What a strange year 2022 was for us from a hiking standpoint. We have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a “normal” year knowing that there will always be surprises and things that we haven’t experienced yet. This year was full of ups and downs, sometimes on the same day. We go into every year with an initial set of hikes planned out for the year knowing that by the end of the year changes will have been made, but this year may have seen the most changes to the initial plan in the 10 years we’ve been doing this. As is the case most years weather and wildfires caused the majority of the changes but in 2022 we were the cause several as well.
Our goal is to get out once a month from Jan through April and in both November and December while taking at least one hike a week from May through October. We had managed to hike a least once a month since February 2013 but the injury bug finally got one of us this year. Heather had to shut her hiking down at the end of September but did manage to get back out for the December hike. I kept to the schedule but instead of the planned hikes which would have been new to both of us I put some new twists on some old favorites. My end of the year numbers were 61 days hiking totaling just over 660 miles with a little more than 115,200′ of elevation gain. Heather’s numbers were 55 hikes, approximately 557 miles, and 97,450′ of elevation gain.
Once again we focused on hikes that were new to us (at least in part) so no day was an exact duplicate of one we’d done before. Union Creek Falls (post) was very close for me but I did manage to see one section of Union Creek that I hadn’t bushwhacked to on my first visit (post). Heather had not been with me that day due to an injury she’d sustained earlier in the day at Abbott Butte. While our Elk and Kings Mountain Loop (post) in May was a repeated hike we added a stop at Killin Wetlands to keep the day from being a repeat. Forty-four days were completely new trail for me while forty-five of Heather’s were new.
Another focus was our continuing quest to complete 100 featured hikes from each of the five William L. Sullivan’s “100 Hikes…” books (Feb 2022 Progress Report). We’ll go into more detail on that quest in our annual progress report next month, but we managed to make significant progress in the Southern Oregon/Northern California area and inched a little closer to our goal in Eastern Oregon. We now have an outside shot of finishing all 500 by the end of 2024.
Five days were spent hiking in Washington while twelve days were, at least in part, spent in California, our first visits since 2018. We visited four designated wilderness areas in California including our first ever visit to the Siskiyou Wilderness (post).
It’s interesting to me each year to see what hikes were the furtherst in each direction on the map. This year our most southern hike was our visit to Trail and Long Gulch Lakes (post).
Long Gulch Lake. The furthest south we hiked was on the trail a short distance after leaving this lake.
To the west one of the beaches along the Pacific Ocean is typically our most western hike but this year it was just inland from the ocean at Yakona Nature Preserve (post).
Technically the western most spot we hiked at was the trailhead for this hike, but the Yaquina River was a nicer picture.
Surprisingly our northernmost hike was neither our visit to Goat Marsh Lake at Mt. St. Helens (post) or Crystal Lake in the Mt. Adams Wilderness (post) but rather a hike we did just across the Columbia River from Oregon at the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer (post).
We hit our northernmost point during the stretch of our hike that followed Brooks Slough.
Our one trip to Eastern Oregon produced our easternmost hike which was a visit to the Wallowa Homeland (post) in Wallowa, Oregon.
View of the Wallowa Mountains from our easternmost point.
While weather considerations prompted us to make a number of changes to the timing of, and sometimes destinations for, our hikes 2022 may well have been the best all-around weather conditions we’ve experienced in a year. Several hikes throughout the year had forecasts for possible rain showers yet we only experience a couple of very brief periods of precipitation. Clouds also seemed to be less of an issue this year than in years past. It seems that almost every year we have at least one “viewpoint” hike where we arrive to find ourselves in a sea of grey. This year that really didn’t happen. We did arrive at the lookouts atop Illahee Rock (post) in the clouds, but the lookouts were the goal not necessarily the view.
Furthermore, it was just the first of two stops that day and by the time we arrived at our second viewpoint of the day above Twin Lakes the views had drastically improved.
Wildfires, which there were still far too many of, also had much less of an impact on our plans than they’ve had the last couple of years. The second week of September was the only time fires forced us to get creative. Heavy smoke saw us stick close to home for a short hike at the Spring Valley Greenway (post).
That’s the Sun above the trees.
