Lynn Amber - Travel & Photography
sharing my thoughts through words and images
Timothy Lake Journal: Fall is in the Air
As the power company draws off water to meet energy demands downstream, the lake levels are dropping and the shoreline has changed. Tree stumps that are typically submerged have gained new life and provide interesting artistic impressions across the landscape.
Before the Oak Fork Creek was dammed for hydroelectric purposes, this area was used for sheep grazing. Timothy Lake is named for the timothy grass that spanned the meadows and provided grazing food for the sheep.
As we say good-bye to summer and approach the fall season, there are signs that we are transitioning to a new season – cooler temperatures, an increase in precipitation and some leaves beginning to turn.
Timothy Lake Journal: Firefighting Planes
On two occasions this summer, we have had to clear the lake of boaters in order to allow access for a couple of firefighting pontoon planes. The Sandstone Fire (ignited due to a lightening strike) is positioned to the southwest of our location and close enough to Timothy Lake to warrant its use as a water source to help contain the blaze.
We posted signs on sandwich boards at our boat launches in the campgrounds and day use areas warning potential boaters to remain within 50 feet of the shoreline. In addition, the U.S. Forest Service deployed two law enforcements officers to patrol the lake and insure compliance by those on paddleboards, kayaks, canoes and motorboats.
In the background above, you can see one of the pontoon planes starting to lift off after filling with water. The planes have hatches that open and allow the pontoons to scoop up water. It’s amazing to watch these pilots skim the surface of the water, load up their pontoons and, then, proceed to lift up and get above the tree line. Their piloting skill is remarkable!!
The first day they were on the lake scooping water there were no visible signs of a fire. Our skies were bright blue and clear. The second day was remarkably different. In the photographs below, you can see the smoke-filled air. Due to the wind direction, the pilots also approached the lake from a different angle.
It’s been a tough year in Oregon for wildfires. We have been fortunate that none have impacted us here at Timothy Lake – with the exception of a couple of smokey days.
Timothy Lake Journal: Columbia River Gorge Biking
Back in June, we enjoyed a glorious day-off biking the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail!! The section we biked is referred to as the Senator Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead.
It is a 9-mile paved out and back ride from its starting point just outside of Hood River to the edge of the town of Mosier. Gorgeous views of the Columbia River! There is a large parking area near the beginning of the trail and a visitor center that was unfortunately closed the day we were there.
The trail follow the historic state highway – one of the first scenic highways in the US. There is an outdoor interpretive sign that aptly describes some of the history of the road.
As the signage above says – it is indeed a “road with a view!” The old road sits high above the Columbia River and Interstate 84 and offers up some spectacular views of the river along the winding, hilly trail. There are a few overlooks along the way that allow for resting and admiring the remarkable landscape – with its transition from a Douglas Fir forest to a high desert environment.
The Senator Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead between Hood River and Mosier is just one small section of the extensive bike trail along the gorge. We rode this trail back in June and, as of my writing today, this section is closed due to a wildfire in the region. Hopefully, it will re-open soon.
Timothy Lake Journal – Perimeter trail
The trail that circumnavigates Timothy Lake follows several different pathways including a section of the Pacific Crest Trail, and two different National Forest trails – the Timothy Lake 528 and 529. It’s a beautiful 13-mile hike with minimal elevation gain and spectacular scenery through the Douglas Fir forest and along the shore of Timothy Lake.
The Prince’s Pine or Pipsissewa pictured above is flowering on the forest floor right now and is a delightful little wildflower! It’s an evergreen plant found in coniferous forests – especially dry woodlands. Prince’s Pine is a medicinal plant that was used by North American native populations and considered to be an astringent and all-purpose tonic. I read that it was also an ingredient in root beer!
Moderate temperatures and lots of shade made for a very relaxing walk through the forest! Some scenes along the way:
Timothy Lake Journal – More Wildflowers!
As soon as this beautiful groundcover dogwood started to emerge I felt a kinship to this plant. It is so very similar to Cornus canadensis – which I love – or is it Cornus canadensis? Here in the Pacific Northwest I’ve come across massive displays in the forest and along the lake.
Apparently, Cornus x unalaschkensis is thought to be a cross between Cornus canadensis and Cornus suecica. The species can be hard to distinguish and since I’m no botanist I’m not going to guess which one this is! I did look up the range for Cornus x unalaschkensis and it does appear to be present in the Timothy Lake region of the Mt. Hood National Forest.
Whichever species it is – it is lovely as a carpet on the forest floor!
Bear grass is a plant that I am not at all familiar with and discovered growing en mass on the forest floor in the Mt. Hood National Forest. It gets its name due to the fact that bears like to munch on the tender, young flower stems. It has also been observed that grizzly bears will use the grassy parts in their dens!
