Crinklys Pacific NW jaunt (5/29-6/20/2021) Day 6 Going to Eugene (6/3)

Get up early and load up the car to get the day started. Head up to Black butte mountain to hike it cause its one of my favorite beers so I gotta climb it. Drive up to the upper trailhead and begin the hike to the top. The hike is much harder and longer than what it looks like on the map so I probably should have looked it up before doing it; it felt like 2-3 miles just straight up a hill/mountain. There were awesome views so it was definitely worth it but still very uneven hike (all up then all back down haha). 

Time to climb my baby

Love when weather cooperates

Views are amazing

Reached the top. Lil hut on the edge

Observation tower - was actually manned.

Found a lil friend

This is where I meet my end... this lil dude like that rabbit in holy grail hahah

Nah just chilling

Heading back down

Found a nice view at a ski resort (clearly not in season)

Banana Break at a waterfall... best kind of banana break

Waterfall sans banana for you purists out there

So beautiful hiking around here

Blue pool, beautiful and cold haha

Reflections are awesome

View from the top

That lil outcropping in the shade was where I jumped in from

flight with the bar set up. Was a cool place.

Had to walk a bit to get here but was a good day so why not haha

Those are some thick ass beers

So many options :)

crossing to the other side of the tracks

Once I got to the top, I tried to find the geological survey token that all these mountains have and couldnt find it. Start going back down and get back to the car and head towards the blue pool. Stop at Sawatee falls on the way which is beautiful and has tons of water flowing over it. Drive further and park at the blue pool trailhead and make my way to the actual pool. Get to the water after a little trailblazing and decide to get down to my undies and jump in to the 38F pool; it was a bad idea as it shocked my system and paralyzed my lungs a little bit so turned around and swam back to the shore and got out and started drying off and warming up while I relaxed next to the beautiful water.  Eventually got dressed and started the walk back to the car to continue on with my day. Drive back on 126 which has a bunch of road construction making it a slow drive but eventually I get to the hostel (Eugene Whiteaker International Hostel) and check in. Drop stuff off and then walked over to Nkasi brewery for some tasty beers and a lil snack (food was pretty good as well); the building itself is pretty modern and artistic with a decent back patio as well. Get some recommendations for things to see in town from the bartender before heading over to Cold fire brewery. Have a flight there with some pretty decent beers and then walk back towards the hostel to go to oakshire brewery for some great pizza and try some of their beers; the beers are really good though some are too sweet/smoothie esq but they have a great selection. Head back to the hostel to shower and have some tea before bed. 

Hostel review - lots of space. Good location. Great owner. Quirky back yard (house turned into hostel so family helps out) low head clearance on bottom bunk. No lockers. Decent breakfast selections.

Crinklys Pacific NW jaunt (5/29-6/20/2021) Day 5 Hiking in Smith Rock SP (6/2)

Woke up early to beat the heat. Wasnt sure which instructions to follow, google or the parks website (google says it opens at 7, park site says dawn), so i aim to split the difference a bit and get there a little before 7 (woke at 545 and out by 615). Wasnt quite sure where to park so parked at one of the first sites which is one of the farthest from the start of the main trails. Walk a bit of the rim trail and eventually get to the start of the misery ridge trail and start my ascent; that hike is very appropriately named as its just straight up a very steep path. 

Hot air ballon rising up into the sky

Still early, big shadows

Pretty view as I climb up.

More views as I get higher

That is a nice bench to take a break at.

River running through the parks

Hiding in the shade to cool off

Not a bad place to have a house.

Cool bend in the river?

Views of the mountains in the distance

View down from where I came from

Banana Break!

Happy hiker

down in the meadow now.

Such a beautiful site.

The moon in the sky

Shadows are much less now in the day but still beautiful.

Flight at Wild Ride brewery after a long hot hike.

Which beers to get at ale apothecary?

Glad I started with it as it was the most grueling of the day and to take it down while it was still cool out was a great idea. Once I get to the top, continue on and begin the summit loop trail. While on it I get a little off course trying to find the overlook spot on the map as the trails up there arent the best well marked like further down below. Eventually regain my bearings back tracking and continue on my way. Start to get hotspots on my feet so stop and address that for a little bit and take a break. Walk along the river to get back to the starting point which is minimally up/down which helps the hotspots out. Eventually get back to the car, having spent 3-4 hours out sweating and walking around. Then as I head back, I stop in Redmond to check out Wild ride brewing. Beers are pretty decent and the food trucks are delicious; there were a couple different options. As I get back into town, head to Sparrow to grab some pastries as its a well regarded shop. Had the Ocean roll for immediate consumption (was so delicious like a giant cinnamon roll) and bought a chocolate roll for tomorrow morning. Go back to teh hostel to drop stuff off and then head over to the ale apothecary after doing some yoga. Their taproom is pretty cool and they have great sour beers. Go back to the hostel to put beers up and then head to D&D bar and grill downtown for an early dinner and some beers from the nice lil dive bar. After I finish up there, I head back to the place to shower and get ready for bed while doing a little reading. 

Crinklys Pacific NW jaunt (5/29-6/20/2021) Day 4 Brewery exploration (6/1)

Slept in (til 730) and go do some yoga. Make some breakfast as theres actual supplies now. After eating, head to pallet coffee house to hang out for a bit and do some work before it is time to meet Kyle at Deschutes to see the brewery and say hey. After the tour, head to the taproom and have some drinks and buy a bunch of bottles to take home with me. 

Deschutes flight at the brewery taproom

10 beer flight from 10 barrel brewery

After that, head up to 10 barrel brewery for lunch and a flight. Here the flight is predetermined which is a little sucky but there are some good ones on the flight so not a big deal. Food is pretty good and the spot overall is a decent place. Head back to hostel to repack my bags a bit with all the bombers bought and then take a walk over to silver moon brewing. On the way, there is a hard to cross place on the street which has no light or crosswalk and has decent traffic moving on it. The brewery itself has a small indoor are and a large back patio to enjoy the beers on. Its a cool brewery but the beers are nothing special. Walk back to the place and the traffic isnt nearly as bad so I guess it was rush hour or something when I went originally. Eat dinner at the food truck at the hostel (alebrije) and chill in the back patio before getting ready for bed somewhat early (have an early start in the morning).