I find that I'm always more inspired to reduce my impact on the environment when I can immerse myself in nature for a few days. When out in Oregon, I met up with my funn friend Heather who is currently living in Washington State. Last Saturday we drove about 45 minutes West of Portland to visit Tillamook State Forest. We did a day hike up Elk Creek trail and around to Elk Mountain Trail. It's a 3,000 foot climb to the "summit" of Elk Mountain, which I know isn't the biggest of accomplishments, but I'd say climbing it in the rain with running shoes on makes for a bigger challenge. So with that said...after a few "false summits"...I was at the real summit of my first mountain last weekend.
What a beautiful hike, full of mossy trees, Elk scat, large slugs, and beautiful views. And after slipping and scurrying down from the mountain on a trail that after all the rain we had been hiking in started to look like a stream bed we were safe and dry and enjoying the warmth of a local pizza establishment, watching MTV's the real world in Tillamook, OR.
The next day we made it to Rockaway Beach and Haystack Rock as we drove north up the coast. I saw the largest sea stars I've ever seen (they aren't fish so we're not supposed to call them starfish..tell your kids.) I also and learned that puffins nest on the coast of Oregon from April through August...darn it we missed them by only a few weeks!
So next time I visit the coast, (which will hopefully be soon) I want to make sure I see these awesome sea birds! Go Nature!
No comments:
Post a Comment