The plant is fire-resistant and drought-tolerant – needing occasional burns for renewed growth. Another common name for this plant is Indian Basket Grass. Native Americans used this plant in basket-making and also roasted the roots as a source of food.
And, of course, the Pacific Rhododendron is at its peak right now!!
Timothy Lake changes its appearance on a daily basis and sometimes multiple times throughout the day. On a recent walk along the shoreline, the peacefulness of this scene caught my eye!
Timothy Lake Journal – Tamanawas Falls
On one our recent day’s off, we planned a day trip to the small town of Hood River to get supplies. After enjoying a DELICIOUS breakfast at the Huckleberry Inn in Government Camp, our first stop was the trailhead for the Tamanawas Falls.
This was our second attempt to hike back to the Falls!! 😉 Last week, on our way back to camp after a trip to Hood River, we thought we had enough daylight to make it to the Falls and back. In the guidebook, it said the hike was a 2-mile out and back. WRONG! We decided to turn back when we realized the mileage was not accurate and that it would be pushing it to avoid walking back at dusk.
It turns out that the correct mileage is more like 4.5 miles round-trip – still an easy distance – but had we known that the first time we would not have tried to attempt it late in the day. Sometimes, trail descriptions are deceiving! Lesson learned: read more than one review!
The trail starts at a sizable parking lot along the southbound side of Route 35 about 32 miles from Timothy Lake area. We were told that this is a very popular hike and, in the summer, it can be difficult to get a parking space. This time of year, though, it was only about half full when we arrived. I wanted to hike this trail now before the water levels drop in summer so as to get the best effect of the falls with maximum water flow. Be aware that this is a fee-based area and you do need to either self-pay a 5.00 day fee at the pay station or display a federally accepted annual pass.
Just after leaving the parking lot, there is a wooden bridge that crosses the East Fork of the Hood River. I could tell by the construction that the bridge was sturdy but it had a decided lean to the left! The river was rushing underfoot and it felt a tad unsettling crossing the bridge!
I did take the time to stop in the middle of the bridge for a photo shot of the river downstream. But, I did not linger!!
Shortly after crossing the bridge, there is a trail junction where hikers will make a right to head towards the Falls. The first part of the trail is fairly well-packed and easy with a few minor ups and downs. Along this stretch, the trail ascends above Route 35 and the road is visible to the left at times. Eventually, you come to another trail junction and, this time, the Falls trail leads off to the left. Ultimately, you are following trail number 650A towards the Falls.
From here, the path descends to the Cold Spring Creek corridor. Once you reach the creek, another bridge crosses the creek and the trail follows the river for the rest of the hike up to the Falls.
There was a ton of water in the creek this time of year and along the way we saw many “mini” waterfalls as the creek descends towards the East Fork of the Hood River.
Much to my delight, I was able to capture a few wildflowers blooming along the trail and in the forest!
The above plant, Vanilla Leaf, gets its name from the scent of the leaves when they are crushed. It is thought that the leaves can be an effective insect repellent when dried.
About a 1/4 mile before the Falls, there is another trail junction. The route to the Falls veers off to the left and enters the most difficult part of the hike. There is a short but steep rock scramble just after this junction. It’s hard to pick out the actual path of the trail but there is a preferred route if you can find it!
It’s a short jog to the Falls once you negotiate the talus slope. Often, when I hear about an awesome waterfall that is a “must see”, I’m disappointed once I reach the destination – usually the wrong time of the year and there’s just a trickle of water in the falls! Well, let’s just say that this time I was super impressed and the waterfall far exceeded my expectations! I’m so glad we made the second attempt to view this amazing place!
The Tamanawas Falls flows over a 110′ cliff that is about 40 feet wide! Very cool!! There was a significant mist rising off the waterfall while we were there and it created a mystical experience.
It was a beautiful – mostly shaded – walk through the predominantly Douglas Fir forest. I give it a 5 “star” rating as a family friendly relatively moderate hike.
Timothy Lake Journal – Spring Flowering Plants
It’s springtime in the Mt. Hood National Forest and I’m discovering lots of plants coming in and out of bloom. Right now, the Pacific Rhododendron is on full display in the forest at our elevation and is stunning!
Some wildflowers that I observed in mid-May are past their prime but I caught them while they were at their best.
The Oregon Anemone is an uncommon plant found in conifer forests of the Pacific NW up to around 5,000 feet. It’s an unassuming little plant that blooms here in mid-May. This plant is similar to the Western Wood Anemone ( Anemone lyallii) – the main difference being the number of stamens. I’m calling this plant an Oregon Anemone due to the fact that it appears to have more than 35 stamens where as the Western Wood Anemone has fewer than 35 stamens. But who’s counting?! 🙂
The Redwood Violet is a tiny little plant and I only found a few small patches of it in and around the South Shore Trail on Timothy Lake. Such a cutey!! It’s name comes from the fact that it is found in redwood forests but it also inhabits other conifer forests, including the predominant Douglas Fir forest here.
