July, 1999
On August 15, 1999 Ally and I struck out on our most amazing hike yet. Almost an hour East of Portland, just shy of Mt Hood, we arrived at Wildcat Mountain. The hardest part about these hikes it seems is simply finding the trailhead. In this case, it was several miles up an old logging road. Once there, we struck out on an unforgettable 10 mile hike to the top of Wildcat Mountain.
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With Ally loaded up, we headed off on our hike. Don't worry, I had my own pack. It seems to be fair that I carry my stuff, and she carries hers. And in case you were wondering, the first group of people we encountered had their two dogs with them....both wearing their own backpacks. |
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The initial stage of the hike led us through a dense, desolate forest. Unfortunately, the camera I was using was a cheap piece of crap and those pictures did not turn out. The picture here is slide area just outside of the first forest area. If hiking through a dense forest alone doesn't give you the creeps, then hiking across a slide zone probably will. |
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From another clearing, this was my first view of the surrounding areas. Before this view, all I could see were trees, ferns, and everything else green in a forest. This was also one of the cloud breaks that let the sun come through to warm us up. It was in the 60's that day, and I quickly learned that cotton is not a good fabric to wear on a hike. What you cant see due to the clouds is Mt Hood. |
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I promise you, if you look close enough, there really is a trail that runs through there. This picture was probably taken on our way back to the truck as we were entering a forest area again. The hike took us about 4.5 hours to do, and we hiked for 1.5 hours before seeing our first people. We saw our second group 15 minutes later, and that was it. The first 1.5 hours, and the last 3 hours, were spent alone. |
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My trusty sidekick joined me on the hike, Ally. This portion of the trail was really unique. Out of the forest, a 10 yard stretch of trail hugged the edge of the mountain allowing for a spectacular view. Fortunately for us, we did not find out why they call the place Wildcat Mountain. |
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Speaking of Ally...here she found our first mountain meadow. In the background, straight back, is the peak of Wildcat Mountain. We are still a good sized hike away from the top. It was just past this meadow that we saw our first people on the trail. |
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One of the views from along the way. The clouds were breaking up, and the views started rolling in. Unfortunately, each time we had a view of Mt Hood (not in this picture), the clouds had it covered up. |
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Another one of the views across a valley on the way. Photos just do not do things like this justice. |
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Simply amazing, you can spend hours hiking up to the top of a mountain through a forest, and then the next thing you know you walk into a wide open meadow. |
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One of the final breaks in the trees allowing for a view through the valley. If the camera had been a better one, you may be able to see a portion of the base of Mt Hood. |
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THE TOP!!!!!! Time to unload and enjoy a break and some lunch. Its amazing how comfortable a flat rock on a fallen tree can be when you have been hiking for 2.5 hours up a mountain. In the early stages of the hike, it was mildly creepy not knowing what kind of wildlife we may encounter. Even Ally was on edge at first. But after lunch, we realized that is not the unsettling part. It's not until you have to turn back and find your way home that you realize you have not been paying that much attention to the last 2 hours of trail. Thank goodness for good landmarks and a compass. |
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