Gracias Sandy

I am taking a break from creating my itemized bill for my supervision project this weekend (more on that to come later) and decided I better check the mail.

The first great item I got in the mail is my prize from Sandy’s Spring photo contest.  It’s a magnet and I put it right on our fridge.

I love magnets!

Speaking of Sandy, I also got a cool postcard from one of his recent adventures.  It looks like a fun spot to visit; in fact now that I think about it I think I will take Jerry’s advice and leave this post card around the house to hint that I am interested in going there.

Thanks Sandy!

Mail Call

Today Sequoia and I decided to head to the beach to get away from the roofers.  We are having the roof redone and a certain dog goes crazy when the roofers are walking on the roof or doing work outside so it’s best to get this unnamed dog out of the house as much as I can.  Yesterday we went to the park and I getting concerned that we don't have an outing planned for tomorrow yet......

When we came home I got this awesome card from Jerry and Ben.  Seems they have been spending some time in Ohio lately.  When I look at this card, it’s almost like I am looking in a mirror. 

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Thanks Jerry and Ben

Mountain HIking

Hello Everyone!

I have decided to share some of my hiking wisdom on the blog as the first step in writing my hiking book.  I figured if I listed all my tips on the blog then it would be a piece of cake to write the book.

Our goal today was to head up to Gum-Ja-Wac saddle then off another trail to get a nice view of Mt. Hood.

Along the way up there were many times to stop and smell the flowers.

Along the trail the sun peeked out.  The trail was definitely uphill but with only a little bit of sun it was bearable. 

After we made it to the top of the saddle (our midway point going up) I came across this old informational sign.  Hmm, looks like Jack was Canadian.  Sandy, do you know of him? 

After resting and getting some water we continued up to the next stop on our hike (lunch).  

Sequoia ate his lunch fast and then explored the rocks while everyone else ate and enjoyed the view.

On top of the ridge Mt. Hood was beary clear and easy to see.

As we made our way down the ridge the Beargrass was blooming.  The flower is soft but the stalks are kind of spiky.

 Before we got off the sunny ridge onto the shaded trail I had to stop and smell some Lupine.  There weren’t massive fields of Lupine like I wanted but there were a few young ones out.  If I can come back in a few weeks I might see more Lupine.  **Note; remind sekrebearies to schedule another hike to the area**

  

Little Fox’s Hiking Tip #1.  Invest in a good backpack.  A good backpack makes carrying treats, snacks, and little foxes beary comfortable.

A plan to escape the heat....

The weather has been unbearably hot recently; in the lower 90s recently so we hoped that a day trip to the mountain (Mt. Hood) would help us cool down.

After Foxglove one of my favorite wildflowers was in bloom, Beargrass.  If you haven’t seen Beargrass before it’s a grass that grows pretty high and even though it looks prickly it’s flowers are beary soft. 

The big groves of Beargrass were near the trailhead and as we continued on the trail we came across this bridge.  The snowpack has been low this year so the creek wasn’t the rushing river it can be but it doesn’t really matter because of the sturdy bridge.

Mt. Hood decided to peak out from behind the trees. 

Hmm, this trail seems to continue on and upward.  I wonder what we will find around the next corner?

 Lupine!  Lupine is starting to come out.  Sequoia enjoys the smell of Lupine, I wonder if I can get some seeds from the garden store and plant some at our house?

This marker indicates we have reached out junction.  To the left we eventually get to Timberline Lodge (and maybe have a big glass of lemonade) and to the right we can go to Cloud Cap Inn and relax on the porch.  Either option is good for me.  My roommates say it’s too far to hike to either of those places (plus you can drive there anyway) so we are going to have lunch.

No pictures of lunch but it was much better than before.  PB and J, trail mix, string cheese, chips, and a pasta salad.  On our way down we saw just one Indian Paintbrush.

Our original plan was to escape the heat.  Did we do that you ask?  No, it was just as hot on Mt. Hood as it was in town but that’s OK.

Memorial Day parts two and three

Let’s see, oh yes I left off talking about lunch.  We did get a nice lunch of pork nachos and Sequoia got a little jealous of all of us eating and had to get this picture taken at the restaurant.