I believe the destinations for our 2022 hikes were the most diverse in terms of the type of managing agency/entity. We visited trails located on private timberland (obtaining permits ahead of time when required), in city, county, state and national parks, and privately owned nature preserves (again with permits where required). We took hikes on BLM managed lands, state and federal wildlife refuges, state and national forests, wilderness areas, and a National Volcanic Monument. Our hikes also took place on a variety of trail types and surfaces.
Iced over snow in Portland’s Forest Park.
The Crown-Zellerbach Trail, a converted logging road.
The Klickitat Trail, a converted railroad.
The Hood River Pipeline Trail.
Sidewalk, Rock Creek Trail.
Rope section of the Kings Mountain Trail.
Gravel Road at Denman Wildlife Area.
Paved Brooks Slough Road, Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge (it is open to cars).
Dirt road at Siskiyou Gap.
Cross-country to Observation Peak.
Crossing over granite to reach the Devil’s Punchbowl in the Siskiyou Wilderness.
Water covered trail at Catherine Creek Meadows.
Sandy dirt Mt. Shasta.
Rock field, Union Peak.
The remains of the Union Creek Trail.
Frozen tunnel on the Eagle Creek Trail.
As far as our destinations go waterfalls and lakes were the top two goals for the hikes this past year, and we are always on the lookout for wildlife and flowers. There were also a few unique features, both natural and man-made, that we visited.
Witch’s Castle – Forest Park, Portland, OR
Wind Telephone, Yakona Nature Preserve – Newport, OR
Erratic Rock (post)
One of several military bunkers at Ken Denman Wildlife Area – Medford, OR
Umpqua Hot Springs – Umpqua National Forest, OR
Illahee Rock Lookout – Umpqua National Forest, OR
Twin Lakes Shelter – Umpqua National Forest, OR
Donomore Cabin – Donomore Meadows, CA
Mt. Ireland Lookout – Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR
Cabin at Catherine Creek Meadows – Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR
Reds Horse Ranch – Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR
Lodge ruins – Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR
Bear Creek Guard Station – Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR
Gazebo on Tick Hill – Wallowa, OR
Spring above Southgate Meadows – Mount Shasta Wilderness, CA
Panther Spring – Mount Shasta Wilderness, CA
Remnants of the OSU Dean’s house – McDonald Forest, Corvallis, OR
Talking Water Gardens – Water treatment wetlands, Albany, OR
I will save the flowers, wildlife, waterfalls, and lakes for their own 2022 galleries. We’re looking forward to 2023 and hoping that Heather makes a full recovery. We’ve done a bit of shuffling for the first part of 2023 to help ease her back into things. While 2022 was a good year we hope 2023 has a few less bumps along the way. Happy Trails!
Waverly Lake at sunrise.
Mallards
Buffleheads
I think this is a ruddy duck.
American coots
Guessing these are some sort of domestic/mallard? crossbreeds. Very interesting looking.
More mallards near Cox Creek
Cox Creek flowing toward Waverly Lake.
Nearing the outlet of Cox Creek.
We almost got off-track here. This path on the right (just after passing under some railroad tracks) does lead into the wetlands but it wasn’t part of the Oregon Hikers described hike.
One of several interpretive signs along the trails.
Frosty leaves, it had been a chilly 28 degrees when we started out.
Simpson Park
The Simpson Park Trail is a 1 mile out and back along the Willamette River. It also offers access to the Riverfront Trail which one could follow SW almost 3.5 miles to Monteith Riverpark at the mouth of the Calapooia River. With Heather being limited to shorter hikes for now that wasn’t an option today but will be something we look forward to trying in the future.
Map on a welcome sign.
Frozen leaves
American wigeons
Bald eagle fly over
Flock of geese flying over
One of many unsigned intersections.
Robin
One of two memorials in the gardens.
Bufflehead
Green winged teal
Northern shoveler
Frost
Simpson Park across a pond.
Fishermen heading into the fog at Waverly Lake.
Mallards hanging out in the fog.
Dark eyed junco
It was hard to tell at times which parts were frozen.
Snow at the higher elevations.
A pink cloud in the direction of the Columbia River Gorge.
Sorenson Falls splashing down into Eagle Creek.
Looking back down Eagle Creek. It was hard to tell where the spur trail had been.
Runoff falling from the cliffs into Eagle Creek.
Metlako Falls
Metlako Falls
Lower Punchbowl Falls
Rocks from the landslide on the right.
