Woman Who Walks with Dogs

Picking up the training pace!

2010-04-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

Spring has finally arrived in earnest here in western Oregon. More sun than clouds, warmer temperatures, singing birds, and flowers galore have signaled lots of folks to get outdoors, including me.

I logged 34.9 miles this week including a 13.4 mile walk this morning. So far, so good--I noticed some fatigue around mile eleven or so and a little heel irritation. That said, I was able to maintain my goal pace of ~3.8 mph throughout. And that's what it'll take to complete the marathon in less than seven hours.

Training progress!

2010-04-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

It's been a long, chilly, wet spring. And frankly, I've found it hard to get out and train. Nonetheless, I've been putting in enough miles to feel like the marathon is within reach. Today, I walked a 6.1 mile pavement loop in 95 minutes (which works out to about 3.8 mph).

This photo was taken looking south from the intersection of Lewisberg Road and Crescent Valley Drive. Along the way, I heard lots of spring birds and even a few frogs! Apple trees are blooming now, too. You can see the entire route (with elevation profile) here.

Spring Training Begins

2010-02-28T11:41:00.000-08:00

Fourteen weeks until the Newport (Oregon) Marathon! That means it's time to get serious about building mileage. I'd been craving a good long hike and we satisfied that with one of our favorite loops today.

Yowza! I could really tell that I've lost some conditioning. This hike includes a whopping 977 foot elevation gain and we covered it at a slower pace than we usually do. Nonetheless, we had a great time and enjoyed the many singing Winter Wrens along the way who are announcing that breeding season is not long away. A few Rough-skinned Newts were easing along in the still chilly air.

The most exciting part of the hike was when we watched the local elk herd--about 18-20 animals, with at least one bull--cross the road a head of us. Fortunately, we had heard them bashing around in the forest before we saw them and successfully distracted both dogs beforehand. Massive beasts, those elk, and I was glad there was fifty yards or more between us and them.

With today's 6.5 miler, that gives me 12 for the week and 71.2 total for the year.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T14:47:00.000-08:00

2009 was an awesome year for the Woman Who Walks with Dogs. Together, my dogs and I logged over 600 miles. I raised $3,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. And in the 2009 3-Day in Seattle, I completed 48 of the 60 miles.

For 2010, I've set some ambitious goals:

Complete the Newport (Oregon) Marathon in June. My goal time = 6.5 hours (which would be a 4 mph pace).
Walk the Arizona 3-Day in November. My intention is to raise at least $3,000 for the fight against breast cancer and complete all 60 miles of the walk.
Log a total of 750 miles in 2010.

Today, we started the New Year with a splashy, rainy hike beginning at FR 800 (which I sometimes refer to as my Baker Creek route). This time, however, we took a left turn on an unmarked dirt track for a roughly 3 mile out and back). As we paralleled Baker Creek, the trail was running with water one to two inches deep (or more). Dogs loved splashing along and by then, my boots were already wet, so I soldiered along until the track dwindled to one of the many unsanctioned mountain bike trails that crisscross the forest here. Despite the conditions, it was a fun walk that felt like an excellent start for the year.

Great video of the Seattle 3-day

2009-09-22T11:29:00.001-07:00

Seattle 3-Day 2009 Highlights

2009-09-16T11:24:00.000-07:00

The Seattle 3-Day is done. A huge project, over nine months in the making, is completed. My blisters are healing, aching muscles are beginning to relax, and I’m back out walking with my dogs again (albeit, somewhat gingerly). When I made the decision to take on the 3-Day with all that goes with it--training, fundraising, and completing the event--my motivation was to give purpose and meaning to logging the miles I cover with my dogs. I had no idea just how meaningful this event would become. Here are a few highlights (with more details to come in later posts).

There were roughly 2,200 walkers at this year’s event. Among the participants:

A young firefighter who lost his mom to breast cancer last year--he and his fellow firefighters walked the event in uniform
A pregnant mom walking the event in honor of her unborn daughter
A cancer survivor who went through a double-mastectomy
Women mourning the loss of their sisters
Men walking in honor of their wives
Trever McGhee who has taken on walking all 45 3-Day events around the country this year

We were supported by a phenomenal group of volunteers who crewed, fed, massaged, and treated our hurties. They took care of every aspect of the event from putting up our tents with us, helping us cross busy intersections safely, and giving us hugs of encouragement when we needed them most. Our all-volunteer medical crew was made up of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and EMTs. The nurse that treated my blisters on the morning of the third day is currently undergoing chemo for breast cancer yet she was there, tenderly taking care of us all the same.

Hundreds of local people came out to cheer us on. We passed through neighborhoods decorated in pink ribbons and balloons. Moms and their kids passed out homemade rice crispy treats--that were colored pink. People baked cookies, brought out candy, ran their sprinklers so we could douse ourselves and cool off. They cheered, they prayed, they encouraged and thanked us everywhere we went. Two guys on motorcycles pulled off the road to shake my hand and thank me for walking. Highway workers gave us thumbs up and told us, “Good job!” Truckers blew their horns in support. The love and support was beyond imagining.

