Climb every mountain!

The year was 1988.

My best friend Bryan and I were going somewhere around Portland. We stopped at Multnomah Falls the most photographed ‘thing’ in Oregon. The falls are the 2nd highest falls (Yosemite is #1, but it doesn’t flow year round) in the US, plummeting 542 ft to its first pool, the water takes a gradual 9 ft drop to the lower falls where it cascades another 69 ft, for a total of 620 ft. The “easy” hike takes you to the Benson Bridge, a 45 ft foot bridge that crosses the canyon just above the lower falls. The next leg of the hike goes all the way to the top of the falls, for a total of 1.4 miles. The 2nd part is STEEP, featuring 482,267 switchbacks (not really… see pdf map here) . I don’t remember how far I trudged my fat a$$ up the second leg back in 1988, but it wasn’t far.

Fast-forward to 2008.

I took The Boy and his friend to an Oregon State football game on Saturday (9/13). We spent the night with friends in McMinnville and drove back to Pendleton on Sunday. Being boys, and knowing that we weren’t really in a rush to get back home, we dawdled. You can read about our adventures here. I agreed to stop at the falls on our way back, which we did. We go to the lower observation area, and he sees the people up on Benson Bridge and wants to go up there. Before I can say anything… he’s gone. Keep in mind this is a GORGEOUS Sunday afternoon, the place was PACKED. Let me tell you, that place doesn’t have anything on the UN for the variety of foreign languages you hear, it’s a wonderful place. I catch up with them just as he is looking to the top of the falls. He’s in mid-wow when he points, asking, “How do those people get up there?” I half-heartedly tell him that there is a REALLY STEEP (see the path on the opposite hill?) hiking trail, and we don’t have time… yadda yadda yadda. He accepts it, because he’s cool like that. But he had me thinking. I weigh much less now than when I graduated from high school (verified by my former high school English teacher). I wave them over and say, “Let’s go”. He takes off like a shot.

Let me tell you, this trail gets very steep and very narrow very quickly. I have no pictures of the actual trail, because I was too scared to stop. As a matter of fact, I tripped a couple times and had to place my heart back in my chest.

The view is STUNNING. But that’s true of the entire state.

I really didn’t get that winded, beyond what I felt was normal. The Boy’s friend was the one I was worried about. I could see having to explain to his mother why her oldest child was found at the bottom of a 600 ft drop.

The pictures that follow show the awe inspiring scenery of Oregon (and Washington across the Columbia River0 as well as some of the places we stopped to chronicle our ascent.

The Boy had to be warned that the water below him would soon be making a serious plunge. He laughed.

Always a good Idea to keep an eye on the car

The first step is a DOOZY!

Father & Son at the top of Multnomah Falls

There seems to be quite a few people standing on that shelf suspended over a 600 ft. drop. Why don't they look 'concerned'? (The Boy and his friend are hidden by the tree... see orange?)

To sum up — It was an amazing experience. Made even more so by the knowledge that I could never have done it without the lifestyle transformation I have been on. It also served to encourage me; I have quite a few items on my Bucket List that will require stamina as well as physical fitness. I can do this!