<![CDATA[All Things Walking

<![CDATA[All Things Walking - Blog]]>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:42:41 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Over 50 Outside 2023 Hike #40/52]]>Tue, 22 Aug 2023 22:06:16 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/over-50-outside-2023-hike-4052Second section hike of the OCT (Oregon Coast Trail)
Aug. 9-16, 2023

My friend and I completed our second section hike along the OCT. We plan to complete this over a three year period. We added 77,23 more miles to the first section we did which totaled 46.59 miles. This section was 7 days and we were unable to secure a hotel stop, due to the hotel rates. The Hostel in Seaside which normally takes in OCT hikers without reservations was full. This was due to the International Volleyball tournament in Seaside which draws 15,000 people. We were hiking through there on one of their tournament days.
We met at the Old Town train station in downtown Portland to catch the Point bus to the coast. This is a luxury bus with wifi and recharging capabilities for electronic devices, which is handy. There are bus connections that run from Yachats to Astoria so it is easy to use the bus system along this hike. From what I am reading the boats that normally would ferry hikers across the big bays and rivers are no longer operating and many hikers are taking buses to bypass these sections. On the bus we met 3 other OCT hikers and they camped at Ft Stevens the first night too.

We got off the bus in Warrenton on Neptune Avenue and began our OCT hike. Our first destination was Fort Stevens with a hiker biker camp. We walked to the Warrenton Waterfront Trail and followed it until it petered out. Luckily there was a gentleman who pointed us to the road we needed to take to get to the Ft Stevens Park entrance.

We didn't have any trouble getting a campsite. We found our three hikers we met on the bus plus another person who was cycling from Vancouver Island to Baha. He had a great sense of humor.
We set up our tents not knowing that we had set up our tents on the tent camping area and not the Hiker Biker camp. There was a squirrel that had eaten a hole through a couple's tent and was snacking on their food inside the tent. Alot of activity as they used duct tape to repair their tent. The squirrel was busy trying to find other inattentive campers with food for the taking. Then the squirrel would sit in the grass, eating small flowerheads, as if saying "Aren't I cute!".
Shortly after that a mother and adult son came around looking for their tent site and we discovered that it was us who had set up our tent in their site. The indignation from the mother was palpable. She told us she made these reservations two weeks ago and finding us with tents set up put her in a bad mood.
She went and found the ranger who barely was polite as she tried to tell us we were in the wrong site and how this happened everyday. My friend was thiniking if this happens everyday then there is a problem with distinguishing the hiker biker camp.
We moved our tents, along with the biker who had the best illegal campsite.
We had some fun plotting our revenge to include not warning them about the hungry squirrel. Then we wanted to plant a peanut or a snickers bar under their tent to attract the squirrel.
We didn't do anything more than not warn them about the squirrel.
We didn't see the biker again. One of the OCT hikers planned to get to Tillamook Head the following day so we didn't see him again. The couple we saw at Tillamook Head and then they moved on at a faster pace than us.
That is how it happens on these long hikes. We saw plenty of bike riders doing the coast bike ride.

Point Adams Research Station

]]><![CDATA[Over 50 Outside 2023 Hike #39/52]]>Thu, 03 Aug 2023 18:26:31 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/over-50-outside-2023-hike-3952Mary's Peak outside of Philomath, OR

i did this hike with the Albany Fitwalkers Volkswalking club on August 1,2023.

]]><![CDATA[Over 50 Outside 2023 Hike #38/52]]>Mon, 24 Jul 2023 00:36:35 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/over-50-outside-2023-hike-3852Table Rock Rooster Rock (in the Table Rock Wilderness BLM)

This was a hike I did on July 20, 2023. It was a Mazama hike rated 2-2.5 pace.
I have respect for the Mazamas and all the amazing training courses and climb activities that they accomplish. Every Tuesday and Thursday they have Ramble walks in NW Portland.

In the latter half of 2022 and 2023 I have done some difficult hikes in between keeping to a rigorous volkswalking schedule. It was interesting that I struggled on this hike and decided to stop at a viewpoint and not do the last stretch up to Rooster Rock.
I concluded that the Mazamas have a different attitude towards hiking than I find with the Meetup Groups I hike with and the volkswalking clubs I walk with.
Mazama hikers are very driven, they see these hikes as training hikes for upcoming climbs. Or they have been hiking at these faster paces and are in much better physical conditioning than I am right now.

We began the hike at an elevation of 3186 feet. The peak I achieved (STRAVA) was 4878 feet thus I climbed 1692 feet in 7.15 miles. From the beginning I had trouble catching my breath. That by itself isn't normally an issue because the groups I usually hike with will stop for a few minutes thus I am able to catch my breath and get my heart rate lowered. This group kept to a rigorous schedule with a couple of stops-just as I started to breath comfortably the group would take off again at their same pace.

Always trying to keep their pace did impact my hike. It soon became an endurance hike, which was not as enjoyable for me. I also found myself stumbling more which created a dangerous situation for myself and for the group, if I were to fall and injure myself. And I could feel it in my legs that they felt very heavy and the uphills became more and more difficult. We stopped at Table Rock for about 10 minutes and then headed towards Rooster Rock.
By then I realized it would not be safe for me to continue down and up to Rooster Rock. I stayed at a great viewpoint, enjoying the cliffs and the view around me. There were butterflies flitting. I was able to eat my wrap and drink 8 oz of electrolytes thus I felt much better.
As much as I felt like a failure I also realized that was a wise decision that I made for myself. It took the group over 2 hours to do the trail up to Rooster Rock which is a long time to go about 2 miles. They told me it was difficult but they thought of it as training. On the hike back to our vehicles I did fall twice on loose sandy pebbly downslopes. Luckily, able to get up and keep walking.

