Angel's Rest - January 1, 2014

The team at the end of the hike

The hiking season is officially underway! We started the year strong by hitting the trail on New Year's Day with a hike up Angel's Rest in the Columbia Gorge (4.8 miles, 1,540 feet). An unprecedented 16 adults and kids (and one dog) took part in the hike. I think eight was the previous record for any Pentaquest activity.

The conditions were perfect for the middle of winter. Portland remained shrouded in stagnant, foggy air as we drove east on I-84. But around Troutdale we emerged from the clouds and caught a glimpse of mighty Wy'east. The sky remained partly cloudy for the rest of the day.

Due to the large size of the group, we took five cars and arrived at the trailhead at different times. By 9:50 a.m. the team was assembled and we began the hike. Everything went according to plan - the kids toughed it out, but eventually had to be carried; the dog remained on his leash; and everyone made it to the top. As the day progressed we encountered an increasing number of people - a lot more than one would expect for January.

Looking west toward Portland and the edge of the stagnant air

Upon reaching the exposed summit area, the wind picked up considerably. The gusts were probably pushing 30-40 miles per hour. Thankfully it wasn't very cold out or the wind chill would have been unbearable. After soaking in the view and seeing Adams, Table and Hamilton to the northeast, we found a sheltered spot back down the trail with a view and enjoyed a snack (and a taste of Jameson).

As we descended, the number of hikers coming up the trail continued to grow. When we reached the end, cars filled the parking lot and lined the sides of the road. It would have been nice to have had more solitude, but it's hard to blame people for taking advantage of the stellar winter hiking conditions.

Overall it was an outstanding day with a great group. No notable lessons were learned or key pieces of gear left at home, but the year is still young.