies are retired, which means they can hit the trail during the week, when us poor employed folks have to work.  But this time one of his hikes coincided with my scheduled Friday off.  John was planning a loop in the around Multnomah Basin, in the Columbia River Gorge, a trek he described as "10+ miles."

Heck, having just done 7 tough miles up and down Dog Mountain the prior weekend, I figured my foot could handle 10.  I emailed John back and told him I was in.

Waterfall photographer

That Friday John and I were joined by Jon, Dorene, and Debbie.  Because our route would start and end at different trailheads, we left Jon's pickup at Multnomah Falls and carpooled down the road to the Horsetail Falls trailhead.  Recovering from an injury, Debbie only planned to accompany us partway.

Walking behind Ponytail falls

For those of you familiar with the Gorge our route was roughly this:  Begin at Horsetail Falls, take the Gorge trail to Triple Falls, continue up Franklin Ridge, then take a series of trails west until intersecting with the Larch Mountain trail.  Follow the Larch Mtn trail down to the base of Multnomah Falls, where Jon's truck awaited.

The great thing about starting at Horsetail Falls was not only did we see a lovely waterfall right at the trailhead, it's a short quarter mile stroll to the next cascade - Ponytail Falls.  And the trail goes right behind this one, providing fantastic views from all angles.  I even broke out my GoPro camera and shot a video so my readers could experience it too.

Far-reaching Gorge view

After lots of photos at Ponytail Falls, my group climbed to a grand viewpoint.  The Columbia River and walls of the Gorge spread out before us.  Everything was a vivid shade of springtime green.  More photo ops!

On the bridge over Oneonta Gorge

Then it was down, across a bridge spanning Oneonta Gorge.  Oneonta Falls gurgled nearby, but the light was lousy for photographs, so I continued on.

Triple Falls

We took a break at the viewpoint overlooking Triple Falls.  One of my fave Gorge waterfalls, I tried to get a few shots, despite the crummy midday light.  We noticed a couple of men had climbed down to the very top of the falls.  (Can you see them in the photo above?)  Hmmm.....those rocks are sometimes slippery....not something I would ever try.  Much to our relief, those two daredevils crawled back to the trail without any mishaps.

Corydalis

Above Triple Falls, our trail paralleled a lovely rushing creek.  Green things of all varieties grew in abundance here - ferns, moss, leafy shrubs - and colorful tube-like Corydalis flowers.

Photographer John in action

The blooms were everywhere!  Of course this stopped John and I in our tracks as the cameras came out.  I'd never seen such a high concentration of these types of flowers.  Not only in abundance, the Corydalis also bloomed in different colors besides it's normal pink.  I captured a white and purple variety that was most lovely.

Lovely two-tone Corydalis

Beyond the flower fields, we bid Debbie goodbye, crossed the creek on a single log bridge, and began the long, boring slog up Franklin Ridge.

One of many log bridges

This was the toughest part of the hike.  The path was steep, there wasn't anything interesting to see, and it was past noon.  My stomach grumbled, but John promised a lunch break once we reached the ridgetop.

Lunch spot

We climbed for what seemed like an eternity.  My belly was complaining, and my attitude began taking a nosedive.  Well past one, I caught up with Jon as we reached a dense forest.  I asked Jon if this was our lunch spot and he replied "I'm making it one."  We both joked about being "hangry" - hungry and grumpy - and agreed we were overdue for a refueling.  John and Dorene caught up soon, and we all enjoyed a well-earned lunch break.

Fallen tree in the trail

Nearly to the junction of the Franklin Ridge Trail, after lunch John led us to our next segment (the name of which escapes me).  This path was a beauty, rambling through impressive old growth woods.  Tons of huge Douglas firs lined the trail.  We marveled at the size of these giants.  One of the humongous trees had blown down right on the trail, and we ended up walking on top of it.

Trilliums were plentiful!

It was here I noticed the woods were packed with blooming trilliums.  So pretty!  I stopped for a couple photos of their dreamy, white petals.

Trail junction

Although I enjoyed our trek through these gorgeous woods, I was beginning to look forward to the next junction.  We'd reach the Larch Mountain Trail, and from there, it would be an easy downhill cruise to our ending point at the Multnomah Trailhead.  Or so I thought.

Dorene hugging a big tree

Once we reached the junction, however, John suggested we hike an additional half mile in the other direction.  There was a lovely alpine meadow below Larch Mountain that he really wanted to visit.  Although starting to tire, and not really wanting any more climbing, I nonetheless agreed to follow John up the trail.