Tish Creek Bridge
Tish Creek
More snow on the ridge.
Fern Creek Bridge
Fern Creek
Careful where you step.
The last part was ice free.
Passing Loowit Falls.
More cable passing Loowit Falls with High Bridge in
Eagle Creek from High Bridge.
Eagle Creek from High Bridge, looking upstream.
Skoonichuck Falls
Not my worst varied thrush photo.
Another nice view of Skoonichuck after I’d given up on the thrush.
Sad looking penstemon but I’m counting it as a flower.
Some nearly as sad pearly everlasting.
This fall was visible across the creek on an unnamed creek (at least on the maps I’ve seen).
I arrived at nearly the same time as the Sun.
Beach and Summer swimming hole at 4 1/2-mile bridge.
Tenas Falls
Opal Creek flowing into Eagle Creek.
The wilderness begins a little over 5.5 miles from the trailhead.
A bluebird sky above a few green topped trees.
Near the six-mile mark I passed the signed Eagle-Benson Trail which hasn’t been maintained since the fire, in fact the sign was the only sign of a trail here.
Sunrays over Eagle Creek.
Note the hexagonal shape of the basalt columns making up the trail surface here.
Grand Union Falls
Tunnel Falls on East Fork Eagle Creek.
I had brought my micro spikes just in case, but even though there were some impressive ice features there was enough good footing (and cable) to not require putting the spikes on.
The slickest section was exiting the tunnel here.
This was the trickiest section but again there was just enough good footing to allow passing without need spikes.
A bit more overgrown here.
Hair ice, only the second time I’ve encountered it.
I stopped at this campsite which some maps show as 7 1/2 Mile Camp, but I pulled out my National Geographic topo which showed the camp a little further ahead near a pair of small creeks. I think both are correct and this was just the first of the sites that make up the “camp”.
Eagle Creek near the first campsite.
More campsites near the first creek.
The first small creek. This one was a lot icier than any of the other creeks I’d crossed. I was able to find enough dry rock to make my way to the other side though.
Looking back at the creek.
This cascade was across Eagle Creek near the last campsites.
Woodpecker
Green pool above Twister Falls.
Above Twister Falls.
Plant in ice.
Wren
Chipmunk
A lot more blue in the sky than I had expected to see.
Crossing Highway 214 to the campground.
I detoured left to check out this bridge over Howard Creek.
Howard Creek
Sign at the 214 Trail junction to let people know that there are no waterfalls in the backcountry.
Just a little fog but no rain.
Passing the Smith Creek Trail (left) after 0.6 miles on the 214 Trail.
Rough skinned newt on the 214 Trail. (Probably headed for the Newt Loop too.)
Big nursery tree along the 214 Trail.
The trail post at the junction shows the Catamount Trail instead of the Newt Loop but the map at the junction labels it the Newt Loop.
Map check.
This second post included the Newt Loop along with a pointer for the Catamount Trail.
Crossing a CAT road along the Newt Loop.
Turning onto the Catamount Trail.
Lots of nursery stumps along the trail.
Another nursery stump.
Side trails were well marked.
Did not expect to see that overhead today.
I believe this short section of fire scar was from the 2020 Beachie Fire.
Turning onto the road.
The opposite side of the post had a pointer for the Lost Creek Trail.
I veered uphill to the right here.
The Lost Creek/Buck Mountain junction.
The Lost Creek Trail doubles as a fire road.
Here is where I would have come up had the Catamount Trail did not have the on-way section. (Note that on some mountain biking maps the one-way section is labeled “Upper Catamount Trail.)
The treeless section wasn’t long. It appeared to have been an area impacted by the 2020 Beachie Fire.
Still some bleeding heart blooming.
There wasn’t a lot of bright Fall colors in the backcountry, but this maple stood out.
Was a bit surprised to see a few violets along this section.
Nearing the end of the logged area.
The rejoining of the trails.
There were several bridges along this section of the trail. I also ran into the only mountain bikers that I would encounter all day in this area, a group of five.
The Buck Mountain Loop junction.
Bridge over Howard Creek.
The continuation of the Catamount Trail on the right.
The map showed the section I had just done as 0.9 miles, but my track was a bit more twisty than the map.
A small opening on the way down.
Footbridge over South Fork Silver Creek.
South Fork Silver Creek
I’m a hiker so I went right here.
