Washington

Synopsis of Summer: Splendid

Gallery

 

Pool of Winds (Columbia River Gorge)
Tom, Dick and Harry (Mt. Hood)
Mt. Scott (Crater Lake, OR)
Providence Bridge Pedal (Portland, OR)
Triple Falls (Columbia River Gorge)
Hardy Falls (Columbia River Gorge)
Ponytail Falls (Columbia River Gorge)
Mountain Biking (Hood River, OR)
Manta Ray Dive (Kona, Hawaii) – Photo credit: Hawaii Oceanic
Punch Bowl Falls (Columbia River Gorge)
Columbia River Gorge (Oregon side)
Oneonta Falls (Columbia River Gorge)
Crater Lake (OR)
Wildlife Safari (Winston, OR)
Stand up Paddleboarding (Portland, OR)
Kona, Hawaii
Mt. Hood from Mirror Lake

With one of the hottest summers on record, I found myself extra incentivized to find ways to cool down and enjoy outdoor time. Hiking is a standard practice for me, but I also expanded my horizons and added mountain biking (a first!), stand up paddleboarding and a Wildlife Safari to my summertime activity.

Write ups are still in the works for some of these adventures, so in the meantime, enjoy this little gallery of my hiking, biking, and paddling over the past three months.

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Trekking to Hardy Falls and Hamilton Mountain

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The Columbia River Gorge is chock full of hikes at various skill levels, and one of the harder ascents I’ve just added under my belt is on Washington’s south side of the Bridge of the Gods. Seven miles from the bridge is the more famous Beacon Rock – a towering boulder with striking views of the Gorge (and a portion of the distance you will usually have to hike to get the same views). Directly across from the Beacon parking lot is a sign for campgrounds and access to Hamilton Mountain. Luckily this hike could easily be split into three lengths and difficulty levels: 3.2 miles (medium), 6 miles (difficult), 9 miles (more difficult). Having done the whole thing, I might opt for the 6 miler next time, but it’s still worth all the work.

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Hiking to The Wall

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I love the Columbia River Gorge. It’s incredibly beautiful and only a short drive from Portland. On weekends like two weeks ago, I just want to get away from the city and breathe in the cool, clean air and vistas. Most of my hikes have been on the Oregon side of the river, like Angel’s Rest and Wahkeena Falls, but this edition takes place just east of White Salmon, Washington at Coyote Wall.

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