Thursday, January 7, 2010

A Hike in the Snow

On Christmas Eve, my brother, dad and I set out on an adventure into the Silver Star Mountains. A drive up gravel roads to inspect the previous night's snowfall quickly turned into a hike when my dad pulled his 4runner to the side of the road and asked if I had ample footwear for a hike. I looked down at the red laces on my Danner Mountain Light II's on my feet and responded with an unequivocal "Yes."

For the next three hours, we slowly gained altitude tromping around the Silver Star range, overlooking Portland, the foothills of the Cascades and the Columbia River Gorge. We trudged through six inches of snow on the old logging roads that dissect the hills like trails of ants on a kitchen floor as clouds flew past east to west.

My dad, and dedicated proofreader, on the left and my brother Tim on the right. For reference my dad is 6'0".



Frozen leaves on the side of the trail.

The north face of Mt. Hood overlooking the Columbia River Gorge and the foothills of the Cascades. Snow highlights the clear cuts. As a teenager I spent most of my winters snowboarding on Mt Hood's east face.

The sun started sinking below the hills as we made our way back towards the car. Snow trapped around my foot seeped down into my socks like water in a flowerpot. The breeze picked up, numbing my hands as I cradled my camera. My brother and dad charged on ahead as I lingered behind taking photos and listening to the post-storm tranquility. I trudged on smiling ear to ear.


Here are some more links,
A Hike on Christmas Eve (Picasa),
Outdoors (ART).

10 comments:

Daphne said...

Glorious scenery - I find walking in snow very tiring but I bet it was worth it for all that beauty!

Unknown said...

Perfect!

Angelo R. said...

Nothing beats winter camping/hiking.

Foster Huntington said...

It was the perfect day for the perfect hike,
foster

Sam France is Reverend Donald D said...

dude uwer complains the whole ways

Anonymous said...

Great photos. I've been following your site for a few weeks now (somehow linked to it from The Award Tour I believe) and it's truly been a great read and view into a different part of the country. Keep up the adventures bruh.

Rob said...

Your brother Tim must be a giant. How tall is he?

I'm enjoying the photos too.

Foster Huntington said...

my brother is 6'8. glad yu like the photos.
foster

Happymom4 aka Hope Anne said...

Awesome . . .

And will you please share? HOW tall IS your brother?!

Thank you!

www.xanga.com/happymom4

tintin said...

Nice stuff.