Peyton's Big #7

Peyton turned 7 this week and today we celebrated this big event at Chuck E Cheese in Cincinnati. The Birthday Boy was joined by his brother, Justin and his friends, Wyatt and Hunter.

2008 6/30 Carbon River Hike

2008 6/26 Hiking the Deschutes River Trail

The Deschutes River Trail is an easy 9 mile trail that again offers something for everyone. We hiked about 3 miles in - then turned around and hiked back to the carpark. You can raft down the river or witness the trails by mountain bike, horseback, or as we did - by simply walking. The river and the ancient lava flows are amazing. You will even hike past an ancient Indian rock shelter discovered in the 40s. The local museum offers an exhibit of all the arrowheads and other items recovered from the site that the native people used during hunting.

2008 6/25 Smith Rock State Park, Oregon

This park offers a panorama of unexpected beauty - colorful 700' walls rising directly above the meandering Crooked River. There is something for everyone in this park: photography, rock-climbing, hiking, picnicking, mountain biking, horse trails, camping and lots of wildlife. Smith Rock is one of Oregon's premier state parks.

The easy trails are on the bluff or down and along the river. We chose the Misery Ridge/Monkey Face trail. It is ranked Moderate/Difficult - of course! It is definitely one of the most scenic hikes we've ever taken. The first 3/4 of a mile is straight up and yes - it's appropriately named "Misery Ridge". Once atop you will catch the first glimpse of the monkey's head. Then the trail turns right for a steep 1/2 mile descent. You really need to be careful because the trail is loose small rock - very slippery. The remaining 2 miles is an easy cruise around all the rocks. You will be sure to see climbers on a lot of the rockfaces.

Be sure to click on the link to our photo album to see lots more great pics of this park. We could go on and on - but it was a terrific 1/2 day hike!

2008 6/24 McKenzie River Hike in the Willamette National Forest

We enjoyed probably the most scenic hike we've ever taken today along the McKenzie River - to the Sahalie Falls (120') the Koosah Falls (90') and the smallest of the three, Tamoleteh (70'). The floor was easy to tramp - deep moss covered areas, some even snow-covered as this area received a tremendous amount of snow over the winter. So much so that the highway on the Santiam Pass was still closed!

What a lovely place - the highlight of our day.

2008 6/23 Drive from Hood River to Bend, Oregon

We enjoyed a lovely drive from Hood River to Bend, Oregon today. The weather was spectacular and the scenery stunning. The beautiful snow capped peaks of Mt. Hood, Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Bachelor - not to mention all the other peaks that make up the Cascade Mountain Range are amazing. This area is spectacular and the residents here enjoy about 360 days of sunshine each year.

We've checked into our B&B - Cricketwood just a few minutes outside Bend. A brief tour of the town left us wanting more - so tomorrow will include a couple of hikes, more exploration of the region and dinner in town later in the afternoon. More to come so stay tuned.

2008 6/22 Rafting White Salmon River, Oregon

(front left - Eimhin, front right - Joe, back right - woman screaming through the entire experience)

On your mark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . get ready. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

get set. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GO!

Eimhin and Joe spent a couple of hours on the water this morning rafting the White Salmon river. They definitely got wet - and the water was extremely cold. They really got a thrill from shooting the rapids. It is one more thing Joe get's to strike off his "Bucket List."