Big fungus on the tree ahead.
Map at the Rackett Ridge junction.
Another impressive nursery log.
I stopped in this area to change out of my sweaty socks and into one of the extra pairs I’d brought expecting rain.
The vegetation went through several changes as the trail lost elevation.
This was a big tree in the midst of much smaller ones.
Roemer’s Meadow Trail (left) isn’t shown on the park maps yet, but it was completed in 2021 with help from the 
The Trail of Ten Falls junction near Highway 214.
Looking back up the Perimeter Trail.
Upper North Falls
A left would have taken me to the North Falls Trailhead.
The Rim Trail to the left and Canyon Trail to the right, both part of the Trail of Ten Falls.
I’m always impressed by the size of this rock in the creek.
Not Twin Falls, but a nice little cascade nonetheless.
This post could be a little confusing without a map. The Twin Falls Trail climbs uphill to a group camp and does not lead to Twin Falls. The falls are the opposite side along a very short spur trail that connects at either end to the Canyon Trail.
Twin Falls isn’t very easy to see from the spur trail either even though you’re right next to it.
Twin Falls
North Fork Silver Creek
Winter Falls, as the name suggests it’s not much of a waterfall outside of Winter when rain and snowmelt provide more water.
With the dry Summer it isn’t a great Fall color year but there was a decent display along this trail.
I turned left here on the spur trail behind Middle North Falls.
Middle North Falls from the Canyon Trail.
The 27′ Drake Falls.
The hiker at the base gives a good idea of the fall’s height, you just have to use your imagination to add water.
The Canyon Trail crosses the creek just downstream from Lower North Falls then makes a short climb to get above the canyon cliffs.
I walked out onto the bridge for the view then returned to the junction to take the right hand fork and go behind this fall as well.
View toward South Falls from the footbridge.
Not sure what this old building was, possibly restrooms by the doors.
One of several picnic shelters in the park.
Approaching the Bike Path where I recrossed the creek.
I can see the car!
The Woodland Loop at the end of the parking lot.
Starting to get a little lighter near the end of the loop.
Cedars along the Red Cedar Run Trail.
A brief stint on Peavy Arboretum Road between the Red Cedar Run and Maritime Meander (on the left ahead) Trails.
Sunrise from the Maritime Meander Trail.
Forest Discovery Trail junction with the Maritime Meander Trail.
The trails were well signed in the Arboretum.
I had been on the Forest Discovery Trail just under a mile when I reached the CFIRP Trail.
Road crossing.
The Section 36 Loop junction.
Section 36 Loop
A bench along the trail faces this tree.
Road 550 from the Section 36 Loop.
Looking back down Road 550.
My feet started to dry when I reached the section open to motorized vehicles.
Lots of sparrows, towhees, and wrens were out this morning but most wouldn’t sit still at all.
Dave’s Trail
A gated road on the left led back up the hill I had just passed under some radio towers while Road 500 was to the right. Road 5010 was ahead on the left heading up Vineyard Mountain.
The Vineyard Mountain Trail at the junction.
The foundation, fireplace and chimney are all that remain of the former OSU Dean’s cabin.
Some twisted trees along the Vineyard Mountain Trail.
After numerous tries I finally caught a spotted towhee.
The Vineyard Mountain Trail briefly follows an old roadbed.
The section of trail between the roadbed and the Lewisburg Saddle Trailhead is one of the trails subject to seasonal closures. This section is closed when it is wet enough that you’d leave tracks in which case you could follow the roadbed to the right to Road 500.
Close up of the seasonal closure notice. It wasn’t wet so I continued on the Vineyard Mountain Trail.
Looking back at the towers on Vineyard Mountain from Road 600.
Road 620 on the right.
Mary’s Peak (
The High Horse Trail. Not shown to the right coming up from below is the Upper Horse Trail.
Bikers on Road 600 below.
Moss covered tree.
Lichen
Unsigned junction where the High Horse Trail continues to the left to Road 662 and Upper Bombs Away veers right.
Another connector trail on the left coming down from Road 662 to join the Upper Bombs Away Trail.
Will the real trail please stand up?
Switchback near Road 640.
The Alpha Trail on the left at the quarter mile mark. This is where we had turned on the 2021 hike.
Road 600 ahead.
The New Growth Trail.