The meadow below Larch Mountain

After a short climb, and bushwhack through the forest, we popped out into a wide meadow.  Larch Mountain rose at one end.  It was a lovely, lush grassland, and the views were nice.  Although not thrilled at first, now that I was here, I had to admit seeing this beautiful place was worth the extra mileage.

Photo op

Now for that downhill!  After climbing all day, I was more than ready to descend.  But, the trail wasn't cooperating.  It roller-coastered, diving down to cross many creeks, and then back up the other bank.  John described this portion as "undulating."  We started teasing John about his choice of words - saying we were going to start a "John's hiker dictionary."

Gazing in wonder at a huge tree

Checking my gps, the day's total mileage at that point was nearing ten.  Soon we came upon a signed trail junction.  Although by then, I knew we'd eclipse the 10 miles John had estimated, I wasn't quite prepared for what it read.  The sign indicated 4.8 miles before we'd reach the bottom of Multnomah Falls.  Uh, John, I think you underestimated the mileage by just a touch....

Still 4.8 miles to go!

Boy, did we give John a hard time about that!  We teased him about using "John miles" instead of regular miles.  (In John's defense, he did say the hike would be 10 plus miles.  He just didn't define how far the "plus" would be)

Waiting for the boys

I hoped my foot would withstand a nearly 15 mile hike.  Of course, at this point, there was nothing I could do but keep walking.

Following lovely Multnomah Creek

Soon, the trail stopped it's erratic ups and downs, and settled into a continuous descent.  Although the miles didn't pass nearly fast enough, I finally began to see some familiar terrain.  Having hiked a portion of the Larch Mountain trail in December 2013, it was nice to recognize landmarks.  That meant the trailhead was getting much closer.

My friends and I came upon the place where a side creek flows into Multnomah Creek.  A very gorgeous place, I used the remaining battery power in my GoPro to capture a quick video.

Bleeding heart

About two miles from our destination, we again entered the "flower zone."  Pink bleeding hearts and more lush bushes of Corydalis lined our path.  We passed by a couple of unnamed gushing waterfalls.

Although these final two miles were some of the most spectacular scenery of the day, by then I was tired and foot-sore.  That, and nature was calling in a most urgent way.

Beautiful mossy forest

By this point, our trail was following Multnomah Creek.  The surrounding steep terrain was either straight down to the creek, or straight up on the canyon walls.  There was absolutely no place to duck off and "take care of business."  And, the closer we came to Multnomah Falls, the more people we encountered on the trail.  Knowing there was a restroom at Multnomah Falls Lodge, I decided to wait.  I thought I could hold it until then.

Gorgeous green Multnomah Creek

The final mile and half was a blur.  I hurried by Weisendanger Falls, only snapping a couple of quick shots.  Surging ahead of my companions, I marched down the switchbacks leading to Multnomah Falls.  By then I had to pee so bad I didn't even bother to stop for photos of the Gorge's grand cascade.  Not only did I reach the facilities in time, (whew!) I was also able to purchase a bottle of water from the concessionaire seconds before it closed for the day.

Weisendanger Falls

Total mileage for the day (from my gps anyway) ended up at 14.8 miles.  A new distance record on my rebuilt foot.  Despite some expected soreness (it was almost 15 miles after all) my foot did remarkable.  I actually didn't feel too bad!

So.....the moral of this story is, take whatever milage John quotes with a grain of salt.  But go anyway, because John always picks the most amazing places to hike.  You won't be sorry.

Thanks John for a wonderful day!


Sharing with:  Our World Tuesday

Dog Mountain Tradition

"The flowers are calling and I must go."

Happy balsamroot

If you've followed my blog for awhile, you know come spring, there's one trail I never miss - the steep, but rewarding trek up Dog Mountain.  In late May, this humble peak's summit erupts in a  frenzy of yellow balsamroot flowers.

Gorgeous Columbia River view

However this year, everything's been blooming a month early.  The first weekend in May, I caught wind that flowers were in full blossom mode up on Dog Mtn.  Time for my yearly visit!  Since this trail is so popular during peak flower season, I made sure to arrive at the trailhead extra early.  Total success!  I was the 6th car in the parking lot that morning.

Calypso orchid

Beginning the steep climb, I had the trail all to myself.  Bumbling along, enjoying the solitude, I came upon a man with a camera, crouching over a patch of wildflowers.  A kindred spirit!  I struck up a conversation, and found out the guy was none other than Greg Lief - head of the Oregon Wildflowers website and Facebook page.

