Across Country: A few final Northwest adventures: Hiking Multnomah Falls, Ape Caves at Mt. St. Helens, Tim runs a half marathon, Crater Lake, and the high desert in Bend, OR

This last month we have been very busy having as many adventures as we could in Oregon. Here are a few of the better adventures in photographic highlights. Enjoy!

This is Tim at the base of Multnomah Falls. We hiked over a mile with an
elevation change of about 700ft to play in the river above.

Of course the pups came with us.

I found some sweet round rocks the size of baseballs.

On our way back down the mountain overlooking the Columbia River.

We played in the Ape Caves near Mt. St. Helens.

It took us a while to find the entry hole.

Tim went down first.

As it turns out, I was right and we actually went in the exit hole. But we were climbing down hill so apart from
8ft drops to blindly jump down, it was probably a bit easier than going up hill.

It was crazy dark and if you didn't know, I am very afraid of the dark. And caves. And cave dwellers.

Looking back on the ladder out before we started the mile and a half trek in the dark through the lava tube.

Shiny lava rocks look like silver.

It was so dark!

It was really wet and constantly dripping everywhere.
The sound was eerie and serene at the same time.

One of just two skylights in the whole 1 1/2 mile tunnel.

Weird lumps coming out of the walls.

Taking a break under the second skylight.

The exit. We were underground for almost two hours. Yeah, it was cool.
Would I do it again, probably not. I don't want to push my luck with the cave dwellers.

Then we went and saw Mt. St. Helens up close. Well, as close as we could get without hiking.

Tim ran his first half marathon! It was the Vancouver USA Marathon and he placed 21st overall and 3rd in his age group!

Tim smirking at the start.

Close to the finish line.

That kid is wondering why his socks only cover his shins.

Driving to see Crater Lake for the first time! They just recently opened the roads because the snow is still so high!

Gorgeous blue mountains.

This was on the cold side of the crater and a group of Asian tourists insisted on taking
our picture for us, telling Tim, "You are super hero! Where you come from? Super hero, super hero!"
Tim's super power: the ability to let a mild coldness touch his skin. They did not, however, insist
that I was a super hero. Probably just thought I was a crazy lady.

The island is Wizard Island. That's where Tim wants to live.

Such blue, blue water.

This was on the warm side of the crater where our shorts did not seem so preposterous to the other tourists.

It is the deepest lake in the US and is made from a volcano.

After we went to Crater Lake, we went to the Umpqua Hotsprings in the Umpqua National Forest.

We bring the pups everywhere.

The water was about 110° and the pools were situated on a cliff above a river in the forest.

On top of Pilot Butte in Bend, OR, looking out on Mt. Jefferson and Three Sisters, and a bunch of other mountains.

Playing amongst the Juniper trees on top of Pilot Butte.

Juniper tree in the high desert.

Two swans were picking on Newton by one of the rivers that runs through the city.

We found a lovely place to soak up some sun while we digested our diner milkshakes, fried foods, and Deschutes Bewery
tour samples. Newton stood guard, making sure that no one disturbed our little piece of paradise.