Hiking in Oregon.

Mark, Rachel and I enjoy a delicious breakfast on their deck after sleeping in. We make a plan to go for a hike in the Columbia River Gorge.

On the drive out, it’s interesting to see how abruptly the city ends and nature begins. We are enveloped in the pine covered mountains in less than thirty minutes. We pull off the highway at the Eagle Creek trailhead and begin our climb up the mountain. The scenery is amazing, but it’s extremely hot. As we hike we realize that the cool stream we had plans of swimming in is hundreds of feet below the trail and the cliff in between prevents access. We eventually decide to turn around and jump in the stream near where we started.

[Eagle Creek Trail]

[Eagle Creek Trail]

[Eagle Creek Trail]

[waterfall on Eagle Creek Trail]

On the hike back down, we find a place where cool spring water is running off the mountain. We stop to cool off.

[Mark and Rachel cooling off in the spring]

Jumping in the cool stream back at the base of the mountain feels amazing. We swim around in the pool for a while before deciding it’s time for food.

[Mark and I lifting rocks by the swimming hole]

We jump back in the car and head for Hood River, OR. The beer brewed by Double Mountain Brewery is one of Mark and Rachel’s favorite local beers and it quickly became mine over the course of the weekend. We indulge in delicious wood fired pizzas and fresh beer. The three of us have a great time chatting and laughing. After dinner, we make a final stop at the Full Sail Brewery, which is right next door. It was a very fun day of hiking, delectable food & beer and lots of laughs.

[Double Mountain Brewery]