I made more friends than I can count, including “The Colonel,” Joe, who kept me going on day two when my feet were hurting so badly. My tentmate, Barbara, a breast cancer survivor, whose hospitality was boundless. Carolyn, a veteran of nearly 50 3-day events, who hails from Olla, Louisiana, only a few miles from where I grew up.

And then there was you. Thank you for your encouragement and support. I could not have done this without you. Because of your generous donations, we helped the Seattle 3-Day raise a total of over $5.5 million dollars for the fight against breast cancer.

The 3-Day was a life-changing event for me. I am altered by this experience in ways I can’t fully comprehend. It dominates my dreams and inspires my future. And yes, I am already planning to walk it again in 2010.

Countdown to the 3-Day in Seattle: Six days!

2009-09-05T06:13:00.000-07:00

Raining today in Corvallis but the forecast for Seattle next weekend is:

Fundraising goal...SMASHED!

2009-08-30T11:11:00.001-07:00

Isn't this the greatest image ever!!!??? You did it! You put us over the top and smashed our fundraising goal. Together, we've raised over $2400 for the fight against breast cancer. Whew!

I have to admit I was starting to stress a little about this. Then one of my GTD Virtual Study Group friends stepped in. She was my unseen angel, asking people to chip in and help. Thanks to her and the awesome people of the VSG, we exceeded my goal!

Not only that, but training is going well and the final countdown is underway. I feel totally ready, physically, to take on the 60 miles. Now, I have to get my mind right about camping--but that's another story.

Hurray, hurray, hurray--what an awesome day!

Great day, great week!

2009-06-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

Today marks my best week of training yet. I topped 32 miles with today's 12.5 miler in McDonald College Forest. We tackled a long loop beginning at FR 700 gate. (I'll try to map it in Gmap Ped for you later.) Long climbs, great views, perfect weather made this walk a great end to a super week of hard training.

Other good news: Fundraising topped $1,000 this week! Thanks to several generous people, I'm just shy of 50% of my goal. Please help by donating if you can--all this hard training goes for naught if I can't make the $2300 goal. That's right: if I can't raise the money, I can't be in the event. So please, please help! Five, $10, $20 goes a long way! Click here to make a contribution.

Mileage update

2009-06-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

My week's total was only 21.4 miles; today's hike fell well short of my intended 12 miler. Nonetheless, we enjoyed a challenging 7.3 mile with lots of climbing, sun breaks, and occasional showers.

We started at Oak Creek Biological Lab--a popular jumping off point for many hikers in McDonald College Forest. There were only a 3 cars at the lot when we left and 24 when we returned. Despite the popularity of this area, we saw only a couple of people after we left Homestead Trail; most people walk only a short distance from the trailhead. Our route covered Homestead Trail (which parallels FR600). We continued more or less due north on Extendo Trail, a popular mountain biking route that is somewhat aerobically challenging with roughly 500 feet of elevation gain in less than a mile. From the end of Extendo, we followed FR680 to FR770 which loops back through a nice old growth stand before descending back to Homestead Trail to close the loop. You can see a rough approximation map of the route here (my hiking mileage was measured by GPS, not the map here). From the elevation grid, you can see that nearly two-thirds of the hike was uphill, covering 1,243 feet elevation gain.

The dogs enjoyed the hike as much (or perhaps more) than we did. There were streams to soak in, deer, chipmunks, and squirrels to chase, and an occasional dog to greet, sniff, and play with.

Next week's plans include 2 5-milers and a 12-14 mile longer hike for a goal total of 28 miles. I'll keep ya posted.

Making progress!

2009-06-20T08:50:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I posted a progress report so here goes. I've been logging miles each week. This week has been especially good: I've done 14 miles so far and am aiming for a 12 miler this weekend. The weather has been cool and cloudy which the big dog really appreciates. All in all, I'm making good progress toward my goal.

On the fund-raising side, I'm just short of 50% of my goal. I'm really stepping it up now and making more direct requests. I pray that I'm blessed with more generous folks like the ones who have already lent a hand.

I'll post another update after this weekend's long hike.

A perfect hike with a good friend

2009-05-16T10:25:00.001-07:00

Started early today to enjoy cool temps and glorious sunshine. We walked this incredible 6.5 mile loop in MacDonald State Forest enjoying spring flowers (tons of irises!), soaring hawks, ravens, and songbirds galore. I enjoy doing this one counter-clockwise to put the climbing early and a nice long downhill toward the end. Yes, you will dip in and out of some regenerating clearcuts on this route but for a day like today, you're rewarded with many terrific views.

Finally back on the trails!

2009-05-10T09:28:00.001-07:00

After a long break for travel, I'm at last getting back into the training routine. Fortunately, the weather is lovely, providing extra incentive to get out on the trails. Yesterday, I jumped straight in with 3 mile hike on FR720.

Today, I tackled a variation on one of my favorite loops. Today's route began at the gate on Jackson Creek Road and proceeded clockwise for a really pleasant 3 mile hike. I got out early enough that I encountered very few people and heard lots of spring bird song including Swainson's Thrushes. Many spring lilies are in bloom just now, adding to the beauty.