It was wonderful to finally get out and do Table Rock, as I had heard about this hike for many years. I enjoyed the company of the 5 hikers and the hike leader. Before I do another Mazama hike I need to be mentally prepared and physically prepared to handle the faster pace and fewer stops to rest.
If you are looking for training and building endurance, these hikes are awesome. The Mazamas are an excellent organization to be a part of.
This particular hike was a great learning experience for me. I will say that I had purchased a new women's Osprey Sirrus 24 daypack and it is an amazing pack. The fit was so good my back did not hurt at all. Very comfortable fit. So glad I invested in a new daypack.
#over50outside

]]><![CDATA[Over 50 Outside 2023 Hike #36/52]]>Tue, 27 Jun 2023 17:46:28 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/over-50-outside-2023-hike-3652Bayocean Peninsula Park

On June 26, 2023 I hiked the Bayocean Spit Loop Trail. It is a spit that borders the east side of the Tillamook Bay. The hike around to the entrance into the bay and then the hike along the beach heading back to the TH was so peaceful and breathtaking. The area has a fascinating history too as told by OPB on Oregon Field Guide, 'The Lost City of Bayocean'
It was once to become a thriving community, a destination resort.

The trail begins on a gravel road. This is looking back at the Trail Head. Not too far down the trail there is a sign with information about Bayocean with side trails going to where the town used to be. I didn't go this way.

The first part of the trail follows the edge of the Tillamook Bay. We saw sea Birds and the wet sand left by the receding tide. The hike is gorgeous and peaceful. The only restroom along the trail is very neglected. This was the inside of the men's room. There was no odor since it is well ventilated. A view looking towards the bay and the other side towards Bay City. The way the boulder was placed with the etching of a square, it looked like an entrance to the town or a building. I thought it was cool.

The trail is mostly gravel but there are rocky sections and rocks and sand and sandy sections. This was a sinkhole. one of two along the trail. It makes sense when you realize that the old city was destroyed, burned or dismantled and buried under 10 feet of sand.

My favorite part was reaching the jetty and looking into the bay and where it meets the ocean. Jetty's are amazing to me. The giant rocks used to build a jetty. The driftwood is when we encounter the sand and rocks. The sand is along the jetty. I took a picture of the rocks used to build the jetty. Parts of the beach are closed off due to nesting of shorebirds. You can still access the beach just not certain areas of the sand by the beach.

We had lunch by the jetty, sitting on old driftwood logs and watching the seagulls and other birds on the bay. My favorite part of the walk was along the beach. (Having just done the OCT section hiking beach walking is my new passion). So I took lots of beach photos. Ienjoy seeing how the ocean encroaches on the sand forming small inlets and pools.

We found the trail back into the headland. It isn't always easy finding the trails off of the beach. We had to climb a very sand dune to get back onto the upper part of the trail. I slid back and had to cling onto some of the sedges and taller grasses to pull myself up. The trail quickly dove into an understory of pines and tall shrubs which I found enchanting.

And then this trail connected to the main gravel trail and we headed back to our vehicles. I hiked with a Meetup Group. The PacNW 60+ Adults Hiking and Walking.
I find myself joining meetups and walking clubs through the American Volkssport Association a terrific way to keep walking and hiking, and meet people who become good friends.

]]><![CDATA[Over 50 Outside 2023 Hike #29/52]]>Tue, 27 Jun 2023 02:07:55 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/over-50-outside-2023-hike-2052Oregon Coast Trail (OCT)

June 13th- June 16th I had the opportunity to do a section of the Oregon Coast Trail with a friend who I know through volkswalking. We began at Depoe Bay at Ellingson St. and hiked for four days to Yachats.)

Our trip began when my friend's husband drove us to Depoe Bay and we had breakfast at the Whale Bites Cafe. The 'trail magic' could be felt right away when a customer was gently singing and playing his guitar at the table. It was the older music and after he was done we talked to him and wished him well on his journey to visit his family.
My friend and I shouldered our backpacks and were surprised to find the street we needed, Ellingson St, was directly across the street from us. We had hiked less than 2 blocks when a guy in a van stopped alongside of us all eager to hear about how long we'd been hiking. When we said literally a block he wished us well and drove off. I think he was expecting some amazing trail story!

Our first OCT Trail sign

Walking along the powerline trail next to the highway was a bit rough but we were excited to be on the OCT. We did get to look at Whale cove and did see seals resting on the rocks.

This was the bridge over Deadhorse Creek I think. We were at a small viewpoint looking back.

We saw many natural holes in rocks along the shore.

Finally we were on our way to Devil's Punchbowl.

It was great to find the signs leading to Devil's Punchbowl. The blue phone booth was actually an old 'Police Telephone for the public. Devil's Punchbowl which looks much smaller than it actually is in person.
We hiked 8.61 miles ended our day at Beverly Beach at the Hiker Biker campsite. We met a few OCT h ikers and some bike riders. The campsite had hot showers and lockers and a recharging station. Picnic tables too. The only minor complaint was having to walk uphill to get to the camp. Great 1st day of the section Hike.

]]><![CDATA[Over 50 Outside 2023 Hike 32/52]]>Tue, 20 Jun 2023 02:22:34 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/over-50-outside-2023-hike-3252(I have been diligently working on this 52 Hike Challenge and it's been a really positive experience thus far. June 13th- June 16th I had the opportunity to do a section of the Oregon Coast Trail with a friend who I know through volkswalking. We began at Depoe Bay at Ellingson St. and hiked for four days to Yachats.)

