We love attending book readings at Powell's Book Store and recently we met Eli Boschetto, author of Urban Trails-Portland and, of course, purchased his book.
Urban Trails are a series of books highlighting hiking opportunities in and around urban cities such as Portland. Eli has hiked extensively the mountains and meadows of California's Sierra Nevada, Oregon, Washington and British Colombia and lives here in Southeast Portland.
While he was speaking we realized that while we have done some exploring, long walks and day trips we have missed all but one of the 37 trails he highlighted in the book. How is that possible????
So - even though it is approaching winter and the days are short and cold we decided to start close to home and begin our urban trail adventure.
TUALATIN HILLS NATURE PARK
Located less than a mile from our home, the park provides 5 miles of easy trails with wetlands, creeks, ponds and various trees - and thick underbrush composed largely of poison oak - STAY ON THE PATH! Every time we visit the park it looks completely different - but always welcoming!
ORENCO WOODS NATURE PARK
During the past 100 years this land has served as a nursery, famous for their apples, a golf course and home to the historic McDonald house built in 1912 (awaiting renovations). The park is 42 acres and has nearly 2 miles of easy to manage paths leading over and under bridges and streams. We saw a huge Blue Heron perched near the water, hoping for an easy lunch! The highlight of the visit was the 5 gigantic stick work sculpture heads made out of willow and red twig saplings peering out from under the Douglas firs.
Two down - 35 to go - NO PROBLEM!!!
Notes: Bundle up and remember most parks have closed their bathrooms until Spring - for your convenience - what????
Gabi
