An unidentified person watches the sun set behind Portland from Sherrard Point on Sunday.

After the Balfour House protest today, I decided to get away and enjoy some rest and relaxation.

I enjoy being active with the neighborhood and helping my neighbors fight this makeshift jail, but I need to take a break. Then factor in my day job, which I won’t divulge.

Today, I drove to Sherrard point, a 4,056-foot panoramic point on Larch Mountain in eastern Multnomah County to shoot some photos of the sunset. This time I left the two misbehaving four-legged slobber tongues at home.

Judging from the parking lot at the summit, it appeared very crowded, but at the observation point there were only a few people there.

I snapped a few standard Mt. Hood photos and a few of Mt. Adams. The light on Mt. St. Helens didn’t have much reflectivity, so it was very poor to photograph.

One photo that I was really amazed with was the guy on the rock at the Sherrard Point, watching the sun descended behind Portland out in the distance.

The past few weeks have been quite crazy for me, but now it is time to take a break from all the neighborhood excitement.

Kim Hutchinson speaks before Ardenwald Residents at the Balfour House protest Sunday morning. Sept. 28, 2008.

I spent my morning at the proposed secured residential treatment facility protest on SE Balfour Street. Many residents, men and women, old and young, and children showed up at the family-friendly peaceful demonstration. I showed up with my camera to shoot some photos and notepad to jot down some notes so I have something for our neighborhood association Website or city newsletter.

Of the approximate 50 or so people that attended the event this morning, only one person, Mike Bowen of National Alliance on Mental Illness, stepped up on the soapbox and spoke in favor of the facility. Then a heated debate ensued between Ardenwald resident Kim Hutchinson and Bowen.

Oregon Rep. Linda Flores (R-Clackamas) attended the protest. “Those laws need to be changed,” Flores shouted to the crowd, referring to the American Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act that prevent such notification of criminals residing in the neighborhood.

“I’m encouraged that you are so informed, you are prompt, you’re letting the facts tell the story, you’re not basing on community fear, and your work, you’re not biased or prejudice,” Flores shouts to the crowd. “You have done your homework.”

I could not disagree with Cuthbert Powell, a resident who lives immediately next door to the facility, sounding off on a point in the issue. “You’re the only government official to attend and you’re not even in our district,” Powell stated to Flores before the crowd.

Rep. Carolyn Tomei (D-Milwaukie) did not attend the event, but after seeing a description of her legislative committee participation, I can see why.

As Chair of the House Human Services and Women’s Wellness Committee, I have been monitoring recently passed legislation. In addition to being Vice-Chair of the House Transportation Committee, I serve on the Oregon State Hospital Patient Care Committee and also on the PSRB oversight workgroup (Psychiatric Security Review Board) whose job it is to find community placements for people with mental illness leaving the state hospital.

—http://www.leg.state.or.us/tomei/

The Milwaukie Mayor Jim Bernard and city council members did not attend the protest under the advice of the city attorney; however Mayor Jim Bernard did plan on attending earlier last week before advised not to. The reason was believed that Columbia Care Services may sue again.

Kim Hutchinson responded with, “Columbia Care has control of our government!”

It’s a beautiful day in the Ardenwald-Johnson Creek neighborhood.

See more photos.

Mt. Hood from Timberline Trail #600 at Bald Mountain.

After hiking to Ramona Falls last week, I thought about trying a new hike at Bald Mountain, a butte located north of Ramona Falls. I needed a new hike destination anyway. I drove fifty mile from my house to the Top Spur Trailhead located along Forest Service Road 1828-118. The dogs jumped out of the car and began racing up the trail.

I headed through the woods southbound on the Timberline Trail #600 as my dogs ran ahead of me loose. I noted the trail began curving to the east and then the forest ended as Mt. Hood came into view. I also saw the narrow trail running alongside a steep hillside with some steep drops.

My dogs are clueless to what might happen if they strayed off the trail. Henry was curious about the cliff ledge, so I leashed the coupler to both their harness, attached the leash to the coupler and to the carabiner attached to my camera pack belt. Immediately both my Labs decided they wanted to tow me along the trail or wrap me with the leash, which I saw this as a real potential problem.

