Anniversary in a Treehouse

Can you believe I've been married for three years?  For our third anniversary, Z and I decided we didn't want to do anything complicated (our original ideas included Japan, New Mexico, or even Southern California).  Instead, we chose a remote treehouse hotel in Washington State.  The drive was only about an hour and a half away, didn't involve TSA body scanners, and with no internet, allowed us to truly get away from it all.

The treehouse itself...it was not really very 'luxury' but definitely a neat place to spend some time by ourselves.

There was a great collection of old tapes and a tape player...truly rustic.  Our favorites were an old 'A Perfect Circle' mix tap someone had made, and one of the Ramones.

The Treehouse's kitchen.  The range in the background was the same exact one my last 'college' apartment in Pittsburgh had.

 

I am going to remember to bring a Mushrooming guide next time I come...lots of them looked edible, and there are a lot of places along the road that will buy your foraged mushrooms to send to stores.

The hike the last day we were there was absolutely fantastic.  For some reason, most of the good pictures of the lake were taken on my phone...I'll have to try and add some later.

For some reason I selected a really odd aspect ratio, and then never changed it back...

An excellent view of Mt. Adams.

Some of the views were like a fairy tale!  I couldn't believe how gorgeous everything looked...There were even some places where there was snow on the ground, like this gorgeous alpine meadow.

After my return I was a bit bummed to have to go back to regular life in the city...but the city is where I live, so until next time!

Fall in Oregon...

Half a mile from my house is Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, home to much wildlife and a great hiking experience.

Things growing on things which are growing on other things which are...you get the idea.

Blue Herons and Egrets are common here.

above the timberline...

One of my lifelong goals has to been to travel to the timberline, where trees will not grow.  Last Saturday, I beat the trees.  

Mt. Hood, up close and personal.

Even more personal....And approximately 7, 000 feet above sea level.

The Timberline Lodge.  Like 7 Springs + 10.

 What's it like up there?  The air is very v e r y thin.  Everything is really quiet because sound doesn't travel very well, and doing anything made me out of breath.

I don't look very happy.  Its more like I probably couldn't breathe.

The walk from the lodge to the timberline is straight up.  Do you want to recreate my experience?  Turn up your air conditioner and get on a stair stepper for about an hour and a half. Breathe into a plastic bag. 90's style clothing optional.

The photo does it no justice.  In the background you can see the high desert beyond the cascades.  The snow in the foreground is down in an enormous trench.

Oneonta Falls + A log jam is a real thing

This weekend we went here:

But to get there we had to climb over this:

What is it?  Its a log jam.  Trees along the Oneonta Gorge die and fall down into the stream.  Water carries them to the end where there are large rocks that trap the logs.  They don't block the water, just the entrance to the gorge.  There is no way around except to climb...its quite a challenge.

When the log jam is conquered there's nothing left to do but wade in ice-cold water that gets waist deep at some points.  No you can't remove your shoes, but you can ruin them by getting them wet.

Sigh.  I actually am a little depressed about that.  Should have worn sandals.  I'm sure I'll find another pair of fuchsia New Balance.  Maybe.

 Don't bother holding up those shorts, it gets way deeper upstream....Sam and Betsey are going to be surprised next week!

The kiln is being fired this Thursday. Ceramics updates soon!