I has been a while since I have posted here. I have gone through some big changes, along with my family. My goal now is to post previous trips we have taken, including trips in Arizona, our trip to Ireland last summer, and our trips in Oregon.

I had a big disappointment in 2012. My daughter and I finally realized our trip on the Pacific Crest Trail that summer. One goal for this blog was to record our preparations for that trip, and for future PCT trips. The PCT trip was fantastic. It was one of our best ever backpacking trips, missing only the presence of Valerie. After we returned and made the final decision to move to Portland and enroll my daughter to complete high school there, I had a computer hard drive failure (what else is new). All the pictures from the PCT trip were lost. I was only able to post my review of my REI Paddler Hat from that trip. It has taken some time for us to stabilize enough that my daughter and I will be writing posts about the trip and  publishing them here. Last summer our doggler died, and that was a big downer for a while.

To that end, you can see the recent posts and videos of recent hikes and my large rain shell test. That was a big undertaking, helped in large part by my best friend, Valerie, as videographer. This is the first of many trip postings and reviews. I am working on reviews of knives that I use, alcohol stoves I have made, and other backpacking sundries.  We have also taken many trips in the Columbia Gorge, not the least of which was a recent trip on the Ten Falls loop above Multnomah Falls. We have plenty of pictures, videos and words to share. In the coming months, Valerie, Aelin and I will be publishing a lot of materiel here, so stay tuned!!

This is my older daughter's first hike post!

My green on Saint Patrick's Day was all around me! I went to the Arizona Trail/Pine Trailhead north of Payson. The weather was wonderful, starting at partly cloudy with a nice breeze and turning even nicer and cloudier during the early afternoon until I left.
 
I first went on the Oak Springs Trail, which was shorter than I expected and also got close to the highway, but was still lovely and I had it all to myself. 

When I got back to the start of it I went on Highline Trail next. The trees were a bit spaced apart but there was still enough shade and breeze to keep cool when it was more sunny early on. Once I got to the stream area, the forest became even nicer to walk through.

 

I continued on Highline Trail, heading toward the Donahue Trail and Red Rock Springs, though I believe I stopped at the start of the Donahue Trail. However I did get some great pictures from almost the top of the hill! And there were some interesting flowers, the white ones had a strange scent.
 
On my way back down Highline Trail, I stayed for a while at a wonderful tiny-boulder-filled area that was next to the stream. I read one of my favorite books for a while as it got cooler and cloudier. There were also several squirrels on my way back that practically posed for pictures!
 
Overall, a wonderful way to spend a Tuesday!

We had been to Mirror Lake several times now, and we were very interested in the trail around back of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain. It was supposed to have 360 degree views of the Cascades, with Mt Hood to the north and overlooking Mirror Lake, and south toward the Sisters. Little did we know that there would be an added bonus surprise to our hike!

The hike to Mirror Lake was pleasant; a warm day but not too warm. The views from the trail, as you can see, are pretty good. But the top of the mountain was truly worth the hike. Others arrived after we were there for a bit, but not too crowded.

Someone brought their doggler friend with them, and Valerie and I missed Korik.

The hike back brought us a pleasant bounty: huckleberries! They were everywhere, on the south side of the mountain, covering many acres. It was past their prime time; birds and animals had had their fill. But what was left was enough, after at least an hour of industrious picking, to fill two pies! We ate one ourselves. Aelin loves blueberry pies, and she loved the huckleberry pies equally. The second pie we brought to a small dinner party with a friend of Aelin's, Blake, and his family. Good times. We will be back this year (2015) to pick more!