I knew that the best thing for both of us was to get outside, and even better to leave town. It took some cajoling to get Pedro to agree to go. He has not been sleeping well, due to stress about politics, and didn’t feel like he had the energy. I boldly made the unilateral decision that what he needed was me to prevent him from sitting in the house and worrying all day long. Who knows if that’s what he needed. He slept only a little better last night. But instead of doom scrolling, we had a marvelous day at the coast, and that had to be good for us both.
The day was cool, and grey, and raining. The forecast was continued rain. So we bundled up and prepared to hike in the cold rain and clouds that the coast often brings. On the way toward Lincoln City, it was dark and consistently raining, all the way to the coast. In the parking lot, it was grey and unwelcoming. That’s a reason to be proud of us: we were determined to do it anyway.
The skies opened up at one trail/road intersection, and we spotted, on a hill in the distance, our destination point. You can see it in the photo below.
And look at the skies!! We never felt a drop of rain on the trail, and as we walked, it got warmer and sunnier, till it turned out to be a magnificent day! The trail was rather steep at times, but I still recommend it because even without conditioning, the view becomes outstanding in only one and a half miles. So if you are worried about the steepness, just go slowly.
Pedro loves “dad jokes.” (Me personally, I could do without them. *sigh*) His favourite on this day was how “upstanding” this trail is, “because it’s always on the up and up.”
Then it was time to go back down.
We were back at the bottom in a fraction of the time it took to go up. The Nature Conservacy has done a great job of taking care of this trail. It was a bit muddy, naturally, but it did not slow us down. There were no treacherous places where we were forced to walk in deep mud like some trails. There is evidence of recent maintenance too.
I was laughing and relaxed by the time we reached the bottom, thinking the trail magic was over, but it was not over.
Conscious Engagement 
That is a stunning trail. I was exhausted by the uphill, but so worth it at the top. I think I need to go back and read what I wrote about it! We hoped for elk but saw none. Thanks for the reminder of this beautiful place.
It was SO steep at places. But I was trying to get my kids to plan a hike there in the future, and was glad to discover that you don’t have to summit to get the views. It would be totally worth it just to go that 1.5 miles and then go back. I’m glad you’ve been on this trail. Pedro and I had never even heard of it till yesterday.
I just read my post – oy! I suffered so! But it was also my second hike of the day. We just went to the first summit, not the second one. https://riversandroadspdx.com/2022/08/30/cascade-head/
Thanks for the link! I just read your excellent description in your blog.
A great walk Crystal, thanks for taking me and Pedro along. Get him away from the news shit and out exercising more often. Give him a shed project too I am still waiting to see one of his projects.
Love the Elk, what a sight to see
He worked a bit more yesterday on the gate, that I posted in Pedro’s Projects on the 14th. It was originally a tight fit, due to having to buy new hinges instead of using the ones already on the fence. He had to remove the gate and cut it down to size. Then he helped me with my office again. I am handpainting the trim that will go around the windows, and he is helping me to cut the trim to size. At dinner last night, he suggested that we use some scrap boards I have found on the property. He suggested that they can be used for part of my garden. If I know the man…it may be the next thing he works on. 🙂
That is good to know. There is always a problem trying to match the old with the new 🙄
Glad you added the link as I was away and missed it 😀
I’m so glad you said something. I know there are a couple of you who are especially interested in the workshop projects from Pedro, heh heh.
👍😁
What awesome views! I think you’re smart and loving to encourage Pedro to get out in nature. I hope he forgot about politics for a while! Thanks for sharing your terrific photos.
Lenore, I’m sure he did. It wasn’t my intent to take him out for the entire day, but with 3 hours of driving (out and back) and three hours of hiking (out and back), it was time for dinner as soon as we got home. He had put a roast in the slow cooker before we left, so all we had to do was dish it up – excellent! In the end, I was glad the day took so long because we really didn’t have much time to fret about things.
Well done for getting out – and for producing these excellent pictures. These times are even more worrying for you two than most XX
Thank you Derrick. Yes. All the worrying about both of us losing our income was bad. But I am adding on top of that the fact that he and his kids are brown skinned, which has always been a challenge in the US, but now more than ever. And both of us have transgender kids, a quality that Republicans are scared of and are actively oppressing. And I’m a woman, so I also am a threat. Good grief….ha ha you are right! The list just keeps going.
It’s actually my blogging community that keeps bringing me back to joy. You and Jackie in your garden give me so much happiness and inspiration. And a couple of bloggers I know are often out in nature, and that reminds me that nature makes me happy.
XX
I’ll have to add this to my hiking list as I’ve never been there. Great photos and thanks for the introduction!
Happy to send you a trail idea! This one is pretty and easy to access. The parking lot gives access to the river, too, in case you want to explore both.
Hi Crystal- I wastrying to find out more about this hike(your photos were my favorite)- how long is this trail?
why isnt it listed on alltrails.com?
Thanks you’re lovely
Hi Sharon. Thanks for the comment and the compliment on the photos. We hiked 5 miles total, out and back, but it looks like you can keep going and connect to other trails if you like. I used AllTrails, and connected to Lower Cascade Head Trail. So we hike 2.5 miles to the high point of that hill, and then went back, for 5 miles total.