Lori, Marilyn and I were going to do a snowshoe up the White River on Mt. Hood but once we got there we found we could just hike it with micro spikes. Nice sunny day. About 3.5 miles. Afterward we went to Smokey Hearth for lunch.
It was a busy dat at White River Snow park
Lot of folk here for easy sledding
We begin heading up the canyon.
Looking down to the bridge
Mt. Hood was attacking a cloud
Multiple streams cut through the snow
Snow was packed hard so we used micro spikes
View back to the Parking lot.
Not a very deep snow pack so trees are showing
Heading up White River Canyon
Snow textured
Looking up to Mt. Hood with a cloud.
On the trail to the view point
Mt. Hood from our turn around view point
View as we were heading back
Heading down to join the crowd and back to the car
Lori and I did a walk along the Scappoose Dike. The forecast had for some sun breaks but all we got was fog, clouds and cold temps. We just did the standard down and back and then went to Ichabod’s Restaurant for lunch.
I had a section of Portland Metro area I had not explored before. This South West area contains two public area I needed to check out. With dry weather returning I went to explore Cooper Mt. Nature Park and Jenkins Estate. Now the unexpected was the forecast called for clouds and some sun but what I got was heavy fog. So no scenic views today. I did a three mile loop at Cooper Mt. and two plus mile loop at Jenkins Estate.
Cooper Mt. Nature Park Walk
Entry sign. It turn out is was part of Metro
Playground with nature center behind it.
Entry info board with map.
Starting on a wide smooth trail
They had the familiar Metro sign post a trail junctions
They had been doing thinning so it was very open under the trees
A place to site and enjoy the view
No view to day.
Trail entering into forested area
An area had been cleared and mulched
There is a prairie out there somewhere in the fog
They are bringing back the Oak Woodlands
Trail heading down to the low point
They are bringing back the meadows
The pond does not look to inviting right now
Heavy moss cover on some of the trees
Heading on my way back up
If there were birds you could listen to them
No view today from the view point
Sun was trying to come out but never made it.
A piece of art?
Jenkins Estate Walk
Jenkins Estate sign
Map of the trails and structures
I started off on the old entry road
Second growth understory
Trail through the woods
Spring green moss has already started
Can't remember the name of this tree
A trail junction. Not many signs
A flight of stairs to explore later
The upper trail passes by housing
The playground was busy.
The picnic area with horseshoe pits
One of the gardens
The original homestead became the Gate House
The Main House
They would have had a view until the trees grew up
Forecast had for one more day of nice weather before the rain returned so I wanted to get in one more hike. I tried doing Firelane One in Forest Park but the gate was close so I thought I would try it again. The parking lot and new start of the trail was put in a few years ago so it was nice to see what was done. The trail starts out steep but quickly changes into the service road for the power line. I added on some other trails to make a lollipop loop out of it. The first mile of the firelane has some great views and some great mud.
New parking lot at the start of Firelane 1.
It starts out steep but levels into a rollercoaster.
Quickly you get a view spot of the industrial area.
At some places the trail is just a little muddy
Some places the trail is pretty muddy.
Some places it is very muddy.
A nice view of the shipyards and Mt. St. Helens.
Looking over the industrial Portland to Mt. Hood.
The Firelane turns up hill and ends at Leif Erickson Dr.
I walked down Leaf Erikson to get to trails
I turned up hill on the Chestnut Trail
Chestnut follows a creek up a canyon
New moss is starting on the trees.
I turned on to Wildwood Trail
New bridge on the trail
From Wildwood I turned on to Nature Trail to start heading back