This was the last day of our section hiking. We began from the Alsi Resort where we spent the night. We had to cross the bridge into Waldport crossing the Alsea Bay. The tide was not at high tide yet, so we saw the sand and the harbor seals on the sand along the bay. We saw a young seal nursing.

Bridge heading into Waldport

Harbor seals at low tide in the Alsea Bay

We stopped to eat breakfast at the Flounder Inn Tavern. It was a tavern and a bit of a greasy spoon but they served a decent breakfast for two hungry hikers. Of course a bit out of town we came across the Hilltop Cafe-Bistro which would have been preferable.
We again caught up with another OCT hiker who we met on the first day of our hike. That is something I did learn, that even though you are hiking alone or with someone you meet other hikers and see them off and on throughout the hike. Many a mile along the beach sections we followed in his footsteps.

We walked a bit along Hwy 101 and then got back on the beach at Governor Patterson Memorial State Park. We were on the beach all the way to Yachats. There was a heavy layer of fog for the first part of our beach walk.
At one of the creek crossings we saw an eagle just standing in the creek we had to cross.

This stump appeared out of the fog. This stump started it's growth 1200 years ago but lived for 150 years. It is a California Redwood. It is one of many ghosts forest relics from the past.
Here is a better write up about the big stump.
Mystery of Oregon's Big Stump

We crossed a few smaller creeks emptying into the ocean and then we had to take our shoes and socks off to cross Reynolds Creek. It was over our ankles.
Soon we arrived in Yachats and I admit at this point all I could focus on was the Green Salmon coffee shop but I looked on Google and it had closed about an hour earlier. We were walking along the multi path through Yachats and I asked a young couple if they could recommend a place to get coffee. I really wanted a latte. They were not so helpful but then a few minutes later the woman caught up to us and told us about the ice-cream and candy shop across from the green Salmon. So we stopped there for coffee and ice-cream.
We had a campsite at Cape Perpetua State Park. We had already hiked 11.6 miles for the day. We decided to try to get a ride to our campsite. We got lucky when an employee at the candy shop said he could drive us.
This was the end of our section hike. We wanted to leave our hike on a high note. We will return and hike Cape Perpetua. For now we spent the night at the campground and finished 46 miles of hiking over 4 days.

Our final campssite at Cape Perpetua and the map of the section of the OCT we completed (from City Strides website)

]]><![CDATA[Over 50 Outside 2nd Hike for the 52 Hike Challenge]]>Mon, 30 Jan 2023 21:08:48 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/over-50-outside-2nd-hike-for-the-52-hike-challengeOn Jan 21st I completed my second hike for the 52 Hike Challenge. I did this with the We Hike Meetup. We drove to Lyle, WA and took the Centerville Highway and arrived at the trailhead along the trail on Harms Rd.

This is the upper portion of the Klickitat Rails to Trails that is 31 miles long. We hiked into Swale Canyon with a 500 foot elevation gain hiking out. We did 11.72 miles according to STRAVA.
I found this to be a beautiful stark section of the trail. I was told that during the warmer weather rattlesnakes are abundant in this area. Also during the fire season this section of the trail is closed. The trail is up on the plateau. While hiking I tried to picture being in a train looking out the window.
It was cold when we did this hike. There was ice in the river and the rocky outcrops had icicles on them.

We saw a pile of what looked like deer fur on the trail. It looked like it had been there for a long time. Made me realize how harsh this environment is. Looking up the canyon we saw 3 deer running away from us. I was amazed that they reacted to us from so far away.
There were some portions of the trail that went through patches of trees.
We did get some snow flurries while we were hiking. I stayed warm in my new OR jacket.
#over50outside

]]><![CDATA[Over 50 Outside 2023: 52 Hike Challenge]]>Mon, 16 Jan 2023 21:40:59 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/over-50-outside-2023-52-hike-challenge
I enjoy doing challenges and one of my favorites is the 52 Hike Challenge. When I went to sign up there was an application to apply to this Over 50 Outside 2023 group which is a sponsored group. The sponsors are Osprey, Oboz, Outdoor Research (OR) and of course 52 Hike Challenge. It was exciting to be accepted into this group and enjoy some good discounts from our sponsors. We meet once a month on zoom and we are challenged to hike 52 hikes in 2023. We have mentors and are mainly a support group to encourage us to hike and share our adventures.
The hikes can be urban hikes or regular hiking trails and the minimum distance is one mile.
Since I do so much walking anyway through the AVA walking club I want to do hiking trails for my personal challenge goal.
I did my first hike along the Klickitat Trail outside of Lyle WA on Sat. Jan 14th 2023. I did this through the We Hike Meetup Group in OR. 11 of us met to do this hike. Some of us met at the Gateway Transit Center and carpooled, some met at the trailhead.
The weather was overcast and it rained as we were about a mile away from our vehicles.
This is a 31 mile trail that follows the Klickitat River then into Swale Canyon and ends up at the Goldendale Plateau.
The Klickitat River is designated as a Wild and Scenic River. The headwaters originate from the Goat Rocks Wilderness area on the East side of the Cascade Range. The river is fed from the glacial run-off from Mt Adams and Gilbert Peak. The river is 95 miles long.
#over50outside.

]]><![CDATA[How to connect to a walking group or a club]]>Sat, 07 Jan 2023 04:17:42 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/how-to-connect-to-a-walking-group-or-a-clubThis blog came from a conversation I recently had with a friend who is interested in walking. I was sharing my website with her and she kept asking me how she could join a walking group. I realized my website has lots of resources for walking but it doesn't address how to join a club or a walking group.
One of the easiest ways is to join Meetup (which is free) to join. Once on Meetup you'll need to sign up and then search for hiking or walking groups. They may have many names and many levels of abilities. This is a great way to connect with people who enjoy walking and hiking.

