Category Archives: Day Trips

Larch Mountain Gate Opens 05.27.14!

24 Saturday May 2014

Posted by in Beauty Be Us, Day Trips, Events

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

We have word from a reliable source that the Larch Mountain snow gate will open next Tuesday afternoon!

The gate at milepost 10 is closed from November until the snow clears in late May / early June (in 2008, it didn’t open until July!).  While we are all antsy to get up there starting about April, that area is at or above the same level as Government Camp on Mt. Hood, which is well above snow level.  Plowing it every day would only get you to mile 14  on the road, where you could stand and stare at buried parking and trails.

Put Sherrard Viewpoint on your list for this summer, and we’ll do our best to clear the skies for you so you can see all five mountains : ).

Sherrard Viewpoint_June 2012

Meanwhile, don’t let the closed gate keep you off Larch for the Memorial Day weekend… look for the small trailhead on your right beyond milepost 5, or grab any of the logging access gates with Recreational Use signs posted, and start walking.  It’s beautiful and green up there, and the small wildflowers are already in their second round, with salmon berries coming on, and thimble berries and huckleberries following shortly!

Larch Mountain with dogs and flowers

Remember to make your stick Scout arrows when you get to the forks in the road! (bread crumbs tend to get eaten, and that loaf of bread is bulky in the backpack) – it’s easy to get turned around out there.  I can testify, having had to enlist a friend with a large truck to blow the horn on the road so I could straighten my unreliable directional sense back out a couple weeks ago : ).

Larch with dogs

Enjoy the weekend!
Loree

 

 

All images and words © Loree Harrell; 2012 – 2014

 

Yes, It’s Raining. But!…

02 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by in And Around, Beauty Be Us, Day Trips

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

Sandy River Gorge rain puddle

Sandy River Gorge rain puddle

It looks like we have a week of wet coming up, so I’m going to tell you a little secret that might clutter up my winter trails a bit.

That rain that is pounding the windshield of your car, and looking like the outside world is unfit for man and beast?

When you’re walking in it, on a slightly muddy trail through a forest with wet-shined leaves, it isn’t nearly as intense as when you’re doing 60 mph down the freeway with the wipers flapping in your face.

In fact, if you have on good boots, a hat, and (preferably) some good rain pants (because wet jeans bite),  and maybe a dog or three, you’re pretty much guaranteed to enjoy the day.   My experience has been that if you’re committed to go no matter what, the rain will even work around you, and hold off until three minutes after you’re back in the car (the past two days we haven’t had a drop of anything other than wet from brushing through the ferns, and then the downpour has hit on the way back down the hill).  Throw a cuddly sweatshirt in the car to change into when you get back, and enjoy this third season.

Beaver fwap... slightly annoyed with the three dogs on the bank.

Beaver fwap… slightly annoyed with the three dogs on the bank.

You might even catch one of the local denizens who thinks everyone has gone home for the year.

Have fun out there : )
Loree

Beaver Dance

14 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by in Beauty Be Us, Day Trips

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

I noticed a new pile of sticks across the river last month.  It’s an oddish place for a beaver to build a den in the summer, as the beach on this side gets heavy and exuberant use when the sun is shining, so it didn’t really register, but we hit an afternoon after some rain last week and got to watch the show.

Beaver1

Just before this shot, the beaver had been coming towards the three Mergansers who were minding their own business floating about and enjoying the day.

Beaver2

Then he turned and headed upstream.  It was unclear, as I don’t actually know how beaver brains work, whether the Mergansers were a perceived threat (what kind of threat could a duck be to a beaver?), or if they had a past history of hanging around to purposely annoy him, or if it was some sort of catch me if you can game.

Beaver3

You would think that a human would be a larger threat than a duck (maybe beavers species memory has forgotten the whole Hat thing), but he came right down in front of me…

Beaver4

… before another of the Mergansers arrived and he turned…

Beaver5

… to find the rest of the family taking up position.

