Labor Day Barbeque -- Sept 5, 2011

Nice day with 3 generations of Wilson's & Angie and Lynne.

Head Chef

Lots of focus on that salmon.

Grandpa

Ape Canyon Trail -- Sept 4, 2011

Beautiful day hike at Mount St. Helens on the Labor Day weekend. Hiked up to the Loowit Trail along a old growth covered ridge via the Ape Canyon Trail. Was a long day and made it to the Plains of Abraham. 1300' elevation gain, 10.6 roundtrip to Loowit Trail junction and then another mile or so to the south end of the Plains of Abraham.

Views along the way on the Ape Canyon Trail

Nice old growth forest along the ridge

Nearing the Loowit Trail junction, bit of a traverse.

We made it - Loowit Trail. Loowit circumnavigates Mt St. Helens.
I did the circumnavigation 10 or so years ago.

Meadow on the edge of the Plains of Abraham

Plains of Abraham, looking north

Plains of Abraham, looking east. I camped in this area on my circumnavigation

Looking back towards the ridge we hiked up.

Phenomenal Indian Paintbrush - we timed our visit so well.

Wickiup Plain -- August 21, 2011

Nice hike on a hot August day. Pretty much a 'no' elevation gain hike on a giant plain in the Three Sisters Wilderness. One of my favorite hikes, not in the forests of the NW and great views.

Hot day and no shade - will Lynne make it to the tree island? Will Roddy?

South Sister

The Wife, we climbed it a few years ago - too dang hot today.

Black Crater Trail -- Aug 20, 2011

Scenic hike in Central Oregon. 7.6 miles roundtrip, Elevation Low: 4900, Elevation High: 7251.
 

Summit Shot - Echo

Roddy and Lynne summit

Three Finger Jack in the distance

Heading back down, Three Sisters in the background

Beagle Palooza -- Aug 13, 2011

Nice event just for Beagles, here in the Portland area. Chicken BBQ for the humans. Longest ears competition for the dogs along with bobbing for hot dogs and a watermelon eating contest. Roddy won the longest ears competition, he got a medal and I got a fancy T-shirt. Echo entered the watermelon eating contest, finished third -seems he fumbled one of the bites, maybe next year.

Here is the video:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYK_vrE5wIM

                                         

Loot from the raffle

Entering the event

Badger Creek Wilderness -- July 31, 2011

Great day for a Sunday Hike. Fairly long hike on a poorly maintained trail, lots of blow down and overgrown with brush. Bit tedious but overall a great day. Hike is on a ridge just east of Mt Hood. Up the Gumjuwac Trail and then down in to the Badger Creek Wilderness.

Grandma's Garden

Stopped to visit Grandma on a Saturday morning. I took this photo of a special flower for her, can't say that the photo does it justice.