Author: Daniel Van Rossen

Posted on

Pittock by way of Balch Creek

A New Year morning walk to get the year going. This was a standard Ramble route that I have done many times so it felt like home. This trail gives good elevation gain but there is a lot of wild to enjoy on the route. The walk was about 6 miles in about 2 1/2 hours. I was on the trail at 7:30 am with very few folks around. By the time I was doing last section down Balch Creek the trail was loaded with folks. Lots of stopping and waiting for families to get by. A cold clear morning and a nice way to start a new year.

Posted on

Pfrime Brewery tastings

Pfrime is a very popular brewery and hard to get seating. We have tried several times to go after a hike and found the line just to long. This time we went so we were the first ones in the door so we were sure to get a seat. It also turned out to be a very stormy day so sampling beer was a better choose then getting soaked on a walk. We ended up getting two flights of tasters and we found the good, the bad and the really good (a barreled age brown). By time we left there was a line waiting to get in. A fun day to have before heading into Christmas.

Posted on

Graham Oaks – Tonquin Trail Walk

This was a very wet walk. I returned with Lori, Jeanette and Sylvia to show them the Graham Oaks Nature Park and Tonquin Trail that I had scouted a week earlier. This was also a chance to once again test our rain gear. We did a shorter route then I had done before because two hours in constant rain was enough.

After our walk we went to RAM Restaurant & Brewhouse for lunch.

Park entrance
Rain gear on
Someday a Savana again
Info on first settlers
Someday Oak Savana
Acorn Scalper
Trail Guide
Getting a wet Education
We stayed on the pavement
Someday more giant Oaks
Info on Oak Savana wildlife
Look across Park
Info on wildlife
A nice bird blind
Nice Pond and Shelter
Water Drainage in Action
Checking out playground
So many parks
We got as far as the goats
A new park to explore
Hanging in the shelter
Lots of parks and green space
A European street look
Almost to the Car
Cell Phone Research
A nice Porter
Taco Salad
Mac & Cheese
Low Cal for Lori
Posted on

Graham Oaks Nature Park Walk

An Exploratory walk of Graham Oaks Nature Park and the Northern part of the Tonquin Trail and South to Arrow Creek Park. I covered 7 3/4 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes. Started out freezing cold but warmed up by the time I finished. This is the land of the labradoodle.

Parking Lot