Uphill both ways-

BLUFF MOUNTAIN TRAIL- LITTLE BALDY

8.4mi, 1600 feet elevation gain

Silver Star Roadless Area, Washington

Hands down, one of the best local hiking areas for experiencing wildflowers is Silver Star. Ah, Silver Star.

Even though we haven’t had much of a winter (or any, really, at all), it still is not yet the season for wildflowers. But Silver Star has many, many charms. So, while today isn’t about flowers (yet), it is about introducing a good friend to the wide open beauty that is Silver Star in the shoulder season. The sky is bright and the sun warm (which leaves us alternating between sweating in the sun and putting on puffies in the shade, where ice still lingers on the trail). Today is about the juxtaposition of a landscape poised between its winter and summer selves. Today is about just getting out, feeling the sun and the wind and being under open sky. 

Hood from the Bluff Mountain trail

With J.B. it’s always a late start…the benefit to late starts is experiencing that coveted, late afternoon light. She’s going to be my go to, sunset hiking buddy come summer.

En route to Silver Star I find myself, as I always am, mildly amused by Silver Star’s official name- the Silver Star Roadless Area. The entire area is littered and scarred by old, abandoned jeep roads, and the roads leading to the trailheads aren’t in much better shape. Sometimes it feels like an off road adventure to the trailhead. It’s worth it though. 

homemade trail marker

And today is no exception. We are treated to views of Helens, Adams and Hood, lingering winter colors and a wide open landscape on our trek to Little Baldy. A little-too-late of a start and evening plans in Portland nixes plans to get to Little Baldy’s summit, but it doesn’t matter. We see one other person briefly, on their way back and no other souls all day. Just us and the pups. 

Shenzi nose. Aw, the luv...

The Bluff Mountain trail is a fantastic, lofty ridge walk, and it is possible to follow it past Little Baldy to Silver Star’s summit. I suspect that the best part of the walk opens up here. Stretched out in the sun, enjoying a snack, J.B. and I make future plans for a long, 12+ mile day here this summer amid the flower bloom. 

Summer plans: another two miles to Silver Star's summit from Little Baldy

Making our way back, we traverse one sketchy/almost-washed out section of trail, admiring views of Helens in the distance and commenting how this trail is truly uphill both directions. Initially an old road, the Bluff Mountain trail converts to true trail somewhere around two miles in, then drops into a traverse of a wide open bowl before resuming its climb towards Little Baldy. 

J.B. winding along the cliffs

Like I said, uphill both ways. 

  

Explorations

Silver Star summit pano- the mountains are hiding today

Hardy Ridge & Phlox Point

May has been a good month. Portland and the surrounding area are suddenly exploding with it's-almost-summer! sentiment: warmer days, longer daylight, and a recently doubled population as every human and dog in the metro area is outside taking advantage of the glorious weather. In the Cascades the high country is beginning to melt out, and I'm finding myself stir crazy for alpine trails not yet accessible. In my lust for new found trails, I've gotten a little off course sometimes during my explorations, but always in good company and good spirits.

Silver Star was one of those "oops" moments: I managed to turn around both myself and my hiking companions one day by unintentionally hiking the Larch Mountain trail instead. In my defense, there's nothing even remotely approaching signage, and the Yacolt Burn Area is a confusing tangle of old jeep roads. Having never tackled Silver Star from the Grouse Vista TH (both hikes start from the same trailhead), it's kinda easy to see how I might get confused {<= well, no, not really, especially if I had actually *read* the trail description. Oh well. Win some, lose some}.

It was not a memorable hike, but the day was redeemed by the lure of Happy Hour and hamburgers back in Portland and an impromptu layover hike in Lacamas Park. I'm not the biggest fan of city hiking, but as Marut (my one time park ranger turned amazing nurse friend) pointed out, city parks allow us easy access to nature and hiking that might not otherwise be there for some people. Touche.

And Lacamas is actually really charming. I could see it becoming a nice winter stomping ground.

sun-filtered trees in Lacamas Park

Later that week I re-tackled Silver Star from the Grouse Vista TH. I can see why it is reviewed as the least scenic approach to the area; that said, it is also only 35 road miles from my house which is akin to a quick Gorge hike. Huzzah.

And the flowers...they are trying really, really hard to make a comeback after winter hibernation. In another month, the entire area is going to be a color explosion. 

pink trilliums along the trail

avalanche lily

wild iris :)

Didn't feel warm at the summit though. 

What May looks like at 4400 feet

Iron Pug the sequel

In the using-our-arms-instead-of-feet category of transportation, Andy and I are continuing to take the kayaks out for short spins, testing our water wings. We've been sticking close to home mostly because we're still getting ourselves outfitted to a) drive the boats longer distances and b) participate in potentially hypothermic water conditions.

the day started out cool and cloudy, finished warm & sunny. Welcome to the PNW

the winter hat came off later, I swear

Elk Rock Island landing

like I said, one of us always screws up the picture

Lake Oswego in the distance from Elk Rock Island

happiness

On the kind of day made for sunscreen, J.B. and I hauled the dogs up Hardy Ridge & Phlox Point, a Gorge "summit" a stone's throw away from my good ol' friend Hamilton. 

Phlox Point is really...phloxy.