Old growth
The end of the Old Growth Trail at Road 580.
One of three spur roads to the left that I passed.
Blackberries
The proverbial fork in the road.
Madrone
A few clouds starting to move in.
The Banzai Trail likely continued on the other side but without a pointer I wasn’t about to find out and turned right here which took me uphill for a tenth of a mile to the Road 560 and Road 562 junction.
This is the start of what is labeled the Banzai Trail on the McDonald Forest map.
The photo doesn’t do the steepness justice but the trail lived up to its name here.
At some point the road became 543 before reaching a fork where I stayed right.
Another closed roadbed on the left. This is where I stayed right on Road 543.
Road 540 to the left and 541 to the right.
George W. Brown Sports Arena near Cronemiller Lake.
Not that kind of a lake.
A few drops hitting the lake.
Kingfisher on the far side of the lake.
Second right.
Mount Washington from the 
Three Fingered Jack to the North from the PCT.
From left to right – Sand Mountain (
Mount Washington
Sunrise on Hoodoo Butte.
Sunlight hitting the spire of Mount Washington.
Hayrick Butte and Three Fingered Jack at sunrise.
Big Lake, Hoodoo, Hayrick Butte, and Three Fingered Jack.
Just over two miles from the trailhead I passed a sign for the non-maintained use trail from the private 
Shortly before reaching the climbers trail the PCT left the 2011 Shadow Lake Fire scar.
The cairn and climbers trail from the PCT.
Huckleberry leaves turning color.
There were a few logs to navigate and keeping an eye on the tread was helpful.
Maxwell Butte (
Mount Washington
The only movement that I could see was when it tilted its tail feathers which would catch the sunlight.
First view of Mt. Jefferson behind Three Fingered Jack.
Coming up on the ridge.
Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Jefferson, and a lot of smoke to the North.
Cache Mountain and Black Butte (
View along the ridge to Mount Washington.
That East wind was really noticeable as I made my way along the open ridge crest.
Three Fingered Jack and Mt. Jefferson to the left. Green Ridge (
Big Lake came into view as I climbed.
One of the steeper sections I went up. The spire is poking up on the right.
Mount Washington’s shadow.
View back down the ridge.
I was hoping to get up and over these rocks where the map showed a more level bench but I wound up reaching a chute where I was unsure of the correct route. The further up I’d gone the more braided the trail became and I may have been too far left. A climber had passed me way back on the PCT but if I had been able to watch him go up here I may have found a better route.
The chute that turned me back. It’s a bit hidden by the rocks in the foreground but there was no way across that I would have been comfortable with and scrambling up looked way too sketchy for my taste (especially w/o a helmet).
My shadow on the left from my break spot.
This was the place I’d come up.
Zoom of Three Fingered Jack and Mt. Jefferson
With all the smoke I hadn’t noticed Coffin (flat top) and Bachelor Mountains (
The Moon overhead to the West.
Patjens Lakes (
Lookout tower on Black Butte.
Unfortunate that my timing once again put the Sun directly in line with my view.
Using a tree to try and get a better view.
A framed Mt. Jefferson.
Sometimes it’s the little things, like these bent trees that I really appreciate on a hike.
This mushroom casting a shadow was another one.
Looking back at Mount Washington from the PCT.
Three Fingered Jack
Hoodoo and Hayrick Buttes behind Big Lake.
Huckleberry bushes and ferns adding some Fall colors.
The best Fall colors were near the trailhead.
The trailhead from the wilderness boundary sign.
Multnomah Falls
The Benson Bridge.
View from the bridge.
Multnomah Falls from the bridge.
The Moon beyond the Columbia River and Multnomah Falls Lodge.
Beacon Rock (
The second switchback.
Another view of the falls. I passed a pair of hikers along this stretch then didn’t see another person for another couple of hours.
Viewpoint trail.
Small fall just upstream from Multnomah Falls.
Cape Horn (
Bridge over Multnomah Creek.
Approaching Middle Dutchman Falls.
Middle Dutchman Falls
Upper Dutchman Falls
Dutchman Tunnel
Wiesendanger Falls is located just beyond Dutchman Tunnel.
A short distance beyond Wiesendanger Falls is Ecola Falls.
Ecola Falls
Good signage at nearly all trail junctions, especially those closest to the trailheads.
