Dog Mountain

So, I’m skipping a couple of hike that I’ve done, but Dog Mountain requires a quick talk.

Dog Mountain is one of the most popular training hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. Many people try to take their dogs along, but the mountain is not named that way because it is a dog-friendly hike. Pioneers got trapped up at the top, and instead of starving, they ate their doggies, fun right!?!

It is one of the steepest hikes we get, as the trail rises 2,820 feet over just 3.7 miles, closely simulating the rate of elevation gain on Mount Hood. The hike's summit is 2,920 feet. Fortunately, the views from the hike of the Columbia River were the best we’ve had and I saw three kinds of wild lilies and one kind wild orchid.
I took the Dog Mountain Trail up (the hardest route) and came down via the less-steep Augspurger Trail.

This hike was hard, painful and awesome! Seem’s like I have a couple of asthma attacks in the beginning, and then I only stopped a couple of times on the way up. Once to stop a blister from starting, and for potty breaks. Otherwise I just hiked up the hill. The last third of the trail is out to the trees. The views are just awesome. There’s just no other was to describe it. We lost out memory card for the camera, but found it now, so I can take pictures next week finally. I was kinda pissed I didn’t have it this week.

The walk down we took the “less steep” Augspurer Trail, but I don’t think it was any easier. The trail up was really really really steep, but mostly packed dirt, with little rock, the way down was lots and lots of rock skree. Very hard on knees! Plus the leader was basically jogging down the trail. I’m still sore, but it’s joint pain. My muscles seem to be getting in shape for the crazyness I’m putting myself though.

I still love that I’m doing this.