Hiking in the City

If you've never been to Portland, OR, you are truly missing out. Not only do we have a wide collection of top notch restaurants, some of the most beautiful scenery around, and big city convenience with a small town feel, there is also a plethora of things to do. One sunny afternoon in September of last year a friend and I went for a quick hike up Mt. Tabor. Located in the Southeast section of the city, Mt. Tabor offers some of the best views of downtown. There are plenty of paths that run through the forests of this ancient dead volcano as well as a playground and the drinking water for SE. Here are some pictures from that day:

A hazy fall day, looking west from Mt. Tabor.

Wildflowers growing on the hillside.

The path.

Super cute puppy to the rescue!

Do you see the spider?

This little boy was on a mission with his koala bear backpack. His parents must have been too slow pushing their stroller, and he was impatient to get a move on!

The blue sky struck me as a beautiful backdrop to this gothic looking stone turret on the reservoir.

Then again, the water in the reservoir was also a stunning shade of blue which made for an interesting contrast against the texture of the stone.

View of the city from next to the reservoir, not as much haze in the air.

I think these are crabapples. I liked the way the sunlight was streaming through the branches.

I am reminiscing about that day right now because it was the perfect temperature out, warm with a hint of chilly breeze, right on the cusp of autumn. Today is supposed to be a record breaking day for heat in the Portland area, reaching 105F in the late afternoon. I need a hose. And a kiddie pool. And lots of ice.