Looking down the creek at sunlight starting to hit the hillside.
A few bleeding heart were still in bloom.
Penstemon
This section is flooded in late Winter/Spring. The signed High Water Trail leads up and around it for those high water times.
Sign for the High Water Trail at its southern end.
The southern end of the High Water Trail heading uphill to the right.
I couldn’t find a name for this creek but it had a good flow, in fact it was more water than what was in Multnomah Creek upstream from their confluence.
Multnomah Creek upstream from the unnamed creek.
Reentering the fire scar.
The Franklin Ridge Trail on the left.
Maple changing colors
I’m sure there is at least one pika in this photo somewhere.
Looking back toward Franklin Ridge.
Arriving at the junction.
I was hoping for less smoke in the air but these sunbeams told me that there was still a fair amount lingering around much as it had been for the last several days.
After 1.25 miles I passed a pair of old campsites with picnic tables on the right. I stayed right at an unsigned junction with a trail that led uphill to the left. We had come down that way on our previous trip skipping a short section of the actual Larch Mountain Trail.
There were four cars at this trailhead.
Vine maple near the Sherrard Point Trail.
Mt. St. Helens in the smoke to the left and Mt. Adams a bit above it to the right.
Mt. Hood
Mt. Adams
Mt. St. Helens
Silver Star Mountain (
Heading down.
Lots of fungi on this tree.
Hedgenettle
Ouzel
Looking back down at Multnomah Creek.
Cape Horn again across the Columbia.
I couldn’t recall seeing these before on a hike, not this color anyway.
The Devil’s Rest Trail on the left at the ridge top.
I should have followed the Wahkeena Trail Pointer here.
Instead I followed the pointer for Wahkeena 1.0.
Vista Point Trail
There is the trail I had intended to be coming down arriving at the junction with the other end of the Vista Point Trail.
Looking back at the Vista Point Trail from the junction.
Lots of tight switchbacks to get down the gorge.
Fairy Falls
Fairy Falls
Looking out across the Columbia River.
Cape Horn (again)
The Wahkeena Trail from Lemmons Viewpoint.
The poison oak was really colorful.
Approaching Wahkeena Falls.
Wahkeena Falls
Wahkeena Falls.
Looking back at Wahkeena Falls.
One last look at Wahkeena Falls through the trees.
A line of cars on Historic Highway 30 in front of the lodge.
Merry (black) is 3 mos. and Pippin is 2 mos. Both boys from separate litters.
It seems this time of year I (we) are always a little ahead of the sunlight which does nothing for photos.
Coming up on the road crossing.
Cascade Head from the trail with the elk at the end of the grass to the right.
Fuzzy (low light) photo of the elk.
Crossing Savage Road with the first view of the Pacific.
View from one of five metal footbridges along this section.
Signboard and donation box at the start of 
First direct sunlight of the morning.
Out of the trees and into the meadows.
Looking uphill
Snacks
Salmon River Estuary
A snail and lupine leaves.
A small viewpoint just before the trail turns uphill.
Going up
The trail gains views as it gains elevation.
The trail through the meadow below.
This knoll looks like the high point as you climb, but it’s a trick.
The high point is actually marked by a post. (Near the right end of the photo).
Wooden arch over the old roadbed.
Nearing the upper trailhead.
When they do reopen the road there will be a few trees to deal with.
There were around 18 trees such as this one across the trail from the trailhead to Cliff Creek.
This large chunk of tree trunk has done some damage to the bridge, but it was still passable.
Cliff Creek
At the 1.6-mile mark I entered the 
Sign near the bench.
Big sitka spruce trunk.
Approaching the Chitwood Creek crossing.
Chitwood Creek
Heading back toward the ocean.
Someone stuck some feathers in this mushroom.
There was a large number of noisy sea lions on the shaded rocks below Cascade Head. Even though they were quite far away they were loud.
Seagull hanging out on a sea rock.
Sea lion heading for its buddies.
A combination of the position of the Sun and the presence of haze made it very difficult to make out the waterfall on Chitwood Creek. I don’t know if the haze was smoke or just the usual coastal haze. (There was a fairly good east wind blowing steadily all morning.)
Sparrow in the meadow at Hart’s Cove.
Pearly everlasting
Varied thrush
A reminder of Spring, a trillium that bloomed months ago.
