If Minnesota is Land of the Lakes, Oregon must be State of the Waterfalls. There are so many beautiful waterfalls. Today, I hiked 13 miles, over 3,000 feet up and down to visit 8 waterfalls. It was a wonderful, sunny, warm day that brought the flowers bursting into bloom. Early in the morning, it was purple and blue opening; by mid-day, yellow and red emerged; by afternoon, white and more varieties. I have arrived at Portland at the right time for the spring wildflower show began today.
On each major trail, I walked with different groups for a while. So, a shout-out to the boys from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland; to Evan and Brittany – from Michigan Hoorah!; and to the hiker prepping for El Camino, and I know I got this wrong, trail name of Arrealy. You look to be ready and you can do it – just eat enough, drink enough, and rest enough. Enjoy! It will be awesome.
The Falls: Upper and Lower Latourell, 4.2 mile loop, 800 feet, Bridal Veil, about 1 mile, 125 feet; Multnomah, 2.5 miles, 870 feet; Lower, Upper Horsetail, and Triple Falls, 5 miles 1,243 feet to Triple Falls; and Wakhenna – a hop, skip and jump, part way up. Throw in a couple side trails here and there, and OK, I went down the wrong trail once before figuring it out, but not very far, maybe .1 mile round-trip. Total tops 13 miles – the most in a day since the 15 mile Scout Trail without the elevation back in flat, flat Ohio at Oaks Opening last October.
Feet feel good; knees, fine; and I’m not overly tired. Today made me jealous of my friends hiking the PCT this year, but a through-hike takes so long and it is what you do everyday, day after day. Also, one 13 mile day is nothing compared to the PCT: they are doing that day after day, more or less. Still, some nights I wonder.
Today, I crossed into Washington, the last of the lower 48 for me to claim that I have been in. When I hike in Washington next week and Idaho soon thereafter, I will have hiked in 33 of the lower 48 and Alaska: missing “real” hikes in Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, South Carolina (maybe, might have back in the 80’s), Louisiana, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Missouri.
Living in a Tunnel 