Hamilton Mountain looks tiny from Hardy Ridge

Phloxy

Table Mountain from Hardy Ridge

more phloxy-ness

A promising start to the summer. I *might* even get a slight tan this year. 

All smiles on Hardy Ridge

The Hills Are Alive

ED'S TRAIL

Silver Star Scenic Area, Washington

~5.5 miles, 1440 elevation gain 

Mount Saint Helens from the Chinook trail

Meadows as far as the eye can see and flowers galore, running rampant along the slopes. Sound of Music stuff. Butterflies. Indian paintbrush, lupine, beargrass, tiger lily, wild iris, spirea, wallflowers and countless others I cannot name. Sprawling views. A return to Silver Star.

Saturday morning. The last minute cancellation of previously scheduled family activities leaves the day wide open. Rather than un-cancel the previously cancelled plans with the other individuals I had already cancelled on, Andy and I decided to tackle the day together in exploration (my favorite hiking partner to enjoy the remains of summer with).

A few weeks ago, a new adventure buddy introduced me to the Silver Star scenic area in Washington. From atop Little Baldy’s crumbling summit and across a small valley, she pointed out the ridge top Ed’s trail, traversing its narrow, winding way towards Silver Star’s 4390 foot summit, amid lush green meadows and unique rock formations. 

We went there.

Road 4190 presented one interesting berm/wash to cross, and even my Subaru had mild issues with it. I am now well-acquainted with the smell of toasted rubber. Thank goodness the trail that is Ed's is in better shape than the road leading up to it. 

Ed's trail

Like the Bluff Mountain trail, Ed’s trail stays high among the countless flowers and tree-less ridge walks so characteristic of the Yacolt Burn area. About a half mile from the trailhead, the trail begins to traverse a steep hillside as it overlooks an open valley, and the expected eye-candy views abound. One portion of trail, just beyond the rock arch, requires the use of hands to scramble up the slope, including the use of a stout and well-positioned tree root, also known as "vegetable belay". 

rock arch on Ed's trail

trail? trail.

I do not particularly care for this kind of stuff. Sections of trail like this cause my vertigo to kick in with a vengeance, like a team of draft horses stomping on a whining puppy. Still, it's good to challenge oneself, and I’d rather climb up than down, so up it was. Prior to the rock arch, if one watches carefully, a side path jumps off from Ed's trail to join the Chinook Trail; an old jeep trail, the Chinook trail is much less narrow, and it parallels Ed’s trail on the opposite side of the ridge, eventually hooking up with the beginning of the hike. If conditions were wet or if one has small children, a better option might be to take the Chinook trail to Silver Star’s summit.

Silver Star from Ed's trail

Once atop our actual goal, we lingered, watching the clouds dance around in unseen wind patterns while Mount Hood played peek-a-boo with our cameras. Taking a relaxed pace out, we followed the Chinook trail through yet more meadows, Helens and Rainier as our constant companions. 

watching the clouds play

These are the reasons I live here. 

Ah. Summer...

LITTLE BALDY VIA BLUFF MOUNTAIN TRAIL

Silver Star Scenic Area, Washington

8.4 miles, 1600 elevation gain

...has finally arrived. Although it took its sweet time coming up to the Pacific Northwest, our long, consistently warm and sunny days finally appear to have begun en force. And July has started off brilliantly.  

I'm revisiting old haunts and exploring some new places with some new people and one of the coolest little trail dogs, ever.

meet Oscar

Thank you, Allison.

North of Portland, sprawled across the landscape east of Battle Ground, Washington, lies an area known as the Silver Star Scenic Area. Torched by the Yacolt Burn of 1902, natural reforestation has never regained much of a foothold in these hills. As such, the area is characterized by incredible, lofty views all around and some fascinating, wildflower-filled ridge walks. Trailheads are reached via crappy forest service roads (potholes seem to be this month's theme), and deer that like to play games of 'Chicken' with your car.

Helens, Rainier & Adams from Little Baldy

I suspect Allison nearly choked when I told her I had never visited the Silver Star area, and my ignorance sealed the deal for Saturday's hike. She directed me to the Bluff Mountain Trail in a quest to climb a crumbly, scree-sloped old summit known as Little Baldy.

Little Baldy from Bluff Mountain trail

The trail stays high and follows an old jeep track before spitting you out onto something resembling true trail at around 2 miles. The wildflowers were profuse; I have never seen such a gathering of Indian paintbrush. Beargrass was prolific but currently not in its blooming cycle. I imagine when it is, these meadows are beyond breathtaking.

The next few miles traverse under a cliff face, cross a few, wee seasonal streams and deliver the predictably lovely views of Mount Hood, Mount Adams and Mount Saint Helens.

Upon rounding the side of Little Baldy, we began looking for a way up top. Silver Star Mountain sat before us, another two-ish miles away. I determined I'll be heading over there, soon.

Allison & Oscar, trail detectives

Here, my new hiking companion went bionic on me (damn, that woman can hike), and I met her on the summit of Little Baldy, 3940 feet, in my own good time. We were kept company by bees, ants, penstemon flowers, views, a cool breeze, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and a most excellent batch of homemade oatmeal raisin cookies. Score.

going bionic

Silver Star from Little Baldy