Trail Diaries
[ About Us ] [ Upcoming Expeditions ] [ Quotes ] [ Past Expeditions ] [ Trails ] [ Trail Diaries ] [ Photo Gallery] [ Stories & Legends ] [ Maps ] [ Outdoor Tips ] [ Outfitters ] [ Link Page ] [ Favorites ] [ Weather ] [ Your Adventures ] [ Home ] [ E-Mail ] [ Trail Explorers Outpost ]
This page was last updated: Sunday, January 27, 2008 09:46:53 AM
"Always enjoy nature for that is all we are"
If it seems as if a year has passed since some content has been added to the site you are not to far off,
2004 was a year of challenges that started in late 2003 where we lost one of our family members to a opportunistic infection during a bout with the flu. Our Son in law Randy an avid outdoorsman passed along to the great paradise, in early December, you may have noted some of my writings I had mentioned his miss adventures on the trail which in the true spirit he laughed right along with us, he will be missed.
I myself fell ill with a similar flu related ailment that caused me to be hospitalized for almost a month and because I had three tubes draining my chest and lungs recovery was extremely slow and I am still recovering, and it has effected my ability to get out and explore,
I turned my focus on what I could do and rebuilt my outpost store and continued recuperating as my strength and wind slowly improved. I focused on my health and worked as much as I could on the website, while helping take care of my grandmother who left us on the 12th of June.. She will also be missed.
I hope to be back at it again this year with anew respect an admiration for life and doing what I love more than ever, so hang in there folks I will be getting out this year and for years to come. So really I have been on a journey all of this time, it never really ends the adventure the living, so keep your adventure alive and get out there and explore our world. You all are welcome to post on the bulletin board your thoughts and adventures about this site and anything else you would like to add. thanks you for stopping by!
Welcome to 2005!
Adventures are again on as I pour over the maps and prepare myself for the coming hiking season. If you would like to post your adventures I have a space just for that e-mail me or you can post your adventures. Stop by the outpost and see what I have on the shelves and put in your request for what you would like to see there too!
Welcome to 2003 a new year and new adventures when I get the 2002 logs finished I will be caught Up, sorry for the delay been busy building the Outpost!
January 31st- February 3rd 2003 :
Day One:
This trip started as along over due weekend getaway to Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast,. The weather was down right fowl it had rained in the last 5 days over 6 " and the rivers were swollen and some over there banks. Being the true North westerner I knew that Washington and Oregon could take such a soaking and not have too many things catastrophic happen a few flooded homes some inconvenience for motorist in a hurry to get home but not out of the norm for an el Nino' winter. Our drive to Cannon beach was mostly uneventful stopping in South Bend to stretch the legs and do a quick search for a Geocache (a new hobby I found online!) that failed. It was still raining, yet it was like 55 degrees tropical for this time of the year.
When we reached Naselle and got about 2 miles south of town Suzanne spotted ahead of Elk grazing along side the road (good eye for the Wapiti!) we stopped they were a little spooked by the truck we took our mental picture no time to dig the pentax out of the back and off we went to our destination not more than 3 or four miles more Suzanne saw another small band of elk up a small logging road , this was a successful trip already and we had yet to arrive at the true fun of the day. Crossing into Oregon I am always amazed and wonder what Lewis and Clark felt when they reached this part of the Columbia river, they even spoke and were very tired of the continual rain (must have been an el nino year then, too bad they didn't stick around for the spring and summer!) the rain had slowed a little and the tide was moving out good thing to help the flooding.
We got to Seaside and then the adventure was on there was a road block and a dot man stopping cars and informing them that the road had 8 -14 inches of water and low profile vehicles were recommended not to cross, of course my Ranger Pickup is lower than the average pickup and I quickly did the math in my head and decided I would check it out, sure enough the water was at least 10" and I watch as other vehicles made there way and decided it was possible one because of my math I did in my head (distance of critical engine parts and openings + vehicle weight - water flow and height= yes or no!) 2.. the alternative rout was another 70 miles compared to 6, so with Suzanne clutching the dashboard and other cars moving ahead we were going to ford the river with my Ford! the first 2 over the road fording went well the third by far was the most daunting it looked at least 12 inches and some of the vehicles were driving to fast and causing 2-3 three foot wakes Suzanne insisted we pulled over I obliged and monitored the travels of a few vehicles after convincing her we would make it if we took it slow I pulled behind an ambulance and made our way as long as my fan stayed out of the water I was comfortable it was deep but not enough to come in the door a few hot dog kids in there bigger pickups liked to see the water come up over the hood and splash other cars and a few wakes caused the ranger to sway like in a boat but after about a quarter mile we were out and on our way to our room the fording experience had drained Suzanne and this was Day one!
