Mt Hebo and beyond 25 Apr 2015

Beautiful day!  Certainly a gift from God on a day when it was supposed to be pretty iffy. It couldn't have been more beautiful - the light was fabulous and people who take photos know it is all about the light.
We left around 9:15 from West Salem for Hebo Lake where we parked. The trail starts off through a lush Sitka Spruce forest where everything is covered, dripping, draped in moss. If you stood still for any length of time, you would probably begin growing moss too!  As the hike climbed up the slope, the landscape changed from ferns to Oregon grape, from Sitka spruce to Fir trees which were part of a reforestation project - but the seeds are from CO and so they aren't as robust as the trees on other peaks in the coast range.  Apparently this entire trail is part of the Pioneer trail early settlers used (previously an Indian trail) to cross the coastal range.  It was easier to get through than the lower elevation rain forest.
The views from Hebo are nice but we saw that a nearby peak with a radio/cell tower on it was a bit higher and accessible so we hiked over to it.  Way better views.  We also explored South Point while we were over there.  These last two peaks required walking on Hwy 14 for a bit.  Great day!

Mt Hebo and beyond map

moss covered Sitka spruce

beautiful lush forest

straight fir

lily on the summit

from Mt Hebo - the ocean in the distance

Mt Hebo from the Radar Summit

heading out to the viewpoint on the Radar Summit

from the Radar Summit

from South Point

heading back the light was superb!

reflections in Hebo Lake