Mileage update

2009-04-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

Newts, Owls, Winter Wrens

2009-03-19T17:51:00.001-07:00

What do these three things have in common? All part of today's walk!

After a long day at the office, I was glad to see that the radar was pretty clear for a late afternoon walk. I'd planned a 3 miler so we headed out to our Sulphur Springs out and back. Temps were pretty mild and I ended up shedding both jacket and vest before I was done. The trip up the hill gave me time to shrug off the day's stresses, too, and before long, I found the pace of my thoughts slowing down and a deep sense of peace coming over me.

We got to our half-way point just as the sun broke through the clouds. I paused there to soak in the stillness and be fully present to the light streaming between the trees. That's one of the reasons I love these walks--the experience is as much spiritual as physical sometimes.

It wasn't just me and the dogs on this walk. There's a great big puddle at the top of the hill that attracts many Rough-skinned Newts. I saw one lazily swimming in the turbid water as well as another crossing the trail later on. I love to watch this amazing little creatures: deliberately and resolutely walking, mechanically stepping, gracefully gliding through the water, bright rusty red bodies, funny blunt faces.

Farther down the hill, I paused to listen to the rushing stream in the ravine below. Moments later, a Great-horned Owl added its voice to the babbling waters, echoing across the ravine, raising the dogs' curiosity, bringing a smile to my face. A Winter Wren was singing there, too, adding his rollicking voice to the song of the creek.

Good Lord, I am so grateful.

Spring, Spring!

2009-03-18T16:50:00.001-07:00

Wow, did it ever feel like spring today!?! Warm and sunny weather and many other hints: spring ephemerals are sprouting on the forest floor, Violet-Green Swallows are back and singing, Dark-eyed Juncos are pairing up, buds are swelling on many trees, and Turkey Vultures are soaring over open spaces.

Today's 2.6 mile walk covered my Jackson Creek loop. We hoofed it up the hill (proceeding counter-clockwise as usual), then enjoyed a more leisurely pace from there on. Streams are running full and noisy; big dog even got to soak his belly (one of his very favorite things to do in warmer weather). We stopped at the meadow on the return to have a little mousing time, too.

Breezy romp at EE Wilson

2009-03-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

After checking out the radar and making a good guess, we headed up to EE Wilson for a breezy walk between bands of rain. Our timing was excellent: the wind died down, the sun peeped out, and we got a full 4.0 mile walk in before the rain started back up.

There were lots of frogs croaking the marshy spots along with singing Red-winged Blackbirds. Tons of robins were gobbling up the zillions of earthworms that have been driven up out of the ground after all the rain we've been having.

My mileage goal for this week (that is, the past seven days) was 11 miles. I bested it by a little: 12.5 miles for the week. For next week, I'm aiming for 13 miles total with a five miler in there somewhere.

Please don't forget to keep me in your prayers. Will you consider donating to help me walk the 3 Day in September? Just click on the big pink badge to the right. Any amount is greatly appreciated!

Long Time, No Update!

2009-03-12T18:20:00.001-07:00

Wow, I had no idea I had let this much time elapse since my last update.

Today's walk was a nice 3 mile out and back in the sunshine. This makes nearly 7 miles for the week so far. We walked Jackson Creek for 1.75 on Tuesday, a forest road off Tampico Road on Wednesday for 2 miles. Making progress! My goal for this week was 11 miles total--I think I'll make it with no problem (especially if the weather holds).

EE Wilson for wet day walk

2009-03-01T18:10:00.000-08:00

It was a wet week and not one very conducive to walking. I did manage to get a little mileage in though, with a 1.5 mile stroll at Lewisberg Saddle on Wednesday and a 1.5 mile hill climb at Sulphur Springs on Friday. Today, being another soggy day, we were looking for a route that would minimize the muddy dog factor. E.E. Wilson Game Management area was just the ticket.

E.E. Wilson is located north of Corvallis, right off Hwy 99W. Once a military base, it's now a state managed game reserve that is crisscrossed with paved roads in the midst of open fields, regenerating scrub, and marsh. We walked a simple out and back for a very pleasant 2.45 mile jaunt.

The upsides to EE Wilson are plenty: tons and tons of streets to walk that are now blocked to traffic, lots of wildlife to enjoy (we heard Marsh Wrens, Virginia Rail, Red-Winged Blackbirds, and frogs to name a few), and no mud even on very wet days like this one. There are plenty of downsides to this area, too, though: being a game management area means hunters so you'll need to be aware of what season it is and avoid the area when hunting is going on. It's very near Hwy 99W so there's lots of traffic noise and in addition, it's right across from Coffin Butte (the local landfill) so it sometimes smells a bit iffy. Nonetheless, it's a very pleasant place to be and the dogs love the puddles for splashing and the fields for mousing.

