It’s fun to go camping for a few days, but great to be back home – especially after not having access to a shower. My husband and I spent the last couple of days in the Mt. Hood National Forest, camping, hiking and enjoying a lovely view of Clear Lake and the surrounding mountains from right outside our tent trailer.
We intended to hike on Mt. Hood’s Cooper Spur, but had to cancel that hike when we were informed by the Forest Ranger’s that the road leading to the trailhead had been closed because of damage from a fire a few years ago.
So, instead we took a drive up to Timberline lodge on Mt. Hood, which is a very popular ski resort here in Oregon. There is a short hike straight up the mountain from the lodge that takes you from an elevation of 5,960 to above the timberline at 7,000 feet, a roundtrip hiking distance of 2.7 miles.
We decided to do this short hike as a warm up to Saturday’s slightly more ambitious 7 mile roundtrip hike with a 2,500 ft. elevation gain up to McNeil Point. We didn’t quite reach the top though because I couldn’t bring myself to walk through a very narrow canyon path in the last 1/2 mile of the trail :(). I’ll post some pictures of that hike at a later date.
The short hike from Timberline Lodge is quite lovely as it immediately puts you above the timberline and every 1/4 mile gives you a drastically bigger panoramic view of Mt. Hood and the mountains to the southwest of it.
Much to my surprise, among all of the many rocks and stones that one encounters along the way, one red volcanic stone in particular caught my eye. Immediately I saw that is was full of craters! If this does not strike you as odd, I direct your attention to Erik Andrulius’ blog in which he challenges our assumptions about the formation of the moon’s craters being the result of impact.
I thought of Erik’s explanation of the moon’s craters when looking at this volcanic rock as it also has these crater-like holes, but I don’t think geologists would say they were from impact. Hmm. I do believe that Erik is on to something and that his theory about the moon crater formation being an inside job deserves some more attention.
Theoria 
Magic in your eyes indeed!
I loved your pics, the story, and appreciate fondly your shoutout.
Aside: I remember seeing The Who in RFK stadium in ’86 (or is that ’87? or ’88? It’s all teenage wasteland as far as I’m concerned) and there was a dude running around the very very top of RFK (the overhanging roof that ran all the way around the stadium) during “I Can See For Miles.” Good times.
LikeLike
Hah!! Very cool!! I saw them on their 1989 tour in New Jersey at Giants Stadium. So sorry to have missed seeing Keith Moon play in the early days though. Now there’s a guy with some serious craters 🙂
LikeLike
One of my most magic moments of the last years in my happened right near that amazing mountain. My husband and I were bimbling on a fall day and ended up on a semi paved track somewhere near the north side approach to the mountain. It was a grey, drizzly day, but as we went higher up all of a sudden, as if by magic, we hit the snow line. What a few minutes before had been water was now these massive, silent snowflakes falling signaling the first of winter. We turned off the car, rolled down the windows and just sat in the wonder of the great white silence.
How fun to have a summer adventure there! Thanks for sharing it with us! I often get to wave to the top of the mountain as I fly in and out of PDX. It is one of my favorites. This also is just to the north, if you have not been, it is worth penciling it in an adventure schedule for next summer: http://seeingm.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/field-trip/ -x.M
LikeLike
How cool is that that we share this Pacific NW beauty M?
Love your lavendar photos, although I have not been to the one you wrote about.
My husband and I played in a bluegrass band for awhile and every year we played at a lavendar farm in Silverton, OR. I wish I had some photos of that place as it was stunning.
I love the great white silence too 🙂 Thanks so much for the note.
It’s been a hectic and sad week for me, as my bestest childhood friend lost her fight against cancer and I just need a break from writing.
I really do cherish the community here and look forward to getting back here to read and write sometime soon!
From now on, I’ll wave to your flyby’s!
Debra
LikeLike
wow… cool hike log.. sounds like y’all had an interesting time !
LikeLike
Yeah, was a fantastic trip! Thanks for the note 🙂
LikeLike
“I can see for miles”
With that view, you must also be all smiles.” 🙂
LikeLike
Oh Yes!!!!
There’s nothing like a couple of days of camping and hiking to reinvigorate the heart and soul.
Thanks for the note Rex!
LikeLike