Hiking
Here are some hikes I have been on over the years. Many of these have been day hikes near a WFA site, with some multi-day hikes along the way.
2022:
Mt. Defiance, in the Columbia River Gorge near Portland, OR.
--- Excellent day hike. Trail has some long steep segments, with an elevation gain of 4,840 feet in just over 6 miles. We tried to take a part of the loop to the summit on the way back, and wandered off in the wrong direction on a different trail for a while. Between that and slowdowns due to injuries, some of us ended up walking down the mountain after dark, using our phone flashlights for the last hour or so. I had brief visions of spending another night on the mountain (see 2005), but we got there at the end.
--- Here are a couple of pictures from the summit: one picture of us (you can see Mt. Hood peeking up between two of us), and a close-up of Mt. Hood.
2019:
Mt San Jacinto, in Riverside County, California
--- Ended up being a half hike. Our schedule got thrown off the previous day, and we ended up getting a late start. Enough time for a pleasant walk in the hills, but not enough to do the full hike.
2018:
El Cajon Mountain, near San Diego.
A few day-hikes in the Tatra Mountains, in Poland. We stayed in Zakopane.
--- One highlight was Orla Perć, or Eagle's Path. I don't have any pictures of the hike, because you pretty much need to use both your hands in several places. But here are standard images from Google to give you a sense. This particular spot I remember passing through.
Panorama Ridge, near Whistler, Canada.
-- Round trip around 18 miles. Elevation gain about 5,000 feet. But it's gentle going most of the way, given that it's such a long hike. 12.5 hours in all, the longest day hike I have been on.
-- We went in June. Lot of snow on the ground after about 7 miles, which slowed us down quite a bit. We stopped short of the summit and turned around.
2016:
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru.
-- We did the four-day version (well, it's closer to 3 1/2 days). Lots of ups and downs, with steps, steps, and more steps. The highest pass on the trail is at about 13,780 feet.
-- Some pictures from the hike.
Mount Audubon, near Boulder, Colorado.
-- 7.9 miles round trip; 2,715 feet elevation gain; summit at 13,223 feet. We went in early October. Good day hike, not too taxing.
Pfeifferhorn, near Salt Lake City, Utah.
-- We went on June 20. Lots of snow on the ground at the higher elevations. Lots of scrambling over rocks. We missed the trail somewhere, and eventually had to turn back well before the summit. Enjoyable day, nevertheless.
2015:
North Cascades, Washington state.
-- 3-day hike. Highlights included Malcolm's dexterous use of duct tape, and crossing a stream on a little cable car.
2014:
Ventana wilderness, near Big Sur, California.
-- I forget the name of the trail, but here is a picture to prove that we were there...About 7 1/2 hours back and forth.
2013:
Mt. Tallac, near Lake Tahoe, California.
-- Summit at 9,475 feet, about 3,500 feet elevation game. It was a beautiful day, and a very enjoyable hike. Round trip about 8 hours.
2012:
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Summit is at 19,341 feet, easily the highest I have been up to.
-- A hike for a lifetime. Highly recommended. We took the Rongai route; 4 1/3 days up, 1 1/2 days down.
-- Fully portered hike, so any given day was less tiring than other hikes I have been on. "Pole, pole" is pretty sound advice on or off the trail.
Charleston Peak, an hour-and-a-quarter away from Las Vegas, Nevada.
-- Summit is at 11,916 feet. About 9 hours trailhead-to-trailhead.
Wheeler Peak, Taos, New Mexico.
-- The howling, oh, the howling! Third week of June. The wind was at 40-50 mph, with some gusts even stronger. Especially once we got above the tree line, it felt as if it was constantly in your face on the way up. One of us had a contact lens blown out of his eye, another person had their glasses smashed against a rock, my winter hat was blown off my head. Quite an adventure.
-- Summit just over 13,000 feet. Took about 10 1/2 hours round trip.
2010:
Mt Seymour, near Vancouver, Canada
-- In March, a snowshoe hike. A new experience. I don't think I've ever quite figured out how to walk on snow-covered slopes without repeatedly falling. Someday.
2009:
Mt Ulriken and the path over the Vidden to Mt Floyen, Bergen, Norway
-- Took about 8.5 hours in all, about a 2,000 foot gain in elevation, not sure about the distance.
-- Wildlife: Several sheep, some with bells.
San Gorgonio, near Los Angeles, California
-- 12 hours, 5,500-feet elevation gain, about 17 miles in all. Long, and steep in parts.
-- Wildlife: some rather well-fed squirrels.
Mt Yishay, Ein Gedi National Park, Israel.
-- Total elevation gain may be about 2,000 feet, but you start well below sea level (Ein Gedi is next to the Dead Sea). Distance is not too great, but it was hot, I was jet-lagged, and I kept falling asleep on the way down.
-- Wildlife: Some creatures that may have been rock hyraxes.
Mauna Loa, Hawaii.
-- 3 1/2 days, 43 miles, 7,000 foot gain in elevation from trailhead to summit. Gentle slope, but the lava goes on forever. And some. Spectacular caldera at the summit. Hike diary.
Lone Peak, Big Sky, Montana
-- Approximately 4 miles (the peak is right at Big Sky resort), about 3,500 foot gain in elevation. Hike report.
-- Wildlife: A brown bear, at some distance, down the slope on the way back, almost near the hotel, and a limping fox.
2006:
Mt Gray's and Mt Torrey's, Colorado.
-- Approximately 7.5 miles, a 3,000 foot gain in elevation. The first 14ers I managed to make it up. Hike report.
-- Wildlife: mountain goats.
2005:
Mount Defiance, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon (yes, this was the famous "lost" hike).
-- Approximately 8 miles, a 5,000 foot gain in elevation.
2003:
North of Seattle. Burton Hollifield, Bryan Routledge, and I went on this hike. Unfortunately, I don't remember too many details. We finally turned back because there was too much snow on the mountain.
-- Approximately 6 miles, a 2,000 foot gain in elevation.
Pioneer Cabin, Sun Valley, Idaho.
-- Approximately 7.5 miles, with about a 2,400 foot gain in elevation. Spectacular view of the Hyndman peaks. A ranger at the park service office nearby assured me this was the signature hike in that region.
-- Wildlife: An elk with magnificent horns.