Lori and I did an easy hike to Umbrella Falls and afterward went to Solera for beer and burrito.
By the numbers – 5 miles, 950 elevation gain and 4 plus hours on the trail.
Umbrella Falls Hike
Gnarl Ridge Hike
This was a hike up to Gnarl Ridge on Mt. Hood. I also went higher up to see a seasonal Tarn lake. It had been many years since I have been up there. I picked up a hiking buddy on trail who stayed with me until we parted company at the Timberline Trail, Gnarl Ridge trail junction. Only right at the end did she tell me she was a retired professor of geology from OSU. A missed opportunity.
The numbers: 12 miles, 3000 ft. total elevation gain, high point 7230 ft., time on trail 8 hrs. 45 min.
Barlow Butte Ridge Trail
I had not done this trail in a number of years and was interested to see what kind of shape it was in. I have done it a number of time and it had always been a little challenging but always a wonderful hike. As they say you can never go home again and so it was with this trail. I found the trail that ran the length of Barlow Butte Ridge is no more. I was able to still find parts of the trail about half way down the ridge but from there it would just be bushwhacking and I was not geared up for that. A said loss of a wonderful trail that I had enjoyed and taken friends to see.
The numbers – 6.8 miles, 2180 total elevation gain, 5 1/2 hours on the trail with a lot of that trying to find the trail, cutting limbs, climbing over log piles and a shot lunch break.
Mt. Hood Meadow more Scouting
I return to Mt. Hood Meadow to explore some new trails and fill in gaps in other trails. I went early, my usual, and found they did not open the main parking lot until 10 a.m., so it was back to the Umbrella Falls Trailhead. I wanted to finish off the Bear Grass trail and do a couple of easy new ones, Bear Grass Cut off trail and the Stadium Loop Trail. Then I would move on to something harder with the Medium Wizard Way trail and get into some higher alpine.
The numbers – hike was 11.6 miles long, 2720 elevation gain – toping out at 7300 ft. and 9 1/2 hrs. on the trail (setting a new record of 3:40 minutes of looking at the map, taking photographs and long visits with folks on the trail).
Mt. Hood Meadows Scouting Hike
Checking out new Trails that were build in the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort. It is a nice new trail system with well designed trails and many beautiful placed to see.
Hike was about 8 miles with 1800 ft. elevation gain