Beaver6

At the point the last two flew in and he was surrounded, he gave a good thwack and dove.  I had a bad moment thinking a duck was going to get pulled under the surface (probably an unreasonable fear, but, again, I don’t know how beaver brains work).

Beaver7

Having been totally oblivious up to this point, the thwack! got Max and Ebb’s attention.

Beaver8

The Mergansers took up position in the front yard again, with the beaver patrolling the perimeter.

IMG_4031

Beaver9

Max and Ebb were on the beach watching, and the beaver was swimming in circles between the Mergansers and the dogs…

Beaver10

… until the beaver finally got thoroughly fed up with all the unwanted company and dove with a huge and very clear fwap of the tail.

Beaver11

Someday, we really need to learn about that swimming thing.

all images Loree Harrell; 2013

A Quiet Place To Run

18 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by in Day Trips, Ramblings

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

What I love most about this place we live is that there is always a new place, always a place with no people, always green and water and sweet air.

IMG_3861

Sometimes you just have to look a little further, venture someplace you don’t know.

The dogs and I have five places we usually run, and in all five, for most of the year, we have the trails to ourselves.  This time of year, the two river trails are busy with summer people, and the other three trails, beyond the gates on tree company land, were closed to entry two weeks ago because of elevated fire danger.

So we’ve been going to the river trails in the early morning before the summer people have had their breakfast, but a late shift Friday had us out in the afternoon with no place to go, so we went further up Larch Mountain, into the National Forest land, to find a place.

At milepost 9, we found a gate with paved road and walked in.

IMG_3875

Well, I walked.  The dogs exuberated.  (No, it’s not a word.)  (But it should be.)

I expected, it being Larch Mountain and all, and Larch Mountain having a large network of trails, that we would come across a trail that would take us off into the woods, but two miles of paved, and another mile of pack gravel before we ran into a Bull Run Watershed No Trespassing sign, and nary a trail.

IMG_3881

Still.  Beautiful little creeks that those of us in the party with four nimble legs could get down to for a cool down, wildflowers by the road, gorgeous forest, and quiet.

Venture out someplace you don’t know.  There’s something there, I promise.

Here, have a smile.

IMG_3882

Snapshot 6

05 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by in And Around, Day Trips, Ramblings, Snapshots

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , ,

huckleberry red

I have to tell you a funny story about red huckleberries.

You didn’t even know there was a funny story about red huckleberries, did you?

Well, anyway.

Back in the days when I was married, my husband and I went on a trip.  We must have been somewhere out in The Woods, because we were on a dirt road in a much-loved F150, and I spotted red berries on a bush and said Stop! I Want Some Of Those Berries!

My husband, being a good and sensible man, said, Are You Sure Those Berries Are Edible?

I said, Yes, of course they are.  I remember those berries from my childhood.  Dad said they were edible and we ate them and we didn’t die and so, Yes.  Of Course They Are.

My husband, being a both good and reasonable man, stopped the much-loved F150, and I debarked and ate several handfuls of the berries.

…

A mile or so down the dirt road, my logic superceded my enthusiasm, and I wasn’t Quite as sure those were the berries of my childhood, and I said, I Think those were the same berries we ate and didn’t die.

I could see him, being a good man, and also an ex- Eagle Scout, making a Plan for how to get me to a hospital without breaking the much-loved F150, and, really, I was being silly (probably) so I said, I’m sure those were the berries of my childhood, and we both pretended to relax while waiting for me not to die.

Anyway.

The point is.

Last week there were no huckleberries.
This week there are huckleberries.
The moral of the story is there are cycles in life.
Or the moral of the story is there are huckleberries in life.
[Both red and blue.]

huckleberry

One of those.

Larch Mountain is as much information as you get because, really, there ain’t enough for both of us.

Could there possibly be a better time of year?