The Pacific Trillium thrives in a Douglas Fir forest so I guess that’s why it is so prolific here. There are some incredible specimens of this plant throughout the Mt. Hood National Forest. I just love this plant!!
Stay tuned for more interesting Pacific NW plants!!
Timothy Lake Journal – Mt. Hood
It has been 4 weeks since our arrival at Timothy Lake to begin our newest workamping adventure. We have settled in nicely and feel lucky to have this view every day!
It’s amazing how different the mountain appears from day to day depending on the weather and cloud cover. The other day we had a particularly nice sunset and the way the color played off the snow-covered peak was remarkable.
Workamping in Oregon
We started our workamping gig in the state of Oregon on May 6 with a weeklong training session held at the facility headquarters in Estacada, Oregon. Our employer, Portland General Electric, operates 14 different day use and overnight camping facilities along the Clackamas River corridor in the Mt. Hood National Forest and in the high desert canyons near Madras.
This year I’m trying something different after spending 5 seasons as a fee ranger for the National Park Service. My husband and I are delving into life as a camp host in one the small campgrounds that line the southern shore of Lake Timothy in the Mt Hood National Forest.
For the first week of employment, we reserved a camp site at Milo McIver State Park while attending training at the Portland General Electric Faraday Plant nearby.
The State Park is named for a Milo K. McIver who was involved in the Oregon State Highway Commission. He had a deep appreciation for nature and was instrumental in advocating for the land near Estacada to be preserved. During the time he served on the highway commission, the Oregon State Parks fell under the umbrella of the Department of Transportation. So, McIver’s work was connected to the state park system during his tenure. According to an article I read in the Estacada News, while working for the highway commission, McIver was instrumental in the acquisition of 40 new areas – bolstering the state park system and increasing its popularity among Oregon residents . There is a plaque dedicated to his vision near the Milo McIver Memorial Viewpoint located in the park.
From this viewpoint, it is possible on a clear day to see, not only Mount Hood, but also Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens. We could easily see Mt Hood due to its proximity to Estacada and could just barely make out Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens.
Milo McIver State Park maintains a few miles of trails that offer opportunities for biking, hiking, and equestrian activities. During our week there, I hiked quite a few of those miles. Spring wildflowers and native shrubs were waking up after a winter’s rest and starting to bloom along the trails and in the forest.
Many of the deciduous trees were starting to leaf out. I love the bright green color of the new leaves as they emerge! The bigleaf maple below is catching the late afternoon light through the dense forest – enchanting!
The park has an area for equestrians to park their trailers and access the horse trails through the park. Many of the horse trails are dual-purpose and also serve as hiking trails. So, I encountered a number of riders as I walked the trails.
Some of the trails offer up a nice view of the Clackamas River as it winds its way towards its junction with the Willamette River near Oregon City.
From the short introduction that I received to the Oregon forest environment here in Milo McIver SP, I know without a doubt that I am going to enjoy exploring the Mt. Hood National Forest and all the diversity of flora and fauna that it has to offer up!
Panama Canal Cruise Day 14-15
February 9, 2024 – Port of Cabo San Lucas – On Board Ship
As I mentioned in my last post, due to illness, we all stayed on board the ship today. And, it was okay. The day started off with an amazing sunrise that really lit up the sky.
I spent part of the day wandering around the ship taking pictures of some of the amenities on board. I wanted to make sure I documented some of the highlights of the ship and some of the activities available. It also gave me some exercise without overdoing it!
There are a number of different specialty bars throughout the ship and we tried our best to hit most of them! 🙂 I believe that the total number of bars serving alcoholic drinks is somewhere north of 14. Along with those pictured below, we indulged our thirst at the District Brewhouse, The Cellars Wine Bar, the “Q” Texas Smokehouse and the Skyline Bar. I’m not really a “bar-hopper” so it was fun to enjoy the variety of venues and drinks.
Our final “specialty dinner” on this day was at the Italian La Cucina restaurant – which translates to The Kitchen. It was magnifique!! Specialty dinners are an additional fee and we paid for three of these during our cruise – which we reserved prior to departure. I started my meal with an Insalata Mista, followed by the main course of Wild Mushroom Risotto. For dessert, what else?? Tira misu – YUM!
The other two specialty dining venues we reserved were Le Bistro (French cuisine) and the Teppanyaki (Japanese cuisine). We ended up switching these and ate both remaining specials at the Food Republic (Asian). Our reservations at Le Bistro were just too late at night and we preferred the Food Republic over the Teppanyaki because they served sushi.
For our complimentary meals, we had a choice of six different restaurants that varies from buffet-style to more up-scale sit-down service. We managed to visit everyone of these multiple times and they were all good. The Garden Cafe and the Observation Lounge were both buffet-style.
