Iron Mountain 27 June 2014

The forecast was rain but it was Friday so we went anyway.  We drove to the trailhead in the rain and started the hike in the rain.  But, when we got to the meadows, the rain stopped and the clouds even lifted a bit!  I saw more variety of flowers on this particular day than I had seen in the past.  Timing was perfect for the smaller variety flowers.  I could only take pictures when it wasn't raining so most photos are taken from those two locations and a couple in the "spooky woods".  We were sopping wet by the time we arrived back at the car but it was oh, so beautiful!  Thank you Lord!

Iron Mtn hike map

cat's ear

paintbrush

sedum

looking toward Cone Peak

looking toward Iron Mountain

the spooky woods

coneflower

salmon colored paintbrush

scarlet gillia

lupine

cliff penstamon

beargrass

fern forest floor

Tillamook Head 21 June 2014

We left early for the coast and enjoyed an 8 mile hike at Ecola Beach State Park.  We started at the main parking lot and hiked north 4.0 miles including the Tillamook Head view where we had lunch.  Then we turned back 4 miles.  The trail was quite muddy and challenging due to the poor state of the trail.  We hike up and down and around with lots of view of the ocean.  All the while we had the sound of surf while hiking in the forest. :-)
Ecola Beach Hike

foxglove

from the trail

Indian Beach and Tillamook Head

rock sculptures

the trail was very muddy so these boards helped

the spot where we think Clark's view point was...it was a mess from storms

Mary's Peak 20 June 2014

Mary's Peak is another one of those mountain tops I had wanted to get to in awhile.  It is the highest peak in the Coast Range at 4087ft.  We made an 8.1 mile loop out of the trails by starting at Connor's Camp, heading up on the East Ridge Trail, crossing the road to the Meadow Edge Trail and over to the Summit Trail.  After lunch and gorgeous views with tons of butterflies, we headed around the Meadow Edge Loop then down the road a bit to the parking lot at Observation point.  Then we caught the North Ridge Trail and turned back when we connected to the Tie Trail which led us right back to the East Ridge Trail.  Beautiful day in God's lovely creation!

Mary's Peak trail to peak
Return to car from Mary's Peak

Douglas fir forest with salal, oregon grape and oxalis

blooming salal

iris

star Solomon seal

looking east

a very constrasty burned section

west

west

meadows

Silver Falls State Park 15 June 2014

Our last hike - Silver Falls water falls after church on Sunday.  It rained half the time, but the clouds and rain only made it prettier.

South Falls

Lower South Falls

Lower North Falls

Middle North Falls

North Falls

North Falls from behind the falls

Upper North Falls

North Falls from the Rim trail