Signs of Spring

2009-02-22T17:26:00.001-08:00

In downtown Corvallis this morning, I noticed some optimistic daffodils were already in bloom. Elsewhere, crocuses are popping out and bursting into bright yellow, pink, and lavender blooms. Alders have catkins, ornamental pears are budding; robins are caroling, the Scrub Jays are yakking, and the Bewick's Wrens are singing like crazy. Yes, spring is on its way. However, winter isn't over yet--the rains returned today.

We waited until afternoon to do a short but intense uphill walk. This is a variation on my Baker Creek route but instead of remaining on FR800, we took the first left fork on FR811 and hoofed it up the hill for a 320 foot elevation gain. We stopped at the end of Alpha Trail which has been recently graveled (it needed it). A nice 1.5 mile round trip.

Saturday Hike at Sulphur Creek

2009-02-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

I was out of town for most of last week; my dogs and beloved stayed home while I went off for a writing retreat. When I got back, I was greeted by a happy man and two very ecstatic dogs. This afternoon, the whole family went out for a nice solid hike on a route that is rapidly turning into one of our favorites.

When arrived at the parking spot near the gate across FR72o, there were several cars already there. The sun was still shining but high thin clouds were starting to appear. By the end of our out-and-back walk, clouds were starting to filter out the sunshine.

Puppy was in an especially playful mood, locating someone's lost tennis ball, carrying up the hill, finally losing it somewhere on the way back. Big Dog was moving slower than usual but found plenty of energy to play with a Yellow Lab we met along the way as well as to race Puppy up the hill later on. It felt great to be out in the woods again, chatting with my husband, and enjoying the sheer joy that two happy, hiking dogs can feel.

On a training note, it's time to get serious about mileage. I'm aiming for a 24 week training period and will start building my base soon. My man scouted a ten mile long route this week (by car) that I'm looking forward to tackling in a few weeks.

Finally, please consider donating to help me walk the Breast Cancer 3 Day--just click here and make a small contribution that will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Benchmarking my pace

2009-02-16T12:44:00.000-08:00

I'm in the process of thinking through what it means to train for The 3-Day. I ran a marathon way back when (ok, 20 years ago) so this sort of training isn't completely new to me. One hint I've picked up from the folks that run the event is that I'll want to maintain a 3 mile per hour pace. As a runner, I always considered myself a slow poke. So today, I thought maybe it was a good idea to determine how fast I can walk given my current level of conditioning.

I loaded up my training partners (aka Big Dog and the Puppy) and drove over to my Baker Creek route. This is a fairly challenging out and back that includes a 240 foot elevation gain over less than a mile on the way out. I hoofed it out to my usual turnaround point in 17:34 (roughly 1.1 miles for a respectable 3.78 miles per hour, if I did the math right). I was sucking wind when I got to the end and started back down the hill. I must have puttered around a little on the way back because my total time was 34:12 giving me an overall pace of 3.8 miles per hour. Not bad for a middle-aged computer jockey!

Dogs enjoyed the walk as always though I think the Puppy wondered why I was in such a hurry. He spent part of the time dancing around in front of me as if to say, "hey mom, stop and smell the whatever it is dogs like to sniff--it ain't roses." Cloudy today but no rain, 46 deg F.

Another training note: I did 20 minutes on the ellipitical this morning as well as strength training for my back, shoulders, arms, and legs.

Lots of exercise today

2009-02-15T17:57:00.000-08:00

Started the day's activities with 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer followed by upper body strength training. Then, it was off to the sunny Oregon Coast!

We arrived at South Jetty to find lots of folks out enjoying the beautiful weather. Surfers, fisherman, dogs and their people strolling on the beach. We walked the 2.2 mile loop from the South Jetty along the paved trail and back on the beach (This is the same route we did on Jan 16.)

It's a good thing we got lots of advance exercise because our next stop was our favorite restaurant on the coast: Tidal Raves in Depot Bay. We enjoyed a great meal and a tremendous view of the waves and sunshine.

Since the dogs weren't invited to the Coast with us, we came home and loaded up the boys for a short stroll. Because of the great weather, the closer trails were packed. We walked the Cameron Tract (aka Cameron Demonstration Forest) for roughly 1.75 miles. As soon as I find a decent map (or figure out the exact location on the satellite view), I'll post it.

For those who've kindly supported my fund raising quest so far, thanks! If you haven't donated yet, please click on the donate button on the right. Thanks!

A great new route!

2009-02-07T17:29:00.001-08:00

I'll post more details tomorrow but here's the route and the terrain map for this outstanding 6.5 mile loop.

A variation on Jackson Creek

2009-02-02T06:28:00.001-08:00

Walked a short route that is a variation on one of my other Jackson Creek walks yesterday. This one combines road and trail walking for a 1.2 mile loopish route. The upside was this is a nice quick walk that got dogs exercised in time for me to get back to see the kickoff of the Superbowl . The downside was the road has been graded recently is is a mushy, muddy mess. Oh well. It was a nice walk anyway.

A couple of notes. The trail portion was drawn by eye and guess. When you turn left off Jackson Creek road, you'll cross a footbridge over Jackson Creek. From there, bear right at all your choice points.

