For the last two years, Topo Athletic has been my go-to shoe for hiking and training. Nothing has changed; they are the best shoe so-far for my odd-ball feet. With this spring season closing and summer starting, different shoes take … Read More

After 2 longer river hikes, some elevation work was needed to keep old legs, heart and lungs conditioned. Carbon karma was a big issue as well given the drives to Rogue and Enchanted Valley. Spencer Butte carries a 30 min … Read More

A hiking buddy of mine goes to Enchanted Valley regularly, and this year he asked me to tag along. We arrived at the Graves Creek Trailhead (East Fork Quinault River Trail – NPS, All Trails) around 11:00, May 17. This … Read More

Walking around the mill race and Ducks’ football stadium today camera in hand … First those slow children and watchful parents taking up too much of the bike path One of the osprey parents took a break to clean up, … Read More

To keep up the endurance gained last week on Rogue River (post), a ‘fast-hike’ the full length of Ridgeline Tr (Spring Bvld to Blanton) and topping Spencer Butte twice. Hit the trail around 6:30 carrying lightly packed NorthFace 20L pack … Read More

I have gone through backpacks in the recent couple of years. Not from wearing them out, but due to them just not working out – fit, comfort and usability on my hikes. I sent back an REI “old fashioned” pack … Read More

Planning an Oregon backpacking trip for April / May is a challenge if one intends to stay dry … the original Rogue River Trail (BLM site or Guide) plan was to go M-F 4 nights, but the weather had material … Read More

The final gear run through before multi-day trips was a 1 night stay at Smith Rock. Late April had surprise … hot sunny afternoon on day 1, cold night, and on day 2, snow and sleet morning, then clouds and … Read More

Walking yesterday (Earth Day) along the Willamette River, raptors filled the sky, flowers opened their colors and the first baby geese left their nests. Reminder: click on pictures to open better resolution Why an idiot? As i was walking around … Read More

On earth day yet — around Willamette today a 1x life time view of earth’s magic, … and I froze camera around neck … no picture. After heart rate near normal, the same.