Author: Daniel Van Rossen

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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.

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Visit to Vedanta

An exploration of The Vedanta Retreat. This Ashrama has been a spiritual site since the land was acquired by Vedanta Society of Portland in 1936. It is open to the general public but has rules that must be followed. It is a lovely quit setting for a peaceful walk but is also filled with 16 shrines and a number of meditation site. We went to see the shrines and to enjoy several view spot in the retreat.

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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).