Woo hoo!  Mini-vacation/road trip.  Wendy planned a super sweet weekend for us to hang out, mt. bike, and hike.  On April 25th, I drove from Bend and she drove from Portland to meet up at Silver Falls State Park.  We did about 8 miles of beautiful mt. biking though a forested area.  There was a little rain, but the trails were good.  There were some serious uphills and I had to walk a few of those; I fell over a number of times going uphill b/c I didn’t have the power to climb and once I was off there was no getting back on for me on a grade.  I really enjoyed the biking though and afterward we took a walk to see one of the 10 waterfalls on the other side of the park.  There is a hiking trail to see all of the waterfalls and I hope to get back there later this summer to do that.  On Sunday, we hiked Dog Mountain(http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Dog_Mountain_Loop_Hike).  There were a number of trails up there, but I think this website shows approximately what we did so maybe about seven and a half miles?  There were great views of the Columbia River Gorge and Wind Mountain.  Wendy brought some field guides so we learned a few plants (fairy slippers were the best…they smell so good!) and Wendy is amazing at identifying bird calls so she was a great guide.  We had a personal display show by a hummingbird, too, and that was funny.  He was zooming back and forth in a half U shaped pattern and doing some kind of call.  We were entertained.  Besides our outdoor adventures, we kicked it at Wendy’s and she made really yummy food.  I had the best salad with dinner and a huge breakfast w/ toast, hashbrowns, and eggs.  I seriously felt like I was at a casino buffet!  We also played a boardgame, Blockus, with Wendy’s boyfriend, Richard, and I think I’m addicted to that game now.

On Monday Wendy had to go back to work, but she gave me directions to a super sweet hike at Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls (http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Eagle_Creek_to_Tunnel_Falls_Hike).  I was a little nervous b/c I had my bike locked in the car and I didn’t want anyone to try to break in (there were signs all over the parking lot and in the guide book about it being a high theft area) and also b/c Wendy told me it was a hike w/ some serious heights and drop-offs.  Yikes!  I’m always up for a challenge though.  The hike was about 12 miles.  I took the side trails to Metlako Falls and Lower Punchbowl Falls…great views and beautiful scenery.  At Upper Punchbowl there was a high school club of kids kayaking over the falls.  It was crazy to see these kids, so young and fearless, going over these falls in such tiny boats!  Very cool though.  About 4 miles into the hike my right foot started hurting.  I was wearing my winter boots b/c I thought it might be rainy (and it was!) and I didn’t want to hike w/wet feet.  So I carried on, but they progressively got worse.  I crossed into the Hatfield Wilderness and finally reached 175 foot Tunnel Falls.  An “engineering marvel”, a tunnel was blasted behind the falls where the path continues.  Kinda sad for the land, but cool for the hikers.  Not far beyond that was a waterfall I really wanted to see, Twister Falls.  There were high drop-offs throughout the route, but none quite as dramatic as the last stretch to reach this fall and for the first time I held onto the cable bolted into the rocks.  It was all worth it though; Twister Falls was stunning, my favorite by far.  Then the rain really started in so I headed back, but now my foot is killing me.  With five or so miles left I began to hike at a snail’s pace.  I undid my laces, but that didn’t help much.  I hiked for a couple of miles w/ no boots on and that gave me the best relief for the sharp, shooting, drop-me-to-my-knees ankle pain, but all the rocks were hard on the bottoms of my feet.  When I finally hit the parking lot I just stopped.  It seemed like I wouldn’t even be able to take the last steps to my car.  The pain was unbelievable, but I’m still happy I did that hike; it’s one of the best I’ve been on since moving to Oregon!