Walking but not posting

2009-02-01T13:03:00.001-08:00

I got in several walks last week but no posts. Yesterday, however, we walked a variation on one of my Lewisburg Saddle routes that I thought you'd enjoy knowing about.

Beginning from the parking area at the Saddle, you'll follow FR610 and take the first fork to the left just slightly short of half a mile out. This takes you up a rather steep grade. You'll find another sharp right turn on the way up that follows an unimproved, rough gravel road. If you climb all the way to the summit, you'll have a nice view of the valley below (weather permitting). This little out and back will give you a 1.73 mile round trip in addition to the 200 foot elevation game on the hill climb.

Dark, cloudy afternoon

2009-01-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

We've been blessed by at least seven days in a row with sunshine. However, the clouds have rolled back in. Today started off gray and has gotten darker as the afternoon progressed. Dogs were restless, though, and in need of exercise (I was out of town yesterday so no walk). When we got to the Saddle, it was covered in cars so we went down to the turnoff for FR800.

When we arrived at the parking area, ours was the only car but an SVU pulled in right behind us. By the time we left, there were five car (including ours) in the lot. Guess lots of folks decided that the Saddle was too crowded.

In any event, we enjoyed a pleasant, brisk walk up the hill and back down. Dogs ran and wrestled, came home much more relaxed than before. That gives us 2.2 miles for today and puts us at 66.71 miles total since 12/20/09.

When I started logging miles using Daytum, I didn't really have a goal in mind. Then I got the idea to aim for 1,000 miles in a year's time. My dearly beloved said, "You'll smash that. Easy." So I upped the ante and said I'd aim for 2009 miles in 2009. At my current pace, I'm not going to make that. I need to average 5.7 miles a day. In the summer, I know I can log that many or more. Truth be told, I don't know how important it is to make the goal but I'd like to make a good showing.

This brings up another thought I've been having. Rather than just tackle a mileage goal, I'm wanting to walk for a purpose, like raising money for charity. Still mulling over which one but I've thought of using my miles as training for the Breast Cancer 3-day Walk in Seattle (Sept 11 - 13) and raising money through this blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. And/or asking folks to pledge based on how many miles I log for the year. I've never tried anything like this before, so I'm not sure if I could raise the support. I know the dogs are up for anything called a walk, though, so they'll encourage me!

Big Dog celebrates Inauguration Day

2009-01-21T07:04:00.000-08:00

Sunday's route enjoyed again today

2009-01-20T16:04:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday I walked a new route that I enjoyed so much that I walked it again today.

This simple 3-mile out and back begins at the fork where NW Sulphur Springs Road becomes FR760. The right fork is FR720. If you walk FR720, you'll experience a very pleasant climb from roughly 590 feet elevation to 1000 feet over a mile or so. On a sunny morning, this is a nice alternative to FR760 which is shaded (and at the moment, also seeing some logging traffic). There's plenty of room to park at the fork itself as well as along the road nearby--please don't block the gates in any event.

You'll start off hearing lots of rushing water. At the fork, two streams converge: Soap Creek and an unnamed branch that you'll parallel during the first part of your walk. The forest you'll see is pretty young, but still very scenic especially in this first three-quarters of a mile. As you make the switchback, you may notice that the forest looks a little different. There is more madrone and a regenerating clearcut just a few yards away that likely make this hilltop a little drier than the ravine below. The second three-quarters of a mile amble more or less along this ridge as the road doubles back the way you came (but considerably higher in elevation than where you started). You'll end by passing through some small clumps of Douglas Fir saplings and arriving a turnaround.

There are numerous "unofficial" trails branching off and crossing this road. From the satellite view, it looks as if some of these trails probably connect to dirt roads on private property and may eventually intersect FR760 or FR700. For sure, there is plenty of exploring done out here as the mountain bike tracks and horse hoof prints attest.

Dogs enjoyed this route both times we've walked it. In the summer, I'll need to carry water though as there's not a stream crossing once we leave the parking area. I'm sure that I'll spend plenty of time on this one, though, as it's a pleasant, quiet, and relatively untraveled.

Sunday's Sunny Morning Route

2009-01-19T06:42:00.000-08:00

Short on time--posting yesterday's route at Soap Creek as a place holder. A very pleasant out and back, 3 mile walk. More soon!

Valley Fog; Higher Elevation Sunshine

2009-01-17T11:11:00.000-08:00

The Willamette Valley, especially the southern part, can be very foggy during the winter months. When the fog bank isn't too thick, though, lots of sunshine is to be had with only a short elevation gain. The Lewisburg Saddle isn't always high enough but this morning conditions were just right to allow a short drive to a lovely walk in the sun. We walked one of my favorite out and back routes.

The air was cold and lots of frost on the ground when we arrived around 8:30 am. Last week, the Saddle parking area was covered in cars but today, thankfully, only a couple of folks had beat us up there. The dogs enjoyed the chilly weather and there was lots of running, chasing, wrestling, and gallivanting on the way along the forest road.