If you are on Facebook you can also look for hiking Facebook groups. Broaden your search. If you are interested in specific trails search for friends group of the trails. Use your imagination. Facebook will even find groups you may like once Facebook recognizes that you are searching for hiking groups.

The American Volkssport Association (AVA) (America's Walking Club) has clubs all across the US and these clubs are always looking for new members. These clubs offer walks, create walks and walking events for other members of the AVA and the public. To search for clubs by state: https://my.ava.org/find-a-club.php

Some other large walking organizations that have walks and are a great way to connect with walkers is EverWalk, Freewalkers, and Shorewalkers.

My website has many resources. you can always google walking clubs in your state.
City Parks often have a Recreational program and some have hikes that are available.
AARP offers neighborhood walks in many cities throughout the US during the spring and summer months. Go to AARP and search for neighborhood walks.
There is also a group called GirlTrek. This a group specific for Black women. It is a National walking club led by very dynamic women.

Sometime community colleges offer noncredit courses and they may have hiking programs or walking destination trips.

Browse hiking books, and local hiking books. Often in the back of the book they will list local walking or hiking clubs.

I hope this helps to connect you with a walking or hiking group near you. Please add to the list if you have found some other useful resources that I overlooked.

]]><![CDATA[HealthyRoad Podcast]]>Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:55:26 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/healthyroad-podcast I was contacted on my contact form by Gary Slinkard asking if he could interview me for his new HealthyRoad Podcast.
Gary is a geocacher and has written some books on geocaching, He also has a geocache podcast called 'Geocache Talk'.
Now he is venturing into the real issues of health and fitness. My interview is about walking challenges as a tool for motivation and the benefit of walking.
I did an hour interview with him and it is divided into two half hour segments.
The Healthy road Podcast can be heard here.

As an aside, I geocached from 2007 to 2009 before giving it up. I'm not sure why I lost interest but in conversation with Gary about geocaching and learning about Adventure Labs I am geocaching again. It's a great way to walk and also look for geocaches which challenge you to think or look more closely at the things around you. I have links in the 'Seek and Find While Walking' section of my website. ]]><![CDATA[PCT Lava Lake Campground to Matthieu Lake]]>Mon, 17 Oct 2022 02:01:57 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/pct-lava-lake-campground-to-matthieu-lake

On Sept 9, 2022 Bob and I hiked starting from Lava Lake Trailhead to Matthieu Lake, on the PCT trail. On our way back we took the PCT trail over the lava section to McKenzie Hwy 242 and walked along the road exploring the Dee Wright Observatory and then followed the road back to our car. This area was deeply damaged by the Milli/Nash fire of 2017. Hiking through a burn area and seeing the devastation up close deeply impacted me.

We had some great views of the mountains and of North Matthieu Lake before reaching South Matthieu Lake. This was a gentle hike with a more gentle elevation. We stopped at the South Lake and ate lunch while Panda (bob's giant Schnauzer sank to her chest in the lake shore and enjoyed the coolness of the water.

This was a little meadow meadow lake on the trail.

When we returned we looked over at the PCT trail that continued on the lava rocks. That was an amazing hike to Hwy 242. I truly enjoyed the harshness of the lava flow. It's stark and of course I really had to watch my steps. We crossed Hwy 242 and saw the sign where the PCT heads off across the desolate Lava fields. On a through hike one would not want to be caught out here and searching for a place to camp.

We walked the Hwy to the Dee Wright Observatory and enjoyed the views. There is a trail with interpretive signs. One really struck us. The sign is from an old diary entry from a pioneer crossing the lava. in it he states "I broke an axle today" Bob and I looked across the lava and we had a laugh. The old wagon trail can still be seen in the lava rocks. See below.

This was an amazing section of the PCT.

]]><![CDATA[Vernonia Overnight and Hike]]>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 23:29:57 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/vernonia-overnight-and-hikeOn Sept 4th 2022 I did an overnight with my hiking friend Bob. We had quite the adventure.
The concept of the trip was to test out my skills and my retro backpacking equipment.

This is the last stove I've purchased and I learned that if I wanted to use this stove I'd have to buy an adaptor. So I bought a new stove. It is kind of fun looking at my retro backpacking gear and deciding if it is still usable. It doesn't fit in with the ultra light trend. My older style REI backpack will be suitable for now.
So Bob and I met up at the Pisgah Trailhead of the Crown Zellerbach Trailhead and then we drove up to Vernonia and checked in with the park host of the primitive campground at Anderson Lake. After we checked in we drove to the Holce Trailhead and parked the other car.

We hiked from The Holce TH down to the Pisgah TH which was about 18 miles. These trail signs are all along the trail showcasing the history of the logging that went on, as this is a rails to trails trail. Also there were many logging camps that were established along the trail. And the signs also highlight the geological history of the trail too. And there are really good mileage markers on the trail.
It was a good hike. We saw a coyote on the trail in a meadow.
After the hike we drove back up to Vernonia to set up our tents. Bob had his new one-person ultra light tent and I had my big two-person Kestrel tent. Unfortunately the rain fly was tacky because I had stored the tent and rainfly in my attic cove for about 20 years. I already had planned to buy a new tent the following week.
We did this trip to practice our camping skills along the PCT. At the campground the small food trailer was open so Bob and I decided to practice our 'trail town' skills so we threw our packs on some benches and bought hamburgers and sundaes from the cart. Bob learned that he needs to eat more calories on his hikes. He scarfed his burger down in a couple of bites.

