Pittock Mansion Hike April 2010

Leave early with your team to get to Lower Macleay park on 28th and Hoyt as parking around this area bites the big one! We left around 8am and met up for coffee before heading out.

It was a warm day in April so with my hiking pants I wore a tank top but, brought my jacket just in case!

The bathrooms at Macleay Park were disgusting! I recommend you pee in the wilderness on this hike or wait till you hike up the 2.5 mile trail and pee at the mansion.

This hike is 5 miles round trip....2.5 miles straight up 2.5 miles straight down. Doesn't this sound like good times! Towards the end of the uphill torture one of my friends even said "this is where Sheryl gets pissy". Damn straight I was pissy...why do I even go on this hikes with you bitches was really what I was thinking!!

This was a great hike though! Good exercise and beautiful scenery! There is great things to see as you walk along the trail..but the most important thing about this hike is that the finish was amazing! Pittock Mansion is gorgeous! The views are spectacular!!

But again, make sure you bring your attitude control with you (and no sharp objects). Think about Lady Gaga if that helps! For some reason Pokerface pa pa pa pa pa pa pokerface tends to make me go faster and forget the burn in my legs and lungs.

After this hike, which took us about 3 hours with lunch at the mansion, we went and got pedicures at a nice little salon on 23rd and Glisan. This made up for all the pain I had to go through!!

FINAL THOUGHT

If you want to hike this trail then do it! It's amazing to see a park like this in downtown PTown. If you are nervous on your ability to make it up a mountain....then take your time. Make sure you are in no rush to complete it! If it really does scare you then have a friend park a car off of Cornell Rd at the other trail head you must cross that parking lot to complete this adventure up the hill. This way if your really struggling you can cut it short. But, the view was worth the pain!

Silver Falls Hike March 2010

Hmmmm...Silver Falls State Park an amazing place to hike...just not in March when its raining and cold!

We made it about 6 miles when my step-daughter gave up. She and I waited in the North Falls parking lot in the rain for over an hour while the other girls finished the hike and got the car.

This is an amazing hike! I would recommend though that if your just starting out hiking that you take the Maple Trail and go backwards to South Falls. Then as you get more comfortable with hiking do the Whole thing in like May or June...Just not March.

Oh also, don't get to close to the cliffs...some one died here the day before we went.  One more thing too...with this hike don't forget to pack extra clothes if the trail is muddy and check your attitude at the trail head. I was a massive crabby pants the whole journey. Again, I wanted to punch someone in the face but I restrained myself...

FINAL THOUGHT
Take time to complete this adventure just not in March. I am going to do this hike again maybe in September when the weather is better!

Trillium Lake Snowshoe ROUND 2 February 2010

Again, my friends Ida, Becky, and Amanda decided to go snowshoeing again! We did the same loop on Mount Hood called Trillium Lake. This time though I was better prepared! We knew the whole loop was gonna take a long time to complete so we shortened the distance. By doing this instead of turning right at the end of hill-kill-me-now we went straight.

For this second time around adventure I wore the same clothing as before: Waterproof pants, long sleeve shirt, hiking cushioned socks, and water proof windbreaker. But, I also added in some essentials to make this adventure less painful. I bought mole skin for my feet and placed huge patches of it on my arches and heel. I also brought a bandana for the sweat I knew would drip down my back.

This shorter distance is about 4 miles but, we finished it in 3 hours with time to stop and snack at the frozen lake. I'm hoping you can tell by the less cursing in my post that it wasn't that bad. I was still sore the next day in my legs but, it was easily cured with 2 advil and alot of water.

I would recommend to any other fat girl out there who is looking to explore nature is to do this 4 mile journey first. Again, hill-kill-me-now will hurt...and you might cry...and you might throw yourself down onto the snow like a toddler and kick and scream and tell your friends that you hate them but, you can do this! When Becky and I made it up hill-kiss-my-ass last (again) I didn't cry this time and we made sure to stop every 500 yards or so to take a quick breather (and to let me legs stop yelling profanities).

FINAL THOUGHT
Do this! Get out with your kids, family, or friends and DO THIS! If you are like me I was so happy with the accomplishment I had made!!

Trilium Lake Snowshoe (Satan if you ask me) January 2010

So, three of my closest friends and I decided that it would be an AWESOME adventure if we all went snowshoeing on Mt. Hood at a beautiful place called Trillium Lake. We were all so excited to spend our day together while enjoying the sunshine and the views of Mount Hood. We left around 8am for this "easy" snowshoe and we were anticipating a fantastic day together...hell did we know that I almost punched the bitches towards the end.

Along on this adventure with me was my friends Ida, Amanda, and Becky. On the hike I wore waterproof pants, long sleeve shirt, hiking cushioned socks, and a water proof wind breaker. Make sure you also bring along sunglasses, hat, and the ability to control yourself when you want to cut someone or just scream for mercy.

This mother effer will take you around 4 hours. Make sure to stop and get a pass and snowshoe's first. Its a 5 mile loop from the parking lot. When you reach the bottom of hill-kill-me-now you can either go straight or turn to the right. We chose the path to hell...the right. Even though, it's a gorgeous stroll through snow and trees...within the first mile my feet started to burn and I could feel the sweat pouring down my neck. This hilly SOB sucked ass! At times I lost my group of girls because I asked them to not wait up for me. Okay, don't do this...I thought I was going to die and if I did where they hell were they?

When we reached the frozen lake (about 3 miles in) it was glorious! We took lots of pictures and took a seat in the snow to eat some snacks before we completed the remaining 2 miles of hell. At this point...I could feel blisters on my arch's and my back and hair were so soaked with sweat I knew I smelled like I hadn't showered in weeks.

Last point I will make about this GOD AWFUL hike is that the last part...the hill I deemed Satan...knocked me on my ass! With the elevation, the fact that I am fat, and a smoker...I cried like a baby and told my Best Friend Becky to back the F off!

When we reached the parking lot Ida and Amanda had been waiting for Becky and Me for about 30 minutes. Even though Becky could have gone with them, she stayed with me and really encouraged me not to give up. This ladies, is what a true friend does! With all my adventures I recommend that you have a person like this with you..especially if you are going out for the first time!!!

FINAL THOUGHT
Even though this hike was a bitch and I swore I would never do Satan again we decided that we were going to do it again! After this adventure, I was sore for about 3 days in my legs and lower back but, I DID IT! I finished that snowshoe SOB and I did it slow but, I DID IT! and you know what...you can too!