Although this area is wooded and dense with wildlife, we rarely see any wild creatures while we walk other than birds. There is the occasional squirrel or deer, rarely a briefly glimpsed coyote. However there are a lot of wildlife signs, even along this very well traveled and frequently used route. At one spot especially, the deer cross the road and the dogs have lots of interesting scents to investigate. As we ambled along, Big Dog was especially distracted by something interesting. As the puppy wandered ahead, Big Dog stayed behind with his head lifted, sniffing and sniffing. Certain that something was near, I looked to the side of the road cut. There was a butt sticking out. More specifically, I saw a lifted tail, a butt hole, and lots of quills. This was an unwelcome site on so many levels. It was a porcupine with its head firmly buried in the blackberry bramble and only it's rear end sticking out. Fortunately, neither dog saw the grouchy rodent and we passed on by leaving Mr. Spiny Pants undisturbed.

The rest of our walk unfolded uneventfully for a 3.5 mile jaunt.

Here are a couple of photos from yesterday for your viewing pleasure:

Big surf at Moolack Beach, Oregon

Sailboat at South Jetty, Newport, Oregon

A glorious sunny day on the Oregon Coast

2009-01-16T17:52:00.000-08:00

Started the day in the fog with a short walk to get the dogs some exercise. Went to about the one mile mark on one of my Lewisburg Saddle routes for a two mile round trip. Took the dogs home and took off for the Coast.

It was a brilliantly sunny day with essentially no wind and temps in the 60's. To enjoy all the glorious sunshine, we walked a very pleasant 2-mile loop beginning at South Jetty in Newport, through South Beach State Park and back along the beach. Lots of folks were out enjoying the day: surfers, runners, sail boats, kids, dogs, the works. Photos to follow soon.

A quick walk at Jackson Creek today

2009-01-14T16:05:00.001-08:00

Shorter on time than I'd like to be today, so I needed a shorter walk. I wasn't up for the hill climb so I did a variation of my usual Jackson Creek route. This gave me a nice 1.75 mile out and back today and the dogs got their much needed exercise.

Soap Creek hike

2009-01-10T10:56:00.000-08:00

My original plan for today's walk was to begin at Lewisburg Saddle and walk to the top of Dimple Hill and back. By the time I arrived at the Saddle, however, 25 or so cars and who knows how many people were already there (at 8:30 am!). Not wanting to face the hoards of runners, hikers, bikers, etc, I headed down the hill and ended up following Sulphur Springs Road to the gate at FR700. I rarely spend any time in this area but that may change given the great walk we enjoyed today.

The first thing you may notice about the route map is that the route and the roads don't agree. The route was drawn using the topo map and satellite views which seem to be somewhat more accurate. In any event, you'll climb roughly 640 feet in elevation from the parking area to the end of FR 762 which was my destination today.

The walk begins by crossing Soap Creek which flows beneath FR700 via an enormous culvert. The creek was loud and strong today and temps were in the low to mid-30's with overcast skies. The forest road parallels the creek pretty closely for about the first half mile before veering away and starting up the first climb. By bearing right at all the forks, you'll experience moderately steep grades all the way out. FR700 branches off to the left at roughly the three-quarter mile point. If you want a really challenging climb, stay left on FR700--it's a doozy. I'd never explored FR760, however, so I stayed right.

FR760 continues to climb through stands of fairly large trees and many ferns. By continuing uphill you'll eventually cross a smaller stream in a broad ravine and climb up a switchback to a great overlook facing east. Despite the clouds, the ceiling was low enough that I could see the snow-covered Cascades to the east as well as great views of the forest and a big ridge to the south-southeast. I turned right on FR762 and followed it to its conclusion, a deadend that will probably serve as a timber harvest pad sometime in the future.

This area is riddled with unmarked, unmapped, but well traveled trails. The mountain bikers and horse folks probably know were all these extra routes go to and from. I saw several such unofficial trails crossing and running into the roads I walked today. Today's out and back was more than enough for me, though, at approximately 4.1 miles in total.

Sun! Blue sky!

2009-01-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

The sun breaks were brief and the blue sky patchy but still! It was a windy walk today. Started at gate on FR 800 but took the left fork after the first creek crossing (the culvert, not the bridge). This road (FR811) goes up a steep hill and forks toward the end. If you take the left fork, you'll run in to Alpha Trail. If you bear right, you'll follow a newer (perhaps unnumbered) forest road that peters out at a dead end roughly a mile farther on. It was this newer road that I walked today.

The route pictured here is approximate, drawn from memory, the terrain view, and guessing. Maybe someday I'll get a GPS unit to learn where some of these routes really are. For sure, you can expect another steep climb on the way back as this route takes you to the bottom of a deep ravine. A very nice out and back for roughly 2.5 miles and practically no company even when other trails are busy.

A short quick walk up a steep hill

2009-01-07T17:47:00.000-08:00

Restless dogs and a short break from the rain combined with a narrow window of time between appointments today. We ran out to Jackson Creek and stormed up the hill to the one mile marker. I came home with muddy but happier dogs. Two mile round-trip with plenty of aerobic exercise.

