Michael Riffle's photostream Pro User

Recently hiked up the Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge on a particularly rainy Spring weekday. The usually-packed parking lot had 3 other cars in it and I never saw a soul on the whole hike... definitely the best way to enjoy this trail. On the way to Punchbowl Falls, I took the little side trip to the Metlako Falls overlook and spent some quality time under my umbrella--just me, my camera, and this magical view--listening to the pitter patter of rain in the forest and waiting for some nice mist to drift over the falls

Ahhh... The Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint... A name filled with majesty and beauty... All kidding aside, this unassuming name belongs to one of the most spectacular overlooks I've ever seen. If you're in the area, you must check it out. On this particular day, the weather was extremely unstable with rain showers and roiling storm clouds being replaced by bright sunshine from minute to minute. I had the good fortune of ruining my knee hiking the day before, or I would have missed this scene altogether. (I would have been hiking in the woods instead!)

Here's a shot of Wahkeena Falls from a very recent trip down to northwest Oregon and southwest Washington to visit the Columbia River Gorge for a few days. This was near the end of a very full day of hiking through the gorge (easily 8 hours worth), and it was nice to pause, rest my legs, and spend quality time with these falls.

This is from a trip up to Kerry Park to catch sunset last night. It was the end of a beautiful and very hot day (by Seattle standards), and the park was filled with tourists and locals--some of whom even brought a portable stove and cooked dinner while watching the sun set on the city and Mt. Rainier. The clarity of Mt. Rainier was phenomenal, as it has been the past couple of days, and pictures of that will be forthcoming. Although the mountain isn't in this shot, I really enjoyed this composition in this light.

Nature is well on its way to reclaiming this bench at Fairy Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. Hiking here during the Spring is a revitalizing experience; the lush sights, melodic sounds, and sweet smells of the Gorge all full of life and promise for the new year to come. If you're feeling a little wilted or ground by the grind, try a walk in the woods.