Archive for July, 2011

Tumala Mountain (aka Squaw Mountain) Hiking

Sunday, July 24th, 2011
Mt. Hood from Tumala Mountain Trail

Mt. Hood from Tumala Mountain Trail

Since it was such a nice day today (Sunday), we decided to go for a hike up to Squaw Mountain, which was recently renamed to Tumala Mountain.  (You’ll find I use them interchangably through this blog post, because I don’t know (care?) what is the official or not name for anything at this moment)  Anyway, it was rumored to be a nice, moderate trail with a decent view of Mt. Hood at the top, with the ruins of an old fire lookout tower at the summit.  So we loaded up and headed out to the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness looking for adventure.

(more…)

Memaloose Lake and South Fork Mountain

Monday, July 4th, 2011
Paula Taking a Shortcut along the Memaloose Lake Trail

Paula Taking a Shortcut along the Memaloose Lake Trail

Over the long weekend, Paula and I drove out beyond Estacada to hike up to Memaloose Lake and from there, hike up to the top of South Fork Mountain.  The weather was a little cooler and cloudier Sunday morning, but the weather report had the clouds breaking up by late morning, so we were hopeful!

The forest at the Memaloose Lake Trailhead

The forest at the Memaloose Lake Trailhead

We pulled off the main road and drove an old forest road for about 12 miles until the pavement ended, and took the gravel road for another 2 miles arriving at the trailhead.  We ventured out into the forest and saw a mighty fine stand of big old trees welcoming us. (more…)