BJC

Photo Credit: B.C.

The Trek

Exciting banter;
Electrifying encounter;
Gorgeous greens;
Rapid ascent;
Foggy summit;
Sudden fall;
Mighty rivers;
Deep canyons;
Total darkness.
...
Peaceful meadows;
Rolling hills;
Daring attempt;
Swift climb;
Highest peaks;
Glorious sunshine;
Rocky descent;
Slippery ice;

Cliff.

Thunder.

Rain.

Exhausted exhale...
Abandoned trail.

Indelible journey.

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Happy Birthday
wishing you peace, love and joy
today and always
xo ❤ ;;;

White River Canyon Moonlight Snowshoe

Well... the "moonlight" part didn't happen but the "snowshoe" did - my first snowshoe of the season. White River Canyon is a great area to see Mt. Hood up close and personal but there was no mountain in sight on this cold and snowy night. We had to use our headlamps instead of the moon. It was dark. As a result, I didn't take many pictures but of course had to take my boot shot... standing up. I was sitting... and I admit... lying... in the snow on a few occasions but certainly not on purpose and definitely not to take a photo! haha I had a great time - snowshoeing is one of my favorite winter activities - and can't wait to go again! View or not, it's always beautiful in the mountains. 😊

After nearly three years of hiking, snowshoeing and winter camping with painful, frozen fingers (and spending far too much money trying to solve that situation), I finally found the perfect gloves! Sealskinz Women's Sub Zero Gloves. These are awesome!

Tom Dick and Harry Mountain - Take Two

I just hiked up this mountain last Saturday and liked it so much I knew I would be on it again... I just didn't know it would be so soon! 😁

This week we were blessed with four beautiful days in between all of the rain. I saw the sunshine in the forecast and decided to schedule a day off to climb this on my own and I'm so very happy I did!

On Saturday we didn't have a view of Mirror Lake or Mt. Hood... but I certainly did today!

Today's view at the top  :)

Saturday's view at the top

Today was beautiful, clear and COLD! Much colder than Saturday. In fact, it was 28 degrees and very windy. I had to wear my down jacket the entire time along with my down gloves. I carried my snowshoes on my heavy backpack (I loaded up on the gear... just in case something happened) but didn't have to use them. I did however have to use the micro-spikes/Yaktrax the entire hike. In fact I couldn't even walk from my vehicle to the trailhead without them because of the ice.

I was able to stop and take a lot more photos today too.  I enjoyed myself immensely! ❤☺

This picture made me go get a haircut! ;)

Tom Dick and Harry Mountain Hike

The view from the top of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain on this cold and snowy day!

Even without a clear view of what was out there in the distance - Mt. Hood and Mirror Lake - it was beautiful! This was my first time to hike this popular trail and I really liked it. It’s one that could safely and easily be done alone... something I’m always looking for. This was my first snow hike of the season. Snowshoes weren’t needed but micro-spikes were used on the way down. According to my Garmin, the hike was 7.32 miles with a total elevation gain of 1,591 feet.

I went with a Mazamas group of nine and didn't know any of them. I’m not used to hiking with groups anymore so that was a bit of a challenge for me. Because I don’t hear well, I’m not a talker on the trail unless we stop to have a conversation. In any setting, groups of people talking is just “noise” to me because I can’t understand what is being said. I have to focus on an individual to hear them. Needless to say, there was plenty of “noise” on this hike. I enjoyed it but I truly missed the silence. I also missed being able to stop whenever I wanted and take pictures but I was able to snag a few. It was a different experience but a good one and I was happy for the opportunity to check out this trail.

I will definitely go hike this one again. Hopefully I can venture out there on a clear day too!

Happy trails! ❤

Timberline Trail - Mt. Hood

Today Lidia and I went hiking near Mt. Hood on the Timberline Trail - one of my favorites! There hasn’t been a lot of snow yet so this trail was still available to us and the many other hikers out enjoying the beautiful day. We knew we wouldn’t make it all the way up to McNeil Point but we wanted to go as far as we safely could. We weren’t carrying snow traction for our boots – and I darn sure won’t be leaving those behind again! What an awesome day!!

I love getting out on a trail early because of the solitude. The silence is very peaceful and the early morning sun coming through the trees… stunning. There was a huge layer of fog over the forest that kept the temperatures down near freezing. It was COLD but the view was worth every shiver, cold finger and slippery step.

Once above the fog line, the sun was bright, beautiful and warm. We sat to eat our lunch and watch the fog moving over the surrounding hills. After admiring the breathtaking scenery and feeling the warmth of the sunshine, we hiked back into the forest and over to Bald Mountain. We were able to stand in an area where the fog was swiftly moving right over the top of us... like we were behind a waterfall. Very cool.

It was another great day to be alive in the mountains! Beauty, peace and a great friendship…. I’m truly blessed.

Pictures galore...