Photoblog : Hikes on the weekends

I haven’t been around online as much as I usually used to be.  I am going to take the easiest way out and blame the Summer Vacation for it.  My children are home, which means if I spend more time on the puter, they will also learn the habit of being in front of the screen all the time instead of moving around and getting things done.  So  I am practicing what I want them to learn.  The weekdays have been full with playing, reading, going out on walks, riding their bikes, cooking, vegetating in the afternoons on the floor and practicing the art of doing NOTHING.  The weekends have the share of going to places…Last weekend we went hiking to one of our favorite hiking places, Beacon Rock, WA.  I have mentioned this place a few times on my blog. It’s a breathtaking place.   We climb up about 600 ft., about 1.2 miles in distance, an easy trail for most. At the summit we are about 850 ft. above sea level.  The air is fresh and views of the Columbia River Gorge, along the climb is gorgeous.  Here are a few pictures from our trip last Saturday.  Click on the pictures for the enlarged version.

 

The Rock Face from the Road below.

Mossy Rocks along the path. They looked untouched.

 

The view along the climb.

The walkway with switchbacks up the rock.

From the Top. The chipmunk at the edge looked like it wanted to take a leap, for Joy! ;)

A train necklace.

The Summit with Info...We came up here to read this?

Yesterday we went to a place we haven’t visited before- The Lost Lake, OR.  This is part of the Mount Hood National Forest area.  On the way there, it did take my husband a little longer than he estimated to get there and I prayed we weren’t Lost on the way to Lost lake, that would give irony a whole new meaning. It took us about 2 hours to get there with stops for breakfast and restrooms. When we got there, there were only three vehicles in the parking lot. So we were quite early. There is a resort in the area too if we plan an overnight stay.  We could fish at the lake or go boating. Motor Boats are not allowed(thank heavens! Someone had a working brain). We hiked along the perimeter of the lake. The weather was cold at around 45 F when we got there but as the day progressed it warmed up.  It took us about 1 ½ hours to hike the 3.2 miles around the lake with stops to take snaps and observe birds, trees, play with the newts along the shore and swamps. There were people who were fishing around the edges. We saw a couple return with three fish…one looked like a rainbow trout, they looked very satisfied.  Most of the Fir trees, really tall, making me very envious. There were a lot of rhododendrons, bear grass, snapdragons, lupine and other wildflower blooms.  We came to a picnic area afterwards, cooked lunch-instant noodles and chips, fruit medley and water. We then rented out a paddle boat and paddled out to the middle of the lake. The deepest part, being 167 feet. I was amazed at how the wind carries the voices from around the lake. And when it was quiet it was really quiet.  Mt Hood was visible through the clouds. There is a lot of snow there and it looked beautiful as it always does.  Here’s  pictures from the trip.

 

The lake

The path through forest around the lake.

The three of us waiting for the photographer.

Mount Hood wearing Cloud Clothes.

The Rough Skinned Newt, our children's newest friend.

The shore on the otherside.

Reflections in water

Bear Grass Blossoms

My Three Beloved Monkeys.

 

I liked both the trips. My husband acted on my advice from 15 years ago and informed me two days in advance. Guess it takes so long to train :P.  So I got things that I usually do on the weekends, done before the weekend got here.  I was at peace with nothing pending when I got back, so it was really relaxing and enjoyable.  There was no hurry, which makes my life nice.  At both these places we arrived early, before the hustle and bustle of too many people or the heat of the sun making it difficult to hike.   The Children most enjoyed playing with the newts at the waters edge, waiting for chipmunks to grab the nuts from them and the fact that trees are really TALL. They were sad to see certain areas of the mountains shaved off of trees. My children are tree huggers right now. I wonder if they will realize that the paper they love tearing up and drawing on, the desk they sit at, the house they live in, means the trees are being cut down. All in all, Enjoyable Hikes especially with Children at an age that dont cling.