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I found this by accident
but it is one of my favorite photos from the trip.Well, I redeemed myself for forgetting to turn the heat on night-before-last. Last night I forgot to turn it down! Yes, it was a little on the warm side when I woke up. I got up to look out the window (and open it too) and was greeted by wind, clouds, and rain. Not a little sprinkle of rain, it was pouring!
After removing my head from the freezer to cool down, I decided to head back to Government Camp (Can you tell I like this place?) and see if there was anything I could get into. I ended up stopping in at Mt. Hood Adventures and talking with Mandy. Mandy told me about the only thing I could do on foot today would be to rent a pair of snow shoes and hike in the rain. That didn't sound like a lot of fun to me.
Mandy then recommended that I drive the Infinity Loop. The Infinity Loop winds through some of Oregon's most beautiful landscapes. The route takes you around Mt. Hood. If it isn't rainy and cloudy, you get views of this great mountain from different angles. Mt. Hood stands at an elevation of 11,245 feet,
Multnomah Falls
A first view from Highway 30. making it the fourth highest peak in the Cascades. Mt. Hood is a dormant volcano. It has not erupted since shortly before the arrival of Lewis and Clark. This beautiful mountain is home to twelve glaciers and the source of five different rivers. All five rivers eventually drain into the Columbia River.
Mt. Hood is the second most climbed mountain in the world. Anyone know which mountain is the most climbed in the world? That would be Mt. Fuji in Japan.
As I headed down the backside of the mountain something strange happened. The sun came out, and stayed out for the rest of the day. I made my way through varying terrain toward the Columbia River. The loop runs into I-84 but I tried to stay on Oregon Highway 30 as much as possible.
Highway 30 took me by Multnomah Falls, the most visited natural site in Oregon. It was at this point that I discovered how uncomfortable I had become around crowds. For the last five days, I had been mostly alone. I have read about this in books written by individuals who have walked the Appalachian Trail. I am not comparing my experience to
Multnohah Falls
I really like this shot! walking the AT, but I do think I experienced what they go through on a very low level. Basically, you spend so much time alone that crowds of people freak you out. It really hits AT through-hikers hard when the hike is finished and they have to return to life off the trail.
Anyway, there were too many people at Multnomah Falls for me! I snapped a few pictures and got out of there. I did find a good place to pause and view the mighty Columbia River. It was here that something odd occurred. A lady came up to me and asked for directions. I said, "I am from Alabama. What the hell do I know." She laughed and started to walk off. She turned and asked, "How do you like Oregon?" I told her I loved it! She smiled and went on her way to being lost in America.
The loop takes me back to the town where my cabin is located. I have been seeing a sign for The Resort in the Mountains. Today, I make a turn and head toward it. The resort itself isn't very appealing to me but...they have 27 holes of
A Steamboat
makes its way down the Columbia River. golf. I went into the Pro Shop to buy a shirt and ended up renting clubs and playing nine holes. It was a very enjoyable end to my last day in Oregon. Now I had to go back to the cabin and pack up to head to Seattle.
Today's quote, "And we should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once. And we should call every truth false which was not accompanied by at least one laugh"...Fredrich Nietzsche
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