Breaking out into the main meadow

Along with being a wildflower expert, Greg's a fantastic photographer.  I tagged along after him, asking questions, and stopping to photograph some of the same flowers.  Since I've contributed photos to the Oregon Wildflowers Facebook page, Greg knew of my existence, and was happy to put a face with the name.

Classic Wind Mtn view

Greg and I leapfrogged along until arriving at the first viewpoint, about 1.5 miles and 1500' up from the trailhead.  Cheery, yellow balsamroot blooms covered the hillside.  Below was a killer view of Wind Mountain and the Columbia River.  The river was so calm that morning, the adjacent Gorge cliffs reflected perfectly it it's blue waters.

Lots of these guys!

But hard climbing awaited.  It was a steep, grueling 1500 additional feet to reach the summit.  I slogged along after Greg, but lost him after he dropped back to photograph some dainty, pink Calypso Orchids.

A hiker pauses to take it in

From the lower viewpoint to the summit meadows, the trail winds through dense woods.  The path is so steep in some places, travel is reduced to a crawl.  But, placing one foot in front of the other, I kept a constant (but slow) pace, and soon saw the forest opening up ahead of me.

Looking east towards Hood River

The entrance to the upper meadows is quite dramatic.  The forest suddenly parts, and - bam! - an enormous field of yellow flowers opens up before you.  Balsamroot blossoms stretch up the steep mountainside as far as the eye can see.

Indian Paintbrush

This was what I'd come for!  The camera was hastily unpacked, and I spent the better part of an hour inching up the trail, capturing as many gorgeous flowers as possible.

Bright purple Phlox

Although balsamroot was the predominant bloomer, there was also Indian Paintbrush, Phlox, and Larkspur mixed in.  I also saw small patches of dainty white flowers, which I couldn't identify.

On to the summit!

Before the final trek to Dog Mountain's very summit lies another Gorge overlook, nicknamed "Puppy Point."  I made a quick stop at this viewpoint and admired the amazing panorama.  The mighty Columbia unfurled below, green tree-lined forest ridges spread out on either side. 

Two bugs in an **ahem** moment

Then I slowly meandered up the rocky, dusty trail.  Lined by ever-present yellow balsamroot, distractions were many.  I saw a bug posing for me inside one flower, and had to stop for a capture.  It wasn't until I'd clicked the shutter a dozen times that I realized there were actually two bugs, and I'd likely interrupted an intimate moment. (Oopsie!)

The crowds have arrived!

Yes indeed, flower season on Dog Mountain brings out the hikers, and a sunny, Sunday morning just adds to their numbers.  By this time, the hordes had caught up to me, and I watched an endless conga-line of people trudge by on their final summit push.

Larkspur

But the wildflowers were so spectacular, I continued my photographic dawdling.  So much to capture!

Amazing summit panorama

It was late morning before I finally arrived Dog Mountain's summit.  By then, a crowd of at least forty people were gathered on top, spread amongst it's grassy meadows.  I found a spot to sit, broke out a snack, and enjoyed the stupendous views.

Nature's flower garden

The frustrating part about sharing this popular trail with so many is beauty like this brings out all types of people, even sadly, those I refer to as "the clueless hikers."  These are the folks who cut switchbacks, leave their toilet paper in the woods, and, my personal pet peeve, pick the wildflowers.  I saw a few people sporting balsamroot blossoms in their hair, and one dog who was decked out with a bouquet lining it's collar.  People - no matter how tempting they look, please DO NOT PICK WILDFLOWERS!  Leave them for all to enjoy!

(Okay - my rant is over)

My favorite - chocolate tiger lily

After a wonderful rest on top, I packed up and began my downhill trek.  By now, so many people were climbing up the trail, I felt like a salmon swimming upstream, trying to shimmy by.

Heading back down

Luckily, three main trails access Dog Mountain's summit, and for my return trip I always pick the lesser-used Augspurger Mountain Trail.  Although a bit longer in distance, this trail offers a gentler slope (better for the knees) and a nice change of scenery.

Western Groundsel

Contouring across Dog Mountain's steep sidehill, the crowds diminished, and I took some final shots of these truly wonderful flower fields.

Halfway trail sign

Then, the trail plunged back into dense woods.  As the day was now heating up, the tree's cool shade was a welcome relief.  I charged downhill, happy to see that my feet were holding up nicely.  I even passed a couple of folks! (And pre-surgery that never happened)

Cool, shady forest

I arrived back at my car to an overflowing parking lot, with crowds of people still heading up.  But my yearly trek now in the books, it was time to find a cool brewpub, and review the morning's photographic work.

Goodbye Dog Mountain.  See you again next year!


Sharing with:  Wednesday Around the World and Scenic Weekends