My job is interfering with my walking

2009-01-07T08:21:00.000-08:00

Between the weather and going back to work, there hasn't been as much walking. Here's a picture of the Big Dog on the move to remind me of what I'm working for.

Brrrrrr!

2009-01-04T17:47:00.000-08:00

It was cold today. Woke up feeling cold. Freezing at the coffee shop. Cold at home. And it was really cold during our afternoon stroll.

We walked part of the Baker Creek route--33 F with a nice breeze that made it feel considerably chillier. Dogs had fun and people were ready to go back home and thaw out longer before they were ready to call it quits. Did an abbreviated out and back of slightly less than 1.5 miles. Took some pics that I'll post tomorrow.

More sun!

2009-01-03T17:44:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed more sun today. Clouds came and went but there was blue sky most of the time. I could see that Cascades to the east are covered in snow. Just a short walk today as the day was spent with family and friends. During this evening's sunset stroll around the neighborhood, Marys Peak looked stately, silhouetted at dusk. Assuming the weather holds, I'm aiming for a long hike tomorrow or Monday.

Sunshine!

2009-01-02T10:44:00.000-08:00

It's one of those amazingly rare sunny mornings in Oregon. Bad weather may be on its way but for the moment, the sun is shining, the sky is cobalt blue, and Oregonians are feeling cheerful. Everybody we met on the trail today was smiling.

Today's route is especially good for a sunny morning walk. Beginning at Lewisburg Saddle, you'll start out in the shade and walk to the east side of the ridge. The forest road (610) skirts the lower part of the ridge and climbs a long, but not particularly steep, hill. At the top of the hill, the road turns left and a short trail on the right connects with Upper Horse Trail. Continuing in the same general southward direction along Upper Horse Trail will take you past a small meadow that must have one been part of a home place. In the fall, there are several good apple trees that are worth picking from, if you can reach the apples that the deer can't get to, that is.

The trail crosses a road. This isn't the road you started out on which forked at the bottom of the hill, turning into FR 6124. By bearing right onto FR 6124 instead of following Horse Trail, you'll ease downhill to a spot at the base of a ravine where an unnamed creek crosses the trail. This is my usual turn-around point which makes a 3.5 mile out and back. The turnaround spot is in a patch of bigger trees and is a lovely place. In the summer, the creek always has enough water for the dogs. In fall, there are colorful leaves to admire. In winter, even when the weather is harsh, this is a beautiful place of silence and peace.

Jan 1 Rain

2009-01-01T15:22:00.000-08:00

Belated updates

2009-01-01T06:26:00.000-08:00

Ended 2008 with a late afternoon walk with my friend, Carol. We hiked up my Baker Creek route with two energetic dogs. Big Dog was feeling playful and Puppy was on a roll. There was a lot of chasing and wrestling in lieu of walking for the two of them.

For the humans, it was a very pleasant way to draw 2008 to a close. Baker Creek was high and fast and loud with snow melt. As we arrived at the patch of big trees, the light was just right and the mist hung in the forest in such a way that the scene looked more like a painting than an actual forest. We were both struck by the sense of awe and grandeur. It really was like being in a sacred place--a cathedral, only better. There were no man-made sounds--no traffic, no airplanes. Just the creek in the distance, our footsteps, a soft breeze swishing the branch tops.

As I look back on 2008, I am continuously grateful for where I live and the natural places I have the privilege of walking through. I give thanks for my two playful, happy dogs, my strong legs and healthy lungs and heart. I am grateful for the silence of wild places, friendly hikers and mountain bikers and equestrians met along the trails. I give thanks for walks alone and walks with friends.

Last night at dinner, Carol asked if I'd made any resolutions. I told her 'no,' but that I was focusing on what I have that I want more of. That would include more walks with my dogs, more freedom and flexibility to spend time with my family and friends, more days like the one I spent yesterday. If there is a resolution in that, it's to take the camera more often to capture what I see along the way.

Happy 2009. May the year be filled with blessings for all.

Oh. My. Goodness.

2008-12-29T07:23:00.001-08:00

Nuf said.

Winter afternoon near Baker Creek

2008-12-28T14:57:00.000-08:00

Cloudy day but no rain and unusually warm at 50° F. The Saddle was crowded with cars so I headed down to the next turnout at Forest Rd 800. Even when tons of people are up at the Saddle, this road is usually quiet. That was true today as well--we met one lone hiker and that was it.

There are a lot of routes to choose from at this starting point. I wanted a relatively short walk today, though, so we did an out and back up the hill. The route (link here) follows 800 all the way from the gate until the road peters out into a trail. A couple of features on this walk make it especially nice. Baker Creek is a lovely spot especially with the beaver ponds and lots of running snow melt. This road also goes through a patch of big trees which are stately and awe inspiring. Finally, the road climbs 240 feet in elevation over a mile which can get the heart rate up some.

The mileage on this route is approximate. I drew it out using the satellite image and referring to the map and memory. The end point is what I'm least certain of--the road narrows and is blocked off becoming a trail at the top of the climb. There's a stand of big trees (mostly on the left) as you go out and you end facing a 20 or so year old clear cut stand. If the mileage is off, it's not by too much and it's a nice walk on a winter afternoon.

