Some trails opened up this week! But this was the only open one on my Backpack list. And the only one in the Gorge that is open. Even the state parks in Skamania Co. are still closed. It's a 3-hour drive from home, but I had to get out! It turned out to be a lovely 5-mile ramble through the oak trees, just below the ridge line and far above the valley. Lots of flowers! Some, particularly the prolific balsam root and the lupine are a bit past peak, but still beautiful.
The trail is relentlessly up, but a gentle incline, but relentless. Views of Mt. Hood. The end of the trail is anticlimactic; could turn around when it goes back into the woods.
I was the only car in the small lot at 8:00 and saw no one until I was almost back to the bit of gated gravel road between the parking lot and the trail head. Two parties coming up, wearing masks. Then two more parties on the road, not wearing masks, and two guys in the parking lot, ditto.
A beautiful day. Go soon for wildflowers and early in the day for solitude.
More photos (including flowers) and words on my blog.
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