Some of the many dining spots in the Garden Cafe which offer views out to sea and shore.
The Observation Deck food service was more continental in style with the only hot option being oatmeal in the morning. It was a large open area filled with comfortable seating and was a popular spot! It was so much nicer to enjoy this space when everyone else was off the ship on an excursion! Window seats were coveted!!
More views from around the ship – from the pool deck to the speedway.
For the kids and “kids at heart”, there is an electric car speedway on the upper deck.
And let’s not forget – for those runners and walkers out there – a jogging track.
There is also a giant water slide on board. We did not give it a try but our friend from the Panama Canal Transit day said he indulged and it was not as scary as it looks. No thanks anyway!
Cabo San Lucas was the only port that we could not dock right at the port. We anchored off shore and the passengers were escorted to land via “tenders.” I managed to get a picture of them as they were dropping off and picking up passengers.
On our Deck 8, the back part of the ship had what is called The Waterfront and it had an outside promenade that went in a u-shape from mid-ship to mid-ship around the aft. It was fun to stroll along here and look out at sea or stop and just sit and relax in one of the many seating areas near the outside bars.
Besides wandering around taking photographs, we sat in the Atrium and participated in some trivia games – at which we were horrible!! But, we had fun! I also took in the Jersey Boys musical in The Bliss Theater since I had missed the show earlier in the cruise. It was FANTASTIC! Loved every minute of the show!! Afterwards, I met Mom and Vicki in The District Brewhouse to hear Juci Do Carmo one more time.
As we left Cabo San Lucas and started heading north, I grabbed some photographs of the shoreline from the starboard side of the ship.
An interesting thing happened after we left port that evening. We had traveled north out of Cabo San Lucas up the coast for about 2 hours when I looked out and noticed that “land” seemed to be on the wrong side of the ship?? We should have been viewing wide open seas from our stateroom on the port side of the ship and I was seeing “land.” I mentioned this to my stateroom mates and just as I made this observation, an announcement came over the loudspeaker from the captain of the ship.
Apparently, we had turned around and were hightailing it back to Cabo San Lucas. There was a passenger on board who was having a medical emergency and needed additional care beyond the capabilities of the ship medical staff. It was reassuring to know that the Norwegian staff were doing everything possible to help alleviate this situation.
On our way back, we had a great view of the rock formations from our stateroom balcony so I got some closer photographs of them. We arrived back in Cabo in record time and anchored while we waited for a boat to arrive to transport the passenger.
February 10-11, 2024 At sea and Port of Los Angeles
Our detour back to Cabo meant we were now behind schedule for our early morning arrival time in LA on 2/11/24. Our captain made up time overnight and our next day at sea by “putting the pedal to the metal” so to speak. We were still traveling under the legal limit but it was obvious we were moving faster. Along with the very rough seas for our last day, it made for a little bit more of a “bumpy” ride – not enough to really be bothered but noticeable. It brought everyone in from outside as the temperatures, occasional rain and wind were not conducive to lounging on the pool deck!
We spent much of the day packing as we had to have our baggage placed outside our stateroom by early evening. We would pick it up the next day off ship in a staging area at the port of Los Angeles. We needed to keep just a small backpack with necessary items for overnight and morning with us.
We enjoyed our last dinner at Savor Restaurant and caught the last Beatles show in The Bliss Theater that night.
The next day we waited in The Local restaurant to disembark because we had requested wheelchair assistance for Mom. We were put on a waiting list according to our scheduled, color-coded departure time. Things went smoothly and, while it was a bit of a wait, it all worked and we picked up our baggage and walked to the bus that would take us to the airport. Since our flights were not leaving until later that night, we reserved a “day stay” at an airport hotel, so we would not have to sit in the airport for hours and hours.
The bus to the airport was arranged through the cruise package and we had paid for that so we went to the airport via the bus and then grabbed the free hotel shuttle to our hotel. It was a great way to pass the day and perfect timing as we could watch the Super Bowl from the comfort of the hotel suite! 🙂
So now that the trip is over, the BIG question is whether I will ever go on another cruise! It was my first cruise and I embraced the “cruise atmosphere” with enthusiasm. The Norwegian Bliss is one of the largest ships in their fleet and, while it came with many venues and activities, the crowds in the elevators and popular seating areas could be a bit overwhelming. It was an experience and I am so grateful to my sister and Mom for inviting me along and being able to spend such quality time together. In the end, that was more important to me than the size of the ship or any of the minor inconveniences we might have experienced with crowd control.
Would I venture forward on another cruise?? Yeah – I probably will. I might choose a smaller ship than The Bliss however. And, I would most likely stay with Norwegian – hey, I’m only 5 points away from Silver status on the Latitudes Rewards program in just one cruise! Just think about all the exclusive benefits I’ll unlock during my next cruise! 🙂
Lynn Amber - Travel & Photography 