Jesse's Hike

Kelly was right, I did get to do some hiking this past weekend. I have friends that hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and recommended this area for great hiking. With a little research and a couple quick buys from the local REI I selected the Timberline Trail, a 40-43 mile stretch that circles Mt Hood.

We approached a haunting silhouette of Mt Hood early Friday morning. It is a tall slender mountain comprised of many glaciers that I would later find out dripped many wonderful mountain streams down all sides of the mountain. When we reached the trail head the girls and I hiked for a while before we said our goodbyes for the next couple days. After a tender group prayer, I was sent on my way.

I won't bore you with too many details but... the hike was great. The weather cooperated and provided amazing views of Mt Ranier, Mt Adams and Mt St Helens that Friday morning. The streams were cold and fast coming down from above. I saw only small game (no bears) and the landscape changed from thick green undergrowth and warm pines at low altitudes to desolate white rock and snow at higher altitudes (I had to fill my bottles with snow to drink while at 7000 feet). The landscape also tended to vary depending on which way the mountain was facing; wet on the west and dry on the east.

I will admit that it was more difficult to hike 20+ miles per day than I had originally thought. I said that I wanted blisters when I returned and my wish was granted, many times over. My overnight was on the sandy terrain of a creek bed on the north east side of the mountain. It was a great place to pitch a tent until the moon decided to be so bright that my tent glowed until 4 in the morning. This was my first hike outside of the woods behind my parents Iowa home and it will be memorable. Thanks for all of those that worried (my 5 moms) and those that prayed.

More than anything I learned to persevere. At the top of each climb and the bottom of each descent there was a pleasant reward waiting to be enjoyed... amazing.

Jesse