As far as the dogs are concerned, this is always a good walk. There are two creeks to soak in, lots of deer trails to investigate, and today a little snow remained up toward the top. The Puppy was in the mood to pick up sticks and carry them around between wrestling bouts with the Big Dog. The Big Dog enjoyed some bites of snow and chasing the Puppy. Truth be told, though, any day that includes a walk is a good day for dogs.

My Review of REI All Weather LED Cap - Men's

2008-12-27T13:25:00.001-08:00

Originally submitted at REI

Combining the protection of a baseball cap with the illumination of a headlamp, this innovative REI cap is the perfect blend of fit and function!

Warm and toasty in the Pacific Northwest

By WomanWhoWalksWithDogs.blogspot.com from Corvallis, Oregon on 12/27/2008

Sizing: Feels true to size

Pros: Warm

Best Uses: Casual Wear, Hiking

Describe Yourself: Casual Adventurer

Bought this hat to keep my ears warm and keep the rain off during my daily walks with my dogs in Oregon's Coast Range. This hat is comfortable and keeps my ears warm without making me feel like my hearing is impaired. I like the reflective tape and the LED lights will come in handy for times when I need a little extra light or visibility.

(legalese)

Muddy Dogs!

2008-12-27T10:39:00.000-08:00

But happy dogs after hiking in wet, snowy, icy, muddy conditions. I refer to this loop as Jackson Creek which is the road and creek that the first (and last) part runs along.

Left the house around 9 am and my car was the only one parked at the pull-off by the gate when I started out. Drizzly, 45° F. The snow along the beginning of the route is mostly melted and Jackson Creek is running strong.

I walk this route counter-clockwise proceeding up graveled Forest Rd 610. This means climbing the steepest part of the route first for an aerobic challenge as I go up 520 feet in elevation over three-quarters of a mile. Today's walk was complicated by icy snow beginning around 500 feet elevation. At the top, as the route follows the ridge, snow was still surprisingly deep in places.

In spite of the fact that I rarely meet anyone along this route, it's heavily used by horseback riders, mountain bikers, cross-country skiers, and hikers like me. That meant that there was a packed trail through the snow that had iced over. Dogs have traction devices on their feet. I have worn out hiking boots. I'm looking forward to getting those Stabilicers I ordered last night. As I slipped, slid, and cussed, the dogs ran and wrestled in the snow all the way up.

The first part of this loop runs through some fairly recent (<20 year old) clear cuts. Once you gain the top, though, it runs through some very nice forest with big trees. There's only one creek crossing that's on the northwest side of the loop at the bottom of a long hill. This creek just about dries up in summer. It was running hard today, though. Still, we were able to jump it without too much trouble and without getting too wet.

On the back side, the snow disappeared and getting down the hill was much more comfortable than going up. Nice walk for a total of 2.6 miles.

Inspiration

2008-12-27T07:44:00.000-08:00

I recently found Daytum and got hooked on the idea of keeping up with some of my personal informatics. I walk with the dogs practically every day. This made me wonder: how many miles do I log in a year? To find out, I requested a Daytum beta account and began mapping my routes using G-Maps Pedometer. And then I wanted to journal it all.

When the good folks at Daytum create a widget, I'll post it in my sidebar. It's just for fun, but I'd really like to see just how many miles I can do. I'm not setting a goal for mileage. The goal is the daily walk. But I'm curious.

In the meantime, I find myself in the mood for a longer hike today. The weather is pretty unsettled. A strong, steady breeze is tickling the branch tips around the house the morning. Temps are in the mid-40's which is practically balmy but up on the Saddle, it'll be colder and quite a bit windier. Given yesterday's weather map, I'm thinking there was some overnight snow on top of freezing rain. That doesn't sound pretty. Maybe a lower elevation route would suit me better.

No matter where I go, I've got a new toy to hike with today. I bought a nifty new hat from REI. Flaps for toasty ears. Cool LED light for evening hikes--no more feeling around in people's yards to find poop!

Rain, rain, rain

2008-12-26T17:46:00.001-08:00

Weather looked like this or worse all day. Upper elevations getting snow now but had freezing rain earlier. Yetch. To console myself, I ordered a pair of Stabilicers.

Post-Christmas Evening Jaunt

2008-12-25T18:32:00.000-08:00

Family and fun activities kept me busy today so just a short loop around the neighborhood. We're between weather systems so it was a chilly, clear, starlit walk with lots of Christmas lights to admire. 34 deg and icy in spots.

Hiking in the Snow at McDonald Dunn College Forest

2008-12-24T12:37:00.000-08:00

Today's hike took us on one of my favorite winter trails. We started at Oak Creek at the old Biological Station. Went out Patterson Road, then went up Extendo Trail. Extendo is great during the winter because it's off most people's radar. It's steep and can be really muddy in places. However, the deep snow along forest Rd 681 made the effort worthwhile. We walked the 3.8 mile loop shown above. To see the full map, go to this link.