Hamilton Mountain Hike, Washington

This was a pretty awesome hike to begin with. Why ? Because this was going to be the longest i've ever walked. It was a 7.5 mile loop, of which the first 3.2 miles gained 2100 ft to the summit of Hamilton Mountain. [2438 ft].

It all began with a screeching alarm breaking my Sunday morning sleep. I could barely get "hmmms" and "ahmmms" answering my friend's phone call. I'll get ready dude, but just let me sleep for now ! My body probably already burnt 200 calories trying to get out of bed. And then there was this hike.

The drive to Beacon State Park was a mere 1.5 hours. It is in Washington state on the other side of the Columbia river.  The views were going to be the same as Angel's Rest i thought. Columbia river, greenery and some snowy mountain tops. After paying the $10 parking fee, we began climbing at 10am.

The trail greeted us with a steady climb. Felt like i was on a treadmill. Just that the view was way better in comparison. Twisting and climbing, the trail cut through the forest as the Columbia river kept appearing intermittently. At about 0.6 miles, we reach the soothing Hardy Falls. The marshy climb down to the falls was a bit on the rough side. It was slippery and collected enough sticky mud on the shoes. Wiping it off we continued,   this was going to be a long trail.

The trail has a fork at about a mile, where we chose to travel the "more difficult" route to the summit. It turned out to be a very good choice for the awesome views ! Yes, i didn't get fed up of the Columbia river at all ! As we climbed, the view became more breath-taking by the minute. It was so much fun i thought ! Bright sunshine shimmering on the waters of the Columbia, gushing waters of the Bonneville Dam, tall robust cliffs and the greenery ! What a beauty :)

Several short breaks and 3 hours later we reached the summit. Mt. Adams immediately caught my eye. A flat, wide snowy incline, it almost resembled a piece of chocolate. Table mountain was soaring a couple thousand feet above us. To the right, was the same view we had been seeing all along the trail. But just that on this occasion, they seemed better than ever. Sweet smell of sweat and the feeling of climbing a mountain (however small/short it may be) added to the glory of the scenery before us.

A couple granola bars and water sips later, we began the descent. And mind you, this for me, was the hardest part of the journey. Since this was a loop, the return path was supposed to be different. It was stony, stony and just more stony. Several stones of different shapes and sizes constantly jerked the knees and shin as we tried to control our downward pace. About an hour later we joined in with the original trail. This time we took a small diversion to see the 'Pool of the Winds'. A ton of water, constantly falling 50 feet, in a rocky room with open doors, created a rainbow, gushing sound and a spectacular scene. A mere presence at the sight can recharge a person. After all, what better than nature can heal us ?

Overall an awesome hike. The scenic views and short enough drive time make this a must visit for anyone in Portland, Oregon.

Hiking: Mirror Lake Trail, Mt Hood

Alright, so this one was completely unplanned, undecided and the best so far ! Mirror Lake boasts the reflection of Oregon's highest peak, Mt Hood. The trial is barely a 3 mile journey with a modest elevation of 780 feet. Not much,i thought. The highest point of the trail is at 4100 feet from where you can see Mt Hood and enjoy the serene waters of Mirror Lake.

But, since we came here in late April, everything was covered with snow. Pardon me, ice ! The trail was slippery and at times too narrow for comfort !

Armed with wooden sticks and a hesitant attitude we survived the first half a mile or so. But then the trail seemed to disappear ! We couldn't figure out a way to proceed until a fellow Taiwanese hiker pointed us to the right way. He was of course carrying a GPS, hiking poles, wearing cramp ons and a backpack filled with stuff for survival. And yes, we were as usual half as prepared.

The key to walking on such a surface was to follow the footsteps of previous hikers, avoid glossy surfaces and take one step at a time. Some paths were so narrow, walking a couple of feet took ages. The climb probably lasted an hour and we reached the Mirror Lake to find it completely frozen ! The view was comforting and nothing short of breathless !

Walking on the lake was a bit scary. It didnt seem like a designated trail. As we walked and created footprints, the bluish ice sent chills down the spine ! A photo session later we began the descend. It was tricky and we took some time at specific points.

The feeling upon reaching back was a mixed bag of satisfaction and hunger {for food!}.

Hiking: Angel's Rest, Columbia Gorge

Well, i know we had decided to get up early in the morning and go for hikes. That resolution went down the drain a little too soon ! Never mind, i'll make another one :).

So this was a fine saturday afternoon and we decided to hike the Angel's Rest near Multnomah Falls at the very scenic Columbia Gorge. The drive is as beautiful as the destination once you leave behind the city traffic. Speed limits increase, winds get a little chilly and the beautiful Mt. Hood is a pleasure to the eyes. The hike is listed as "moderate" with a 2.3 mile climb to an elevation of 1450 feet. Of course the downward 2.3 mile journey is pretty easy.

The journey began after we found a rather "off the road" parking spot. Yes, the place was filled with people and their dogs. The trail was muddy, soggy and slightly slippery. As usual, tall green trees filtered the sunshine creating a nice ambiance. A beautiful waterfall added rhythm to our initial ascent. The climb simulated a cardio session that was interspersed with breaks for water.

After about 50 to 60 minutes, the trail is full of stones and grassy bushes. The view of the Columbia river is simply put "majestic".

I saw a couple of people just hanging out here and thought this to be the end of the climb. But upon asking realized that there were a few more steps to go. Marching forward i couldn't really figure out where this trail is going to end. There were rocks of all shapes and sizes blocking the view ahead. Only after a pretty lady told me that a few more steps would lead to a better view did i take the effort to do so !!

And she was so true. The entire stretch of the Columbia Gorge was now before me. On the other side of the river were snowy mountains and grassy plateaus. Time spent up there was totally worth it ! After the usual photo session, granola bar chewing ceremony and some sips of water, we began the descent. In about 45 mins we were back to our car.

Since Multnomah Falls and the Vista View Point were within driving distance, we had to visit them. Multnomah was charming as ever but with plenty more water as commented by an experienced fellow visitor. The sunset at Vista Point got the day to a logical conclusion. Nature's Bliss !

Hiking: Drift Creek Falls, Oregon

It was a sunny Sunday and the plan was to start asap, i.e. the 8am goal stretched itself to 9.30am. The drive was a bit too long, but then since i was a mere passenger, the irritation was some what reduced. But still. Couldn't wait to reach this place.

The hike was about 3 miles. Ya, what a joke ! i thought so too ! But then it was a good one to begin the season. Tall trees, dense greenery and a muddy trail. Lucky it was not my car that would have to bear all these mud stains later ! The trail alternates between descending and being flat. Several small bridges help us cross the little stream. The typical moss growing on trees reminded me of an alien planet from some movie i had seen. Well i see so many crappy movies that my mind plays these tricks quite easily !

The trail culminates in a long suspension bridge that overlooks the "Drift Creek Falls". Those rocks were strong and mean contrasting the sympathetic greenery. From the bridge the trail goes downward to the very base of the falls. A couple with a couple of kids and about 4 (was it 4 or 5 ?) dogs gave us company at the cold water banks. We ate some granola bars hoping that the dogs wouldn't pounce for it ! But they were quite well behaved.

If the trail takes you down, you hike back up. The return path was a steady climb. Not too tiring and the slew of people walking kept us company. A slight detour on a trail called the "Northern Loop" helped burn some extra calories.

All in all, nice !