Then we took our gear and hiked to the primitive camp along Anderson Lake.
That was a great experience. We had one other camper at the site, she brought us some firewood and conversation.
It was early evening and I wasn't tired. We set up our tents and Bob disappeared into his tent and didn't reappear until the next morning. I seemed to be on my own. So I walked back to the food truck area with the bathroom and warm water.

I had a good time hanging around the firepit. I talked with the owner of the food truck and a resident of Vernonia who used to live in Portland. We talked and he said I ought to move out of Portland! They left to go home around 9pm and I headed back to my tent taking a couple of photos of the lake with the light from the moon.
All my concerns about sleeping out in a tent were assuaged. I slept well and woke up feeling energized. Of course the hardest part of any backpacking trip is that waking up during the night to pee. Although the sky is always cool to look at in the middle of the night!
Our trip was a success. We considered this a practice overnight hike for the PCT.

]]><![CDATA[PCT and Timothy Lake Loop]]>Mon, 29 Aug 2022 21:28:16 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/pct-and-timothy-lake-loopOn Aug. 29th my hiking partner and I did a small section of the PCT and hiked around Timothy Lake. We started from the Little crater Lake Campground and went by Little Crater Lake.

Left: Little Crater Lake trail sign, Looking into Little Crater Lake and the gorgeous reflection of the trees on Little Crater Lake. It is amazing and not very large. Surrounding the lake is a large meadow. We continued hiking on a boardwalk and dirt path until we reached the sign for the PCT and the Timothy Lake Trail. Along this section I found some huge Skunk Cabbage leaves. I remember being told that the Native tribes in Alaska used the leaves to wrap around salmon and then bake the salmon.

I seem to have a passion for trail signs. This one marks the turn off for Timothy Lake. Says 15 miles by bike and then we later saw a sign that said 13 miles hiking. Between STRAVA and PCT books I am finding mileage to be a best estimate.

We saw this American Dipper dipping and splashing in this pool of water. The little waterfall was on the other side of the bridge we crossed. It looks like a dot, we had fun watching the bird dip and splash. The other photo is of Timothy Lake, which has an interesting history as it is an artificial lake.

Mostly hiked amongst the giant Douglas Firs and Rhododendrons.

Soon we went down a small rocky patch of trail and crossed the inlet to Timothy Lake. There was a footbridge and next to it there were some stumps and a log across the inlet and I did wonder if this was the old crossing before the bridge was built.
We stopped for a short break and 3 horses came down to cross the inlet. A woman and two children on horses. She said she was training them to cross rivers. Before the inlet there was a trailhead sign to North Pinhead. Looked like another hike for another day!

We came across another trailhead for a future hike. Miller Trail. The best views were of Mt Hood and Timothy Lake. I took a photo of Mt Hood peaking between the trees until we saw it across the lake in all of its majesty.

We reached the other end of Timothy Lake and headed back to Little Crater Lake campground. This is a relatively flat trail with minor ups and downs on a mainly forested trail of dirt.
There were some bikes and many campers and trail runners. we met one lady camping with two dogs and her cat. I'm not sure I would let my cat free range in a camp site. She said the cat hunts and brought her a dead chipmunk. That surprised me and I did wonder about the ethics of that.
Towards the end of our hike I was very focused on a huckleberry shake at the Huckleberry Inn at Government Camp on my way home.

]]><![CDATA[PCT Hike Chinook Pass SR410 to Dewey Lake and Back]]>Wed, 24 Aug 2022 03:42:57 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/pct-hike-chinook-pass-sr410-to-dewey-lake-and-backOn Sunday Bob, Panda and myself hiked from Chinook Pass at Hwy SR410 to dewey Lake and back to the car. It was a long day as we were up around 4am to drive from Vancouver to Chinook Pass, hike and drive home. The downside to section hiking as day trips.
This trail was really crowded too which really slowed us down. We met thru-hikers, and people out hiking for the day. I think I am a bit of a hiking snob as I am reminded of what hiking used to be like in the 70's - 90's when trails were much less crowded and people took hiking as a more serious endeavor. The attitude now is everyone is a hiker and hiking is no more serious than walking around your neighborhood.
It's hard to really enjoy the views when people are surrounding you at the viewpoints. Plus constantly stopping to let people pass or to pass people along the trail.
On the plus side hiking is more accessible to everyone.

]]><![CDATA[PCT Days August 19, 2022 Cascade Locks, OR]]>Wed, 24 Aug 2022 01:59:34 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/pct-days-august-19-2022-cascade-locks-or

These were some photos I took from Wa Na Pa Street. The photo of the real bridge was taken from Marine Park towards the parking lot by the fishing area at Marine Park.

I walked around Marine Park waiting for PCT Days to open. I didn't take any photos of the area with all the booths and food trucks.
There is a statue of a cougar and Sacajawea carrying her papoose. The Sternwheeler was returning from a tour. I took two photos of tribal fishing platforms that are used by the Native Americans who fish for salmon on the Columbia River.
I sat on the rocky protuberance. Thunder Island is in the background where the thru-hikers could camp for free during PCT Days.

PCT Days has many vendors selling everything from books to dehydrated food, stoves, tents, backpacks etc... I stopped by Next Adventure and was fitted for some insoles for my Altra trail shoes. The person who fitted my foot knew what he was talking about.

I met Liz 'Snorkel' Thomas who advocated Thru-hiking your city and is a long distance hiker. That was cool. I always enjoy meeting and talking to people who I feature on my website.
I bought a couple of books from Mountaineers Books as they had them marked down to $10 per book.

