Snow in the Cascades

Salt Creek just below Gold Lake

We went snow shoeing the day after Thanksgiving. A November storm had dropped two feet of new snow on the mountains the night before. Because it was the day of the annual Civil War football game - and a big shopping day too, I suppose, the Gold Lake snow park was nearly empty. We broke trail the whole way to Gold Lake. With no wind and a fresh cover of snow, the only sounds were our snow shoes and an occasional Gray Jay. Beautiful day, beautiful snow. Sure beats the mall!

Fog in the Valley

On the Ridgeline Trail in South Eugene

The fog is back. Typical of late November or early December, after some moist weather (we've had 8 inches of rain so far this month in Eugene), cool and relatively stagnant air will enter the valleys of the Pacific Northwest. In the southern end of the Willamette Valley, as it does in most of our enclosed basins and valleys, this usually leads to persistent fog. Today's does not burn off at all. Most days the sun will come out by afternoon. A quick hike from my home to the Ridgeline Trail, which straddles the south hills crest above Eugene, is enough to rise above the fog and obtain some much-needed sunlight. The next rain storm will push the fogs away and begin the cycle anew.

November Storms Arrive in the Pacific Northwest

Olympic Peninsula Forest During Brief Sun Break

Over the Veteran's Day weekend we travelled back to the Olympic Peninsula to stay at our place along the Bogachiel River. After seeing the river level as low as I've ever experienced it, back in October, we just missed seeing the highest water that anyone can recall. There was evidence of water up in the pasture in front of the house - 200 horizontal yards from the channel and about 15 to 20 vertical feet higher than it had been last month. Amazing. The river had dropped 6 to 8 inches of sediment along the upper terrace where the willows slowed the flow. There was evidence of further bank migration on the far side of the channel. Must have been quite a sight. We had a break in the rain Saturday morning which we took advantage of for a hike to Third Beach. We visited Rialto in the afternoon, but by then the rains had returned - accompanied by thunder and lightning. Very dramatic. I am in need of a trip to the east side of the mountains ... soon.

Trail to Third Beach Near La Push

Third Beach, Olympic National Park

November Hike - Lowder Mountain

No photos for this one. My brother and I hiked the Lowder Mountain and Quaking Aspen Swamp trails on Saturday, Nov 4. Weather forecast predicted heavy rains - they did not arrive, but it was warm and cloudy. We saw nobody after leaving the McKenzie Hwy to head up the South Fork to Cougar Reservoir and on up the East Fork to the Lowder Mtn trailhead. It had been perhaps 15 years since I had last been here. Very pleasant hike. West Cascades, dissected and heavily forested hills - 5,600 - 5,700' summits. Deep stream valleys - especially French Pete Creek valley. Nothing spectacular, but nice to get out for the day. The rains finally hit, but not until last night. Snows should come later this week once the "Pineapple Express" runs out of steam.

Link to map: http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=44.07167&lon=-122.12389&datum=nad27&u=4&layer=DRG&size=l&s=50