Suddenly it is mid-March, and winter is all but flown past. I have been skiing more, for which I am thankful (and enjoying immensely), but skiing has always been more about speed and entertainment than balancing the inner spaces of self.
I find I am missing
the Gorge and the stormy, wild character it exudes in the deep of the winter
months. I love what I do but, ever since I started, work has been about long
hours that are (as I suspected they would) beginning to kick the emotional
stuffing out of me. Since childhood, hours lost in the woods have been about
self-care, about quiet, repose and reworking the jigsaw puzzle pieces I become
when I'm too stressed. Time for a hike.
The weather forecast was a gamble, which we lost. It was a
soggy five miles spent hunting imaginary leprechauns in the vibrant green of
the Gorge, lost among the mosses and ferns along the trail.
But beautiful. It never ceases to amaze me how a landscape
so close to civilization can feel so untamed. Our breath was visible in the
air, the scent of the rain clean and poised between deep winter and spring. The
cusp seasons have begun.
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| beautiful Herman Creek |
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| hunting leprechauns |
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| Pacific Crest falls |
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon
~5 miles, ~1000 feet elevation gain
4 comments:
Beautiful photos!
Thank you, Mary! I have to say, I really enjoy wandering around your blog- it's an area of Oregon I haven't had a chance to explore, and it seems absolutely lovely.
Is this a pretty safe hike with a dog? Like no steep cliff drop offs or anything?
Sorry, Lisa! I just saw your question.
I would say yes, it's a pretty safe hike for dogs. My experience with the gorge is that on every trail, at some point, you will encounter a drop off. It's simply the nature of the gorge. :) From my perspective, though, this particular hike doesn't have any of significance.
A link to Portland Hikers trail description: http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Herman_Creek_Pinnacles_Hike
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