Forest Park

Forest Park is huge- one of the nation's largest urban forests.  And it's right here in Portland.  Yet many of us don't visit it. We have been exploring it using One City's Wilderness: Portland's Forest Park by Mary Cottrell Houle, which was just published last year and includes information and maps for every trail in Forest Park.  This time we chose her hike #23.  The first part of the hike uses a Bonneville Power Authority service road, and massive, humming power lines loom overhead.  At the top of the road, there are amazing views of North Portland and the Willamette River.  The trail descends down the hill rather steeply, but the loop back up on Newton Road and the Wildwood Trail is much more gradual.  It passes through some old growth forest, which we were curious to see.  We learned that old growth forest is not at all the same thing as virgin forest.  "Old growth" means that the trees have not been logged for long enough for the forest to develop certain characteristics of an old growth habitat, which takes about 150 years.  There were some massive, old trees, but they did not rival virgin forest we have seen elsewhere.  This is definitely inspiration  to fight for the preservation of all the forests we do have left!  

Jasper's favorite part of this hike was (almost) capturing a garter snake!  I especially loved the part of the trail next to Newton Creek, listening to the music of the water tumbling over the rocks.

Jasper loved this ladybug with no spots!

False Solomon's Seal?

Iris

Spitbug condominium!

Western Trumpet Honeysuckle