As a section hiker I looked at the latest and lightest gear. I have my backpacking gear from probably the early 90's. Remember the inflatable Thermarest pad? You open the valve and it inflates on it's own.
It was an enjoyable event. A great gathering of thru-hikers who used this time to rest, catch up with their hiker friends and eat.
I headed home in the late afternoon.

]]><![CDATA[PCT Trailhead from Bridge of Gods to PCT Bridge on Dry Creek Rd.]]>Wed, 24 Aug 2022 00:50:25 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/pct-trailhead-from-bridge-of-gods-to-pct-bridge-on-dry-creek-rd

On Friday Aug. 19th Bob and I hiked the short section of the PCT from the Bridge of the gods trail sign to the bridge that is off of Dry Creek Rd. Our goal was Dry Creek Falls and then back to Cascade Locks to check out the PCT Days event in Cascade Locks later that day.

My last time on this trail was before the Eagle Creek Fire in 2017. This is what it looks like now.

This was our goal. To walk to Dry Creek Falls.

This is what is left of the famous 'shoe tree' near Dry Creek Falls. It used to have more larger branches with many more trail shoes hanging from the branches. I only saw one pair of shoes this time.
Below is a photo of Dry Creek.

I took some photos of the berries that I found as we headed back to Cascade Locks. We hiked back along Dry Creek Road. It does get dry and grassy on the way back to town!

Fairy Bells (Prosartes hookeri)

Snowberry also known as Waxberry.

]]><![CDATA[Why Hike the PCT Now?]]>Thu, 18 Aug 2022 01:40:57 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/why-hike-the-pct-nowI am a very active member of the AVA (American Volkssport Association dba America's Walking Club.
At a multi-day walk event held in Ashland OR our AVA President who lives in WA worked diligently to create a PCT hiker challenge book and sanctioned sections of the Pacific Crest Trail for volkswalkers and anyone else who is interested in the AVA to walk. Or check out my.ava.org to sign up for an account.

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My friend Bob, had never hiked on the PCT before and he had this vision of section hiking the PCT in WA, eventually doing the entire PCT.
We've walked together before on long hikes so he asked me if I was interested in doing this with him. I said yes.

Why Now?
Every year in September the AVA fund raises and is part of the Big Give. The AVA tries to raise enough money through donations, campaigns and match donations.
Bob and I along with his dog Panda are hiking the PCT and asking people to pledge money to support the AVA.
We are calling this The Big Walk.
We hope to raise money to keep the AVA organization strong.

So that's why we decided to section hike the PCT. It may take us a few years but it is a worthy goal. So far my 'take' on the PCT is it is as stunning as it is brutal!

]]><![CDATA[WA PCT Trail CG2070 Rd to Panther Creek Campground]]>Wed, 17 Aug 2022 22:59:59 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/wa-pct-trail-cg2070-rd-to-panther-creek-campground

I confess I do not know the name of these falls but they are on CG2000 Rd. It seems to be a popular area for folks to access by car.

On Aug 14th Bob and I went back to hike from Rock Creek Rd to Panther Creek Campground. We were able to skip the first mile and a half of the PCT by parking on CG2070 which crosses the PCT.

A side note we both bought new shoes to hike in. Bob bought Merrell hiking boots and I went back to the Lone Peak trail shoe. The newer models do not have the velcro to attach the Dirty Girl Gaiters to. I don't know why Altra discontinued that on the new model of the Lone Peak.
This time I brought along a walking stick that I have had since the 1980's. Something that my exhusband found on one of our backpacking trips and he stained the wood and put a rubber cap on the bottom. (I only dropped it seven times while we hiked!). When we were dating and I was on a seven week trip to Alaska, Harry attempted to section hike the PCT around Kennedy Meadows. His feet were blistered and a doctor told him not to do the hike so he never did get back to the PCT, I used the stick and liked to think he appreciated that I am doing this hike.
I also wore my tee shirt from my walk relay team, The Vintage Whine Walkers. Our team captain is very energetic and involved in many activities but feels thru-hiking the PCT is beyond her reach now. It feels like she is hiking with me when I wear the shirt. (She and I watch America Ninja Warrior when it's on and we text each other during the show since we are not watching it together).

Not 100% sure but I think this is a banana slug. We saw many of these along this section of the PCT.

Slowly some of my knowledge of identifying plants is returning to me. This is Vanilla Leaf also called Deer Foot.

This segment was much easier, thus more enjoyable. Our total elevation gain for the hike was 2368 ft.

There was a break in the trees and we got a view of Mt. Hood. Then we hiked and found an amazing viewpoint looking way down into a ravine with a river. There was a rock outcrop that was perfect for sitting on and eating our lunch.

After lunch we continued hiking and came across NB thru-hikers who told us about trail angel magic at Trout creek. The word gets passed up and down the trail and the hikers hike a little faster to get to the trail angels before the food and drink runs out. I don't recall their names but they too had thru-hiked the PCT in a previous year. Below is a photo of Trout Creek.

This is a photo of Bunker Hill. I have previously hiked to the top

This was the view of the Wind River from the bridge we crossed.
Once again Strava fooled me with the mileage. Of course we had more roads to cross before reaching Panther Creek Campground.
One reason for being close to hitting the wall about 3-4 miles from the end is perhaps due to not stopping and eating and drinking some electrolytes. I tend to focus on the finishing and instead I need to stop and get some much needed nutrition in me in order to finish the hike and not feel exhausted by the end.

