For all you nature lovers

[Aetius Helvius Merula]

Thought I'd post a few pics for y'all. I went on a nice little hike with my paterfamilias on Sunday. Actually, it was from the base of Multnomah Falls, shown here, to about 4000 feet above sea level. It's a popular tourist attraction with a platform at top. You hike a mile up to it, but we wanted the trailhead further above.



From there it was pretty steep, all the way up. 7 miles one way. And of course Dad and I both were out of condition for hikes like that; we used to live, work, and play in pretty rugged country futher east in the mountains but have gotten soft from city life :oops: It was worth all the soreness and aches, though.



Unlogged forest too, rare so close to civilisation. With moi for comparison. I was trying and failing to find a dignified expression for the moment :lol:



The best part of all-it was chilly and wet, normal for fall here, but it didn't rain, which was lucky.

[Magnus]

Awesome pics! Are those redwoods?

[Aetius Helvius Merula]

Nope, AFAIK redwoods are a Californian tree. These were just Douglas fir. It made for a certain contrast. One side of the mountain was logged reularly until the '60s.



The other where the previous pic was shot was not logged at all, and while such instances are common here, it still gives me the feeling of moving to a different kind of terrain every hundred feet or so. One of the many reasons I like hiking.

[Magnus]

Goes to show you how much logging like that can destroy a forest eh?

[maius]

Great pics Joel. You, me and Greg should hike up there in our kit and marching packs sometime. We could get some awesome photos.

It looks pretty wild, i wonder if the Teutoburg Forest might have looked somthing like that?

Maius/Bill

[Aetius Helvius Merula]

Funny, when I took the last photo I thought 'now how many Germans with evil thoughts could be out there?'

I had hoped to have my caligae broken in enough to take on this hike, but no such luck. This hike was strenuous enough; I think it would be even worse for people not accustomed to marching in armor. For a first time march I'd suggest Eagle Creek along I 84.

[maius]

Ft. Stevens also has some pretty wild backwoods areas we can hike. Not far from where we could set our camp and displays.

I'll give you and Greg a tour when you're up here. Found a great place to set up our first camp also.

Maius/Bill