Beacon Rock

After a camping trip with the Wheeler-Kay-Cohens in June, we stopped at this awesome hiking spot in the Gorge. It is one of the many places near Portland where, when I go there, I think to myself, "Why didn't I come here fifteen years ago!?" It's called Beacon Rock and (according to Elizabeth, who knows more about geology than I) is a basalt column. Some maniacs built a walkway up it in 1918 (or sometime in the hazy past when people drove cars which were more like carriages with engines). God bless those maniacs, because it is a thrilling hike, full of wonderful vistas and giving you access to these micro-forests on the shoulders of this otherwise inaccessible stone.

Ascending.

That's Kai, Aaron, Wendy and Barb climbing the maniac-built walkway.

Pretty good view.

Kai, Lily, Elizabeth and Suzanne taking a breather after the climb.

The friends in front of the rock.