Our next sections are out of sequence. We plan to hike the Herman Creek Pinnacles area of the PCT and then check out PCT days. And then our next hikes will be two trails at Mt. Rainier.

]]><![CDATA[WA PCT Trail Rock Creek Rd CG2000 to Panther Creek Campground]]>Wed, 17 Aug 2022 22:06:16 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/wa-pct-trail-rock-creek-rd-cg2000-to-panther-creek-campground

On Aug. 6th Bob and I took on the second section of our section hike of the PCT. It took us 1 1/2 hrs to park our cars at Rock Creek Rd where it crosses the PCT and at Panther Creek Campground 15.5 miles away. We started our walk at Rock Creek Rd.

We crossed Rock Creek on the bridge meeting thru-hikers filtering water and taking in the view. Our next crossing was Snag Creek.

Snag Creek was not a big Creek at this time of the year. Crossing this creek I realized the tread on my Altra Lone Peak boots were slipping. The tread was good but as I stepped onto a wet boulder my footing was not secure. On the loose rocks I noticed this too.

The above is a photo taken along the trail. We didn't get more than three miles into the trail when I tripped on something and plummeted to the ground my nose making perfect contact on a small sharp rock. I heard cartilage crunch so lying on my side I reached for my bandana to stop my nose from bleeding. Nothing bled. I sat up feeling a bit dazed, my nose was scratched a bit, it didn't bleed and luckily for me nothing was broken. The humorous aspect of my fall was me groping around for my glasses and Bob telling me I was still wearing them.
My confidence was shaken and I felt more comfortable hiking back to Rock Creek instead of going forward. I was being overly cautious. Bob agreed and so we decided to do this section again within a couple of weeks.
When we drove to Panther Creek we found trail angels, Oakley and Birdbath doing trail magic. Some thru-hikers were enjoying campchairs, fresh fruit, soda and a chance to relax and talk. Oakley and Birdbath had completed the PCT in an earlier year.
Trail names are part of the fun of Long Distance thru-hiking, We met many and some of the trail names were Misplaced, Four Shirts, Tacos and Happy Fate.
I don't know if section hikers get trail names. I wanted mine to be Scout but Bob thinks Hardnose is a much more appropriate trail name for me. I haven't come up with a name for him yet.

]]><![CDATA[WA PCT Trail SR14 to Rock Creek (CG-2000 Rd)]]>Sat, 30 Jul 2022 03:31:10 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/wa-pct-trail-sr14-to-rock-creek-cg-2000-rd

A friend of mine in the volkswalking community wants to section hike the PCT Trail in WA and asked if I would want to do this too. I am giving it some serious consideration.
On Sunday morning (July 24th) we met at the parking lot by the Bridge of the gods off of SR14. We dropped off a car where the PCT crossed CG-2000 Rd near Rock Creek and then parked the other car where we started in the parking lot. It was 7:30am when we began walking.
I was prepared. I made sure to eat a hearty breakfast. A bowl of oatmeal seemed like it would sustain me for a few hours. I carried 12oz of an electrolyte Nuun drink plus 100oz of water in a CamelBak. It was my first time using one and I am convinced it kept me hydrated as I sipped and walked. I carried medical supplies, an emergency blanket, flashlight, food, mapping apps etc... I let a friend know where I was going and sent him a photo of myself with what I was wearing on the hike. I knew this was not going to be an easy hike and I have heard of too many people who go missing in the Columbia Gorge each year.
I had some personal concerns because I hadn't walked a long distance since Covid in 2019 nor had I carried a heavy daypack for many years.
The walk to Gillette Lake was easy. (This is a photo of Gillette Lake from a previous trip)

I had heard of Table Mountain and I knew it was a steep hike but I wasn't thinking of the elevation gain that we had ahead of us. By the end of the hike we had gained 4657 feet. We were climbing for most of the 19 mile hike.
We spent alot of time hiking around Table Mountain and the slopes. We climbed switchbacks and rock slopes.

We crossed about 15 of these slopes with the rocks. And as the day dragged on the temperature climbed. I only know it was above the 90's. We reached a point where we discovered that there was a 10 mile section without a water source.
In my mind I had that 'aha' moment. I really understood how easily hikers go on a hike in the Gorge and seriously underestimate the trail length, elevation and weather. We were at the halfway point and just in the beginning of the waterless stretch and the consequences of our decision could be the difference between a successful trip or being rescued. We pushed on and took our time.
We met section hikers and thru-hikers which was fun. One woman said she had hiked 33 miles the previous day and was doing 19 the day we met her. I think the thru-hikers kept us motivated.
My friend had his dog and had to share his water with his dog. Not having water for 10 miles became more critical as the day wore on.
The PCT is as gorgeous as it is brutal. The views were stunning. At times we could look over to views of Bonneville Dam and then further along we had views of Mt Adams, Mt St Helens and even Mt Rainier. Mt Hood too.

We both relied on STRAVA to mark our distance so it was disappointing when around 5:30pm I had reached the 18.5 mile mark and according to the maps we had another 3 miles to walk. PCT has it as an 18 mile stretch or 19 according to what books one reads. STRAVA had 21.47 miles when we finished our hike.
What I learned from that is not to assume STRAVA is correct in reporting mileage.

It was an amazing hike. We finished in 9hrs and 34 minutes.
I was tired since my day had begun around 4:30am but the next day I felt good except for a blister. I wore Altra Torins and I think my feet were beat up a bit on the rocky slopes. I have Altra hiking shoes and I think my next hike I will wear those instead. I am reassured that section hiking the PCT in WA is doable.

