greg's blog

Stroll along the sandy beach, check out the sea life in tidepools, climb rocky headlands up through ancient Sitka spruce forests, and take in the expansive cliff-top views of the Pacific Ocean.
The Oregon Coast Trail, which hugs Oregon's western fringe from the Columbia River to California, was recently featured in Backpacker Magazine.  Next Adventure was listed as the place to get geared up in Portland.  Oh, yeah!

Bright yellow balsamroot, fiery red paintbrush and cool blue lupine bloomed alongside a host of other wildflowers, bringing a blast of color to the mound and swale topography of Rowena Plateau and McCall Point in the Columbia Gorge.  A warm sun shone in a clear sky with a light breeze.  The only clouds to be seen clung to the snowy peaks of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams. 
Conditions were perfect for Next Adventure Outdoor School's first hike of the season.

Spring Skiing and Hiking in the Cascades

The wonders of the Northwest never cease.
 - Feel like some Spring skiing?  Deep snow still lingers in the mountains, and should stick around above 3000 feet awhile despite downright balmy weather in the valleys.
 - Had enough snow for the winter?  Many trails are melted out below 2500 feet (but expect to find snow as low as 2000 feet on protected north faces).
Chances are that trails above 4000 feet won't melt out until June again this year, but that still leaves plenty of options at lower elevations for those who don't feel like booting, snowshoeing or skiing the trail.
I don't plan to put away my skis away until May this year.    I'm already hitting the trail in my hiking boots, but too much good snow remains.

Here's a recap of the last month or so's weather, and accounts of the trips I used to accumulate the data for the above summary.  

Full-on winter hit Mt. Hood Saturday.  Freezing temperatures kept fresh snow sticking to the trees, and more snow kept falling all day to provide a real winter wonderland for Next Adventure's custom NW Discoveries snowshoe and cross-country ski trip.

Mt. Tabor is another of Portland's urban volcano parks.  From its broad, woodsy summit, views stretch east to Mt. Hood, north to Mt. St. Helens, and west to the hills above downtown, snugged up against the Willamette River.

Taking advantage of Portland's temperate climate on a sunny January day, we set out on our bikes for an southeast-side tour.

Next Adventure is sponsoring custom NW Discoveries Trips in February and March, offering discounted prices and free gear rental to help you get out and enjoy the snow!

Join Next Adventure's Outreach Team on Tuesday, February 14, for an intimate evening exploring the pleasures of snow camping in the Cascade Mountains.

Next Adventure Outdoor School introduced seven students to the thrills of xc skiing this past Saturday on Mt. Hood National Forest.

Tired of that cold, gray weather here in the Willamette Valley?  Head up toward Mount Hood and you could find something completely different.

With twenty inches of fresh powder, Next Adventure's first Winter Trip of the season got off on the right foot.  Conditions were perfect, with a bit of sun and a bit of clouds, temperatures hovering around freezing.  Cool enough to keep the snow from sloughing off the boughs above, but warm enough to pack a good snowball.  Indeed, we were a playful crew, so a few snowballs did get thrown.

It was an epic fall day on Mt. Hood.  Andrew and I hiked and scrambled up to 7000 feet on the west slope of the mountain.  October grey stayed away, and it was a beautiful day.

There were oysters, lobsters, coral and salmon along the trail.
We weren't at the beach, but hiking the Clackamas River Trail on Mount Hood National Forest.