A Friday Morning Hike up Mt Pisgah

Looking southeast toward Pleasant Hill from the slopes of Pisgah

Although it was supposed to be a rainy day, I went for a hike with a friend up Mt Pisgah, just southeast of Eugene. I've hiked this small peak many times, but always from the popular west side trailhead. Today we headed for the eastside trailhead. While a bit muddy and in bad repair, this trail was more interesting and certainly less crowded than the other side, it was also much quieter since the hill was between Interstate 5 and us. We managed to stay dry the whole way up and most of the way down, but the rains came and, along with them, a chorus of Pacific tree frogs. A lovely walk in the rain.

A Day Trip to Portland

Portland skyline from the Willamette River

We spent Presidents Day in Portland. It is always nice to get out of Eugene and experience a little bit of urbanity. Portland downtown is one of my favorites. We strolled along part of the new Eastside Esplanade next to the Willamette River. Though Portland lacks Seattle's dramatic sound and mountain setting, it has done more with what it does have than Seattle. A very pleasant day.

Some of Portland's many bridges

West Eugene Wetlands

The Amazon Creek channel, West Eugene wetlands

We're spending a long weekend at home. Since I am not working Fridays and have three day weekends every week the holiday weekends are no longer the critical "get out of town at all cost" events. It is nice being able to relax at home a bit. Though I crave camping and exploring right now, especially with the beautiful weather we're having. We did manage a quick walk in the West Eugene wetlands. The scenery is not much to look at, initially, but the area quickly reveals itself as a haven for wetland bird species and it does possess a certain charm as a wide open space on the edge of the sprawl.

Let it snow!!

A view of the Deschutes River

We spent a three-day weekend over in the La Pine area. William had Friday off from school and we had booked a state park cabin back in the fall so we headed east on Thursday afternoon. Little did we know that we'd hit central Oregon on the best snow weekend of the year (so far). It was wonderful to sit in the cabin and watch the snow come down all day long. Skiing at Mt Bachelor was good too. We also stopped at Willamette Pass on the way home for a couple hours of "Super Bowl Sunday" skiing. They had just recorded 20 inches of new over night. Good stuff. We'll be back.

Sunday morning, fresh snow

Ponderosa Pine, my favorite kind of tree