01 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by in And Around, Community, Day Trips

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , ,

I love this time of year.  Not because my house often reaches an inside temperature in the mid- to upper-80s, not because it’s high season at the hotel and a bit crazy at times (okay, it’s a bit crazy often), not because it’s a good excuse to buy another slew of $4.00 tank tops…

Berries.  Cherries (cherrrrrrriessss!).  Rhubarb.  U-Pick.  Roadside stands.  I could live on fresh fruit with frequent yogurt and occasional ice cream.  Fresh lavender in big beautiful delicious purple bundles.

If you drive the Historic highway, without pulling over at least (at least) once for something straight out of the field, you’re missing a smile.  So grab a container big enough to sustain you through the summer traffic at the Falls. Here’s a sampling along the Historic Highway…

Troutdale main drag
The Fruit Stop… great selection of local fruit and veggies, plus beautiful hanging baskets.

Market on Saturdays at the old train Depot…

(and don’t miss the First Friday art walk this week!!)

IMG_3375

Kerslake Farms (also the Mirror at the top of the page)

Springdale
George Knierem’s place… u-pick raspberries.  Just past Dabney State Park on your right, Woodard (to your left) goes up and over the hill to drop into Springdale.  Watch for the signs!

Kerslake Farms:  u-pick and picked raspberries and blueberries.
Past the Stark Street bridge, through the curves and past the dragon, first right on Northway and follow the signs.

Watch for bouquets of fresh dahlias in little huts with a jar to leave a couple bucks in along the way!

To get to Wills Farm: [“tons of different fruit all summer” according to an inside source], bear right on Hurlburt (just past the Springdale Pub and catty-corner from the Springdale School), and turn right on Christensen Road.

Corbett
After you pass the Corbett Market (yes, stop), and the fire station (hats off to the magnificent volunteer Corbett Fire Dept), keep an eye out to your left (I’m speaking to the passenger-side person here, of course).  You will pass a stand in front of Kirby’s blueberry field with (oddly) blueberries, cherries, rhubarb (whatever is fresh and lovely) for sale, or grab a bucket and pick your own blues.

Still looking to the left, watch for the lavender signs… there’s no better way to scent your car or your room, and the best thing about lavender is you can skip the vase and just let the stalks look and smell pretty as they dry.

Larch Mountain
Right after Women’s Forum, follow Larch Mountain Road to the right, and take a quick right onto Salzman to get to Klock’s blueberries – u-pick.  The field is a bit higher, so berries are on a bit later and the fields are huge!  U-pick starting soon, check their site.

If you eat half a pound (each) while driving the 14 miles up to the top of Larch, you won’t even notice that the steps up to Sherrard Point are steep.  Promise.

Enjoy : ).

Gorge Guide On Your Phone!

30 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by in And Around, Day Trips, News In

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

This is entirely cool… Gorge Guide now has an app so you have Gorge Guide to go, even when you left your copy at home! I looked over Steph’s shoulder today when she downloaded it and it’s a great app.

Gorge Guide2

So hie to the App Store or Google play and enjoy thoroughly… this is a great publication, and a valuable addition.

* You’ll notice I said “Gorge Guide On Your Phone”, not “Gorge Guide On My Phone”.  Windows version not available at this time, so I’ll just peer over the shoulder of all you cool people with iPhones and Android. : )

Images gorgeguide.com

 

Columbia Gorge Flower Frenzy!

08 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in And Around, Day Trips, Events

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Friends of the Columbia Gorge
Flower Frenzy Challenge 2013!
March 1 to July 31, 2013

FriendsoftheColumbiaGorge_FlowerFrenzy2013

What a great reason to get boots on the trails, and experience the spring and early summer in our beautiful Columbia Gorge!  Every year, I intend to get out to Dog Mountain in the spring, and every year, I miss the window.  Rain or shine, I am going this weekend – mark it.