]]><![CDATA[Walking a Marathon guest blog by Sharon Showalter]]>Tue, 12 Jan 2021 01:41:27 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/walking-a-marathon-guest-blog-by-sharon-showalterWALKING A MARATHON
I began power walking about four years ago. I had been a runner (jogger, really). I spent a lot of time in the gym using exercise equipment, lifting light weights and attending group fitness classes. Over time, I began feeling aches and pains, specifically my knees. This was not unexpected as years of pounding in high impact activities would surely lead to wear and tear injuries, but I didn’t want these issues to progress to surgery later on. I decided to switch to power walking and quickly became obsessed.
I had always wanted to complete a marathon. One day while walking, I thought “Why not walk a marathon?!” I registered for a marathon not far from where I lived. I had been increasing speed and distance as my walking progressed. I never entertained the thought that I might not finish the marathon. I had no idea what to expect but was eager.
On marathon day, I felt enthusiastic. I experienced a little anxiety, but that was mostly related to concerns about where to park, how to dress for the weather, etc. I got caught up in the crowd’s excitement as start time approached. Participants were chatting while stretching and warming up. The colorful athletic wear, upbeat music, cheering spectators and overall energy were stimulating. I was ready.
I started out near the back of the group. (I learned later that this is a good spot as participants are bottled-necked in front.) I was pumping my arms and walking fast. I passed some runners (!) and felt even more confident that I would not only finish but also perform well. Along the way, many folks asked “Are you going to walk the entire race!?” I was not the only walker. Of course, I felt fatigued after a lot of miles. My back and feet were aching. I stopped at some hydration stations, and I had a pocket full of peanuts (and I kept thinking about my post-race reward of donuts!). I said “good job” to fellow participants as I moved forward, and it felt important to thank the wonderful spectators. Around miles 16 & 20, I “hit the wall” which means that I felt worn out. I rallied. I looked around as I walked, noticing nature and interesting things. Fast forward (really fast walking!), I crossed the finish line. I felt great mentally, emotionally and, yes, physically. I had done it! My mantra had been “have a good time” (referring to a fun experience, not a clock time). I will say that after 5 hours, 32 minutes of walking, the crowd at the finish line had thinned as most competitors, especially the elite runners, had completed their race long before me. However, there were plenty of participants still crossing the finish line, and I quickly moved to the fence to cheer them on.
I returned home and, within a few days, signed up for my next marathon. I have now completed 26 marathons and counting! Just about anyone can do this! It’s simple: Put on some comfy sneakers and baggy clothes and just start walking!
]]><![CDATA[Young autistic Watertown resident completes personal quest to walk every street (Article link below)]]>Wed, 02 Sep 2020 05:06:16 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/young-autistic-watertown-resident-completes-personal-quest-to-walk-every-street-article-link-belowThis is the article written by Phoebe Gray on Aug 18, 2020
https://watertown.wickedlocal.com/news/20200818/young-autistic-watertown-resident-completes-personal-quest-to-walk-every-street?fbclid=IwAR3BykG1s6r-ypsFF5hiGhu5PElo65eqsUQts_1SGBBDmwqBvblJu48T8SI
]]><![CDATA[Making GPS Art while walking]]>Sat, 25 Apr 2020 07:01:22 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/making-gps-art-while-walkingThere are numerous walking/running apps that record your routes. Many offer free versions. Along with the mapping apps came a new trend on making GPS art from walks.
Have you ever looked at your route after a walk and thought there was a design or a picture of something that you created on your walk?
Now you can learn about GPS art and create walks that draw shapes.

The two articles are about runners who do GPS art. Swap walking for running and you're all set to do your own walking art walks.
The one article talks about the network of city streets as a palette for creating art. I think it is more like an Etch-a-Sketch since you can 'erase' your walk and do another design using the same streets.
How to Make GPS Art
Making Art on the Run? includes a video

]]><![CDATA[How to Ford a River]]>Thu, 17 Oct 2019 21:14:28 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/how-to-ford-a-riverBelow is a YouTube video by John E. Hiker that I found really informative. He makes a good point that the Federal and State organizations et al that maintain trails have a limited budget. So bridges that wash out are not always being replaced in a timely fashion. Especially on more of the remote trails.
Knowing how to safely cross a river is an important skill for backpackers.
Some immediate take aways are to cross in the morning when snow fed rivers and streams are at their lowest. Wear shoes or waterproof socks or even wool socks to cross rivers. Rocks are slippery and you may lose your footing or injure yourself going barefoot.
Undo the straps on your pack both waist and sternum straps.
Use a pole or find a sturdy stick to use to probe the river as you cross and also as leverage to help you stay balanced and upright.

]]><![CDATA[Ted Talk with Chuck McCarthy]]>Thu, 25 Jul 2019 21:47:32 GMThttps://www.allthingswalking.com/blog/ted-talk-with-chuck-mccarthyI have followed People walker since I first heard about this business a few years ago. I loved the concept of being a people walker and did email Chuck to enquire about how to do this in Portland, OR. When they expanded to other cities I applied to be a people walker in Portland. I was hired, and I felt like I have a strong background in walking knowledge and I do walk. I was disappointed with the lack of people wanting to pay to walk in Portland and some disappointment in a lack of support to getting started in Portland. I still think their main focus was on the LA area and not enough support was given to the other cities.

I do support the concept and I understand that the app they created to connect people with people walkers needed funding and due to a lack of resources the app is no longer available.

I am happy to see that Chuck did a TED talk and I hope he is able to build his business and create a people walking niche. Now more than ever there is an increasing need to walk and spend time disconnected from our electronic devices.
Scout
Website owner

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