Quick Autumn Trip

Finally, dirt under the wheels.  Petey's and the Chinook.

Here's what I hate, ok dislike, as hate's a strong word, about the corridor between Portland and Seattle....friggin traffic and people.  Saving grace is that just a short distance,  east or west, of this cement slab one can find ample solitude and scenery.   Deciding I needed some of each, we planned to leave on Wednesday and spend five nights out roaming about, but no, the sewer god's had something else in mind for me. Tiffany's sewer line at the warehouse decided it needed some TLC. In order to provide this required TLC, a large hole would be in order.  Sadly, I was chosen to be the digger. Nothing more fun than moving dirt and working with plugged sewer lines. 

Designated shit pipe digger

This endeavor cut into the roam about time but we were able to leave Friday morning and after fighting the normal I-5 traffic, finally put some dirt/gravel under the tires near Packwood.  One can leave the small town of Packwood just south of Mount Rainier and explore quite a few backroads heading south through the Gifford Pinochet National Forest. Eventually, these backroads will dump you out near Hood River in Oregon.  It's approximately 100 miles between the two areas. There was some washed out roads which required some go-arounds but we eventually made it to Lake Takhlakh which we had all to ourselves.  Due to the intermittent rain showers, low-lying cloud cover, and the elevation (4400 ft) the first night out was damp and cold. With Tiffany bundled up in her pajamas and the heat cranking, we survived the night. 

With the weather conditions we had upon our arrival, you would have never known Mount Adams, at an elevation of 12,280, was out there somewhere looming over the lake. A drastic weather improvement during the night and with sunrise, Mount Adams was indeed there.

     Lake Takhlak and Mount Adams

We wasted an hour enjoy coffee alongside the lake before heading south towards Hood River.  A few short hikes and stops along the way.

 Twin Falls along the Lewis River

 Mount St Helens

 Water and green are in abundance along this route

After a late lunch in Hood River at one of the local breweries, it was off to find a spot for the night.  Ended up in Viento State Park. Wouldn't recommend this spot for camping as it sits right alongside the train tracks.  Seemed like a train came along on the hour throughout the night. Following day we worked our way along the historic route 30 through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.  Hiking trails, neat gorges, and waterfalls being abundant along this section.

Oneonta Gorge

Bonneville Dam

Ended up in the little town of Troutdale where we discovered dispersed (free) camping was hard to come by so we stopped at McMennamin's Resort well after dark and hoped to just stay in the large parking lot.  Figured we'd spend the night there and leave for home early the next morning.  Didn't happen.  No sooner had we gotten ready to settle in for the night and security came along and ran us off. Guy was nice about it and told us the location of a Wal-Mart that allowed overnight stays in their lot. Considering the late hour....parking lot at Wal Mart would have to do. An early departure the following morning and we were able to cruise back into Tacoma with a quick Autumn trip in the books.