A monkeyflower along FR 1861.
Back at the upper trailhead.
Candyflower
Mushrooms on a log.
The Thumb, aka God’s Thumb (
Heading for the high point.
Descending Cascade Head
There were quite a few of these (an aster?) blooming along the trail.
Not sure what type of bird this is.
Sulphur butterfly
Wooly bear caterpillar, there were many of these on the trail.
Looking back up at one of the first hikers I’d passed.
Pretty moth on a bush.
View to the east of the Coastal Range.
Heading for the tree line.
Back where I’d seen the bull elk in the morning.
Cars parked along Three Rocks Road, the parking area at Knights County Park was full when I got back to the car a little before 1pm.
Low-light at Trapper Lake.
Sunrise from the trail.
Sunlight hitting the tops of trees.
Heading up to the bluff.
Pelican Butte beyond Isherwood Lake.
Fall foliage above Isherwood Lake.
Heading for Lake Liza through a dry bed.
Great reflection
Lake Notasha
Depending on the angle the water was a beautiful green.
Parts of the latter half of this trail passed through the 2017 fire scar.
Fireweed seeds
Pelican Butte as we descended toward the junction.
Leaving the 
Dark-eyed junco seeing us off.
An as of yet unidentified flower.
Another unidentified flower.
I do know this one – bleeding heart.
Woodpecker (it was a busy final 0.6 miles).
Back at the shelter and trailhead.
Shelter at the trailhead.
Aster
Fireweed
Comma butterfly
Exiting the fire scar.
Doe watching us through the trees.
Luther Mountain on the left and Lee Peak on the right.
Sign for the Sky Lakes Trail.
Isherwood Trail junction.
Lake Land
Luther Mountain from Trapper Lake.
View along the trail.
Sign for the Cherry Creek Trail.
Sky Lakes Trail sign.
Donna Lake Trail to the right.
Divide Trail junction.
Saddle Mountain is in the distance with pointy Cherry Peak in the foreground. I believe that is Agency Lake visible in the Valley.
Pelican Butte to the right.
Mt. McLoughlin (
Eagle flyby.
Lather Peak with several more lakes below.
In the distance to the left is Aspen Butte (
Fall is in the air.
On of several small bodies of water along the shelf.
We know there were pikas out there because we heard their “meeps” off and on all day but with so many rocks we were never able to spot one.
Heading toward Luther Mountain.
Pelican Butte on the left and Mt. McLoughlin on the right. The peaks in the Mountain Lakes Wilderness are behind and to the right of Pelican Butte then the small, closer hump is Imagination Peak. To the right of Imagination Peak and slightly further back is Lost Peak and then further to the right (left of Mt. McLoughlin) is Brown Mountain (
Luther Mountain from the saddle.
The Pacific Crest Trail.
Lucifer Peak directly behind Shale Butte.
Lucifer Peak, Shale Butte, Devil’s Peak and Lee Peak.
Blowdown on the PCT.
Luther Mountain
Luther Mountain and Mt. McLoughlin behind us.
Lots of little birds along the ridge but most didn’t stop long enough for even a poor picture.
Sign at the Snow Lakes Trail junction.
Martin, Wind and a Snow Lake from the Snow Lakes Trail.
Hawk circling overhead.
While I was trying to keep track of the hawk this Bald Eagle flew over.
Nearing the end of the 2014 fire scar.
Luther Mountain from one of the Snow Lakes.
Another of the lakes.
Tree on the edge of the shelf.
View from the shelf.
There were many cool rock features along the trail.
Devil’s Peak
Lee Peak and another of the Snow Lakes.
A tree had fallen over the Snow Lakes Trail hiding it right where a use trail veered off to the lake. Only seeing the use trail we followed it along the lake until it petered out. A quick look at the map showed we were off-trail so we made our way back finding the downed tree covering the actual trail.
The worst obstacle for the day.
Pelican Butte from the trail.
Sign at the Nannie Creek Trail junction.
Luther Mountain as we neared Martin Lake.
Dragon fly blending in with the huckleberry leaves.
Martin Lake with a view of the shelf that we’d been on.
Red huckleberry leaves
Deep Lake was up first, just a tenth of a mile down the trail.
Donna Lake was only two tenths further.
Donna Lake Trail
Back at Trapper Lake.
wanderingyuncks 
