For those of you that don't know, I have off on Thursday and Friday. That's my 'weekend.' And this past weekend, I had an urge to go hiking. So, I choose a hike, packed my supplies (water, warm clothes, compass, fire-starters, some food - all the essentials, should I get stuck out there), and then headed into the Coast Range. I did know a storm was coming, but I just had to get outside! And I'm so glad I got out there - what I discovered on the trail was really incredible.

A shot of Kings Mountain, Courtesy Terry Richard and The Oregonian

My hike began from an elevation of about 500' - it was raining lightly, and there was virtually no wind. As I huffed it up toward Kings Mountain, and climbed steadily - 1,500' - 2,000' - the wind was getting more and more impressive. As was the rain. I kept going, though, and eventually broke through the canopy of evergreens and came up into a cleared mountainside. After hiking about 100 feet, I was amazed.

The wind was howling in off of the Pacific, and the rain was being blown sideways. I could actually watch the clouds come up and over top of the crest I was standing on. It was really just amazing to watch, and actually see what it is like up there when a storm is pushing in off the Pacific. Of course, it wasn't all that strong of a storm. And I was only witnessing the leading edge of it. But it was still amazing.

Did I keep going? No. I decided, even though I had all my random survival supplies, that I didn't want to get stuck up there. So I came back down after witnessing the wild weather, and drove on back to Portland.

My calves are still hurting, by the way. =)

Joe

---