Day Two:
I told Suzanne about my discovery and told her I would show her. Suzanne went outside to drink some coffee and was watching the stars it had cleared somewhat, when she come back in she told me she saw a plane or helicopter and thought it was in an odd place, we both thought it was the coast guard. WE watched the news and enjoyed our breakfast and found out that Columbia had been missing and could have possibly burnt up in reentry we were riveted to the for an hour it was obvious it was lost a very sad day for all. We couldn't watch the continual coverage and speculation of the media so we headed out.
This day will be wet but I am not discouraged I am on a mission to one hike a little, find the local heard of elk and do some Cache hunting! After getting our daily dose of caffeine. Suzanne and I headed out to Ecola State park to enjoy the view from the park of the ocean, the twisting road that felt more like one lane road than a two was gorgeous as always and the view upon arrival at the picnic area was awesome the surf was definitely high and the storm was on, it was as Suzanne calls it an angry sea, I say just nasty for a need to be less poetic sorry, It was beautiful none the less.
After gazing and braving a break in the rain to walk to see the Tillamook lighthouse, we got back into the Ranger just as a huge shower band let loose on us, we drove to the second parking lot and I broke out my gps and directions and when the shower stopped we headed up the trail to find a geocache and do some hiking after struggling with the gps signal and getting what I thought was a fix we walked up the trail about a mile and I wasn't even getting close so we turned back the trail is almost like a service road for small quad service vehicles to maintain and it was fairly easy grade good warm up, disappointed that I couldn't get fix. I thought I would try the other side of the loop trail, crossed the bridge over the stream and started climbing up, this trail has many viewpoints and is breathtaking when you get to the edge of a cliff to view the ocean, they have cable fences to keep you from getting to close to the edge and they cut out some of the brush for a window we saw two bald eagles soaring above us that in itself is worth the journey. Note: if you have pets keep them leashed in this area children keep a hold of them because it is not only a breathtaking view but a breathtaking fall to you or any things death if you are not careful 500- 800 foot drop down craggy rock slopes to the rocky beach, so remember breathtaking in both ways when you traverse this trail some hiker had written on a warning sign that many pets have perished over these edges, after seeing them it is a prophetic statement even if it is graffiti!
So back to the geocache I was whooped defeated and disgusted with my gps in my failure to find a cache, I was soaking wet it was warm though 58 degrees on Feb 1st wow! The hike was well worth the trip! We headed back to our room to dry off indulge in some grub and figure out the darn gps thing. The food must of helped because I figured out what was wrong my gps was set wrong ok so I messed up after setting it I got the urge to test it again seeing we already purchased our day pass for $3 to explore Ecola, we headed back to watch the sunset and of course look for elk and see how the gps tracked it was clearing off some so all things could happen upon arrival to the upper parking lot I got my read and decided to go in on the Indian Trail it was about 1 mile south as the eagle flies but a2 mile walk it was getting late but we took the first slippery quarter mile to a view point and found elk sign but no elk, again the vista was awesome we headed back an I was sure the gps was functioning correctly and tomorrow I would find the cache! We watch the sunset and closed our day. Upon returning to our room and enjoying our dinner we talked about the Columbia and the terrible grief that all of the families were feeling even if they did know the danger and I thought about were it happened and it dawned on me waht Suzanne saw this morning I asked her again what she saw and asked her to show me were she saw it, It ws to the south east about 20- 30 degrees up in the sky she had seen Columbia! She and I both felt chills as we both realized she had seen Columbias last few seconds!
Day Three:
I awoke early to make some coffee and plan my day I checked my information and my gps I went into town to the bakery and it had yet to open it was 5:30, I thought I could find a cache that was hidden in the middle of town and I was off with y flashlight searching I found it my gps worked I exchanged information too and added to the cache and re hide it in its spot. I felt confident in that I could find the other going to the bakery I picked up some breakfast pastry and super coffee, Mochas! and went back to the room I told Suzanne about my discovery and told her I would show her. So we headed out I showed her the CacheI had found and we headed out to find the other, upon arrival to the second parking lot I got a fix and the cache was less than 300 yards to the south not north as I was looking for yesterday, I laughed and said it is true we always take the long journey first Suzanne agreed, we began our search and lo and behold Suzanne found it we repaired the cache box with anew one and stowed it away in its hiding spot and we were triumphant this was a fun activity and I will leave a link in here so you too can get outside and enjoy the hike and find some hidden caches! What a weekend getaway this was and it spanned all emotions and from terrible sadness, danger and joy and beauty could I ask for life to be any more full!
Pictures from adventure here!
Check this site out it is fun for all ages! Geocaching.com
Questions E-mail me @
[ About Us ] [ Upcoming Expeditions ] [ Quotes ] [ Past Expeditions ] [ Trails ] [ Trail Diaries ] [ Photo Gallery ] [ Stories & Legends ] [ Maps ] [ Outdoor Tips ] [ Outfitters ] [ Link Page ] [ Favorites ] [ Weather ] [ Your Adventures ] [ Home ] [ E-Mail ] [ Trail Explorers Outpost ]