Friends Of The Columbia Gorge has put together a treasure hunt of 25 beautiful flowers that appear briefly in the Gorge in the spring and early summer, and the challenge is to get out there and find as many as you can, with the shyer of the bunch being worth more points.  There are prizes, although I would suggest the treasure, in this case, is in the finding more than the winning :).  The log has great information on each flower, like:

Bitter Root

Bitter Root _ Lewisia rediviva… This flower was found in the Bitter Root Mtns by Lewis & Clark (state flower of Montana). The speciman they brought back had a viable root and bloomed years after the expedition. Hence the scientific name. American Indians valued it highly as a food, and although it is nutritous, it tastes bitter. According to tribal myths, the plant grew from the tears of a starving old woman, and its roots are bitter because of her sorrow. The large, fleshy roots were harvested just as the blossoms began to bud, and, after being boiled, became jellylike and less bitter.

Register at www.gorgefriends.org/flowerfrenzy , print out your log, and go find some beauty you haven’t seen before.  Even if you’re not going to play this time, become a member!  Memberships start at 35.00, which is a killer deal and gives you access to great inside information and resources.  I also see that if you register now, you get a free copy of Ross Jolley’s “Wildflowers Of The Columbia Gorge”!WildflowersoftheColumbiaGorge_RussJolley

Some of the early ones will be disappearing soon (or you’ll have to hike up higher to find them), so start this weekend and I’ll see you on the other side of a cluster of Dutchman’s Breeches!

And… GO, FISH!

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in And Around, Day Trips, Events, News In

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

The smelt are running in the Sandy!!!  If your response is yeah, yeah, there are fish in, of all places, the river and so…?, then it’s likely that you didn’t grow up around here forever ago like I did.  When I was a kid [not quite forever ago, but slightly back in the mists] the freezer was always full of smelt. 

I hated them.  Tiny fish so you just eat the bones and I just can’t quite eat fish bones, BUT, boy was it a good day at the river to go dip them.  And Dad and Mom liked them.  I think.  Although they also claimed to like the asparagus pie debacle, so…

smelt_oregonlive

And then they quit running.  The last big run was in 1980 (I’m taking that from the City Of Troutdale site as in 1980 I wasn’t thinking about much beyond who was playing at The Last Hurrah that night, so I didn’t actually notice).  There were small runs in 2001 and 2003, but it’s been ten years since they were back in the river, and words like massive and enormous are being used to describe this run.

There won’t be any dipping this year as they were placed on the endangered list in 2010, so, while there’s some discussion about whether their absence was just part of an existing cycle we don’t have enough perspective to see, it’s illegal to possess them at this time (fishermen, that includes picking up a dead one on the shore for bait). 

Smelt3_Doug Beghtel

Therefore, I would suggest you get to the Troutdale Bridge, or the beach by Lewis & Clark or Glenn Otto, and witness a bit of this massive!, enormous! run of millions of fish for yourself.  That’d be where I’m heading today.

Pictures Doug Beghtel, The Oregonian.  Read more here!

So there’s a football game on?

03 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by in And Around, Day Trips

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Some sort of big deal I gather, by the Sunday crowd at the Pub when I drove down the hill.

In other news, it was perfect on Larch Mountain tonight.  A car was at the river trail, so the dogs and I went to our Milepost 4 trail gate.  Six miles further up, the road is closed for snow, but at that (relatively) lower elevation, it was perfect hiking temperature and, bless the slightly lengthening days, light enough at 4:30 that I almost forgot the flashlight.

Great hike in.  We hadn’t been there in several months, so the dogs were both excited, and yet not so much in their element that they would go on a run without me.  We got down to the creek, and the bridge that was already altered into a deep V by a large tree falling on it, had been pushed in by another log pummeling it from upcreek in high water and now had water running over the low middle of it, and the surface was moss-slicked.  After watching Ebb slipslide across, and King and Max decline to follow down the steep near side and up the steep far side, we came to a collective decision to skip the far side trail (Ebb didn’t concur, already being over and not being enthusiastic about crossing immediately back, but he was overruled).

Hiking back out, the forest went aggressively quiet.  It took me a few minutes to notice, and I don’t know what was there before that was different.  But, some days, the stillness finds you.

Congratulations, Ravens.