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After the hike we went to work on our brewery passport program.  We visited another brewery, got our stamps and our prizes (t-shirts this time).  Also saw this interesting animal and this cool painting of a wolf sharing a campfire.  My roommate thought the guy on the right looked like a young and thinner Kenny Rogers.  What do you think blog pals?

...Day Two...

Day two was just as busy as day one.  Again, we started with a river hike (you can thank the fishing bear for the suggestion).

Off we went back to the Deschutes River.  Our goal was Dillon Falls about five miles downstream.  

If you look hard toward the back you can see Lava Is

 Lava Island was our first big landmark.  It was an island of lava (creative naming eh?). 

The water was rushing in some places and calm in others.  

 The river trail eventually led us to Dillon Falls.  All along the river we saw kayakers and white water rafters but interestingly we didn’t see anyone try navigating the falls. 

Dillon Falls was our destination and also our lunch spot.   What?  Only a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?  What no chips?  No trail mix? No cheese?  I am going to have a serious talk with the chef of the house and make sure this injustice gets fixed.

Day three was just as busy as day one and two.  Sadly, we had to leave and start heading back home.  On the positive side we had a nice waterfall hike planned for midway home.  This hike, Shelburg Falls, is a new one for us.  I have to admit I am a sucker for foxglove (go figure?) and the foxglove is starting to bloom.  As you can see the invasive scotch broom is blooming too.

 

After a short jaunt up a hill through an open range we reached Shelburg Falls.  I decided to relax a little and enjoy the view.

We reached the falls pretty early in the hike and since it was sunny my roommates decided to continue on with the hike.  As you can see the sun is shining through the trail.  Aah what a relaxing weekend although I must admit I am tired and need a good nights rest.  Happy Memorial Day! 

Happy Memorial Day!

I was lucky to celebrate this Memorial Day with a surprise road trip provided by my roommates and Sequoia. 

At our lodging I had the chance to meet a local.  This bear was beary intent of telling me all of the good places to hike.  Interestingly most of the places to go hiking involved being around water (I guess that’s what happens when you take advice from a bear in fishing gear).

Our first stop was at Newberry Crater.  6,200 years ago this mountain decided to erupt and a sea of lava spilled out.  

 

Lava everywhere.

 It was pretty interesting walking around.  There were some potential for great views but the sky was a little cloudy and covering all of the mountains.  

Apparently, it’s difficult for plants to grow in lava something to do with the soil (or lack of soil) I fathom.  There were a couple of sparse plants in the lava flow area and a few are even blooming. 

After exploring the lava flow we decided to take a short hike before lunch.  The Deschutes River flows right through town and there are some good hiking trails.  The sun started to come out and with the sun so did the people.

When is lunch?

A hike for a little fox.

Yesterday was all about Sequoia.  He got to participate in the doggie dash a walk/fundraiser for the Humane Society and pet food companies had all sorts of free samples for him to eat.  I tagged along but was placed in a less than desirable spot of the backpack and then was placed in the trunk of the car for the ride home. 

Today was more about me so that was good.  A long hike up a mountain was what was planned today.

This is a nice trail because it gives you lots of scenery to view before you reach the top. The first stop was Hardy Falls, it’s a nice small waterfall on the way up the mountain.

The wildflowers were out in full swing today.  

I wonder what kind of flower this is?

I should inspect it closer. 

As we climbed the views got better and better.

 I think this is Indian Paintbrush.  As you can see my roommates remembered my flag.  I conquer this plant for Stuffies everywhere.

Finally made it to the top of the mountain.  Time for lunch.  After lunch I got out the flag, found a good spot to plant it and now this mountain belongs to Stuffies.  

 So my stuffy friends, come on out and I will be happy to lead you on a tour of our mountain but as you can see it’s a little windy on top so be sure to bring a jacket.

Post Script:  My roommates really like this picture of Mt. Adams and the flowering trees in the foreground.  It’s OK, of course if I was in it then the picture would be spectacular.