Right then I aborted moving forward, turned around and headed back to the trailhead. I may have to revisit Bald Mountain without the dogs. I might feel guilty leaving the two at home the next time around, but that is better than losing one or both dogs, or all three of us in some mishap.

Ramona Falls.

I took the dogs for a six-mile hike to Ramona Falls, a waterfall in the Mt. Hood National Forest north of Zig Zag, on Tuesday. Normally the hike turns out pleasant, but with temperatures in the 90s, wind blowing dust off of the sandy hillsides and smoke from wildfires, the hike was rather uncomfortable. Exhausting my water supply only made matters worse. This hike was also a rare moment hike where I desperately wanted to get off the trail.

I delayed posting this blog because the Web hosting company was doing hardware upgrades in the server. Wednesday was another story that I don’t want to get into.

The sun sets behind the Coast Range, as seen from Sherrard Point.

After spending a short afternoon watching a river boil, I jet off to east Multnomah County for some sunset photography at Larch Mountain. At the peak of Larch Mountain is Sherrard Point, an overlook with a panoramic view. I didn’t spend much time up there because practically a ton of people from the area also showed up. The site is not at all a hidden treasure, especially when it is clearly visible from Portland. The dogs became quite impatient with the several dozen people at the overlook while being leased, so I bagged up and left after a few shots.

Austin Hot Springs reaches 156.4 degrees.

I (safely) found out how hot the Austin Hot Springs can get. Even though I didn’t manage to get across the river, one of the spring pool sin the Clackamas River did reach 156.4 degrees Fahrenheit. I was curious to find out how hot the springs were after hearing a report that three people were seriously burned by the springs.

Editor’s Note: Shortly after writing this post and a related YouNewsTV on Monday, I learned the springs is located on a private property. The property is not clearly marked with “no trespassing” signs and property ownership, which may have been removed by unauthorized persons. The property owners and U. S. Forest Service officials are asking people to stay out of the springs and the property. Unlike the nearby Bagby Hot Springs where cool water is mixed to control the water temperature, the water temperature at Austin can fluctuate unpredictably to levels where it may cause serious burns.

Catalpa Lake.

I took my dogs, Owen and Henry, to Catalpa Lake. It is a small shallow lake located in a secluded area between White River valley and Frog Lake in the Mt. Hood National Forest. It is smaller than the popular Mirror Lake that is west of Ski Bowl in Government Camp. The hike is short and easy, about three-quarter of a mile one way on a dirt trail though a moderate density forest, and with a climb of a total of 100 feet. Parking at the trailhead is extremely tight.

Owen (near) and Henry (out far) enjoy a cool swim in Catalpa Lake.

The former Roslyn Lake now becoming a meadow.

In May, Portland General Electric drained Roslyn Lake. Four months later I saw the lake bed turned into a meadow. The construction crew are smoothing out the dikes. The Bull Run lake filler and the turbine intake towers are gone. The entire lake perimeter is fenced off with orange construction fencing and “No Trespassing: Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted” signage posted along Ten Eyck Road. The transformation is moving so amazingly fast.

MILWAUKIE, Ore.—I had the pleasure to attend the King Road resurfacing project completion ceremony at noon today on the Safeway parking lot at SE 44th Avenue and SE King Road in Milwaukie. A few dozen people, including Milwaukie city staff, employees and public safety officials turned out to enjoy the festivities and chow down on the free lunch. Meeting and talking with many of the people who attended was quite enjoyable, and so was the fascinating tour and education on the city’s new photo radar van that was present at the event today.

Paul Bausch, ORblogs.com’s (www.orblogs.com) administrator announced today that his website that feeds updates from blogs located within the state of Oregon, has closed. The sudden announcement was a surprise for me, but I understand his reasoning that the task of once being a hobby has now become a full time job. ORBlogs was not just a place for me to automatically announce my website updates, but it was also a place to preview what other people are saying on their blogs.

Bausch also said on his website that the current ORblog members list will remain available for thirty days, so anyone who wishes to gather last minute RSS feed or blog address can do so at www.orblogs.com. Orblogs started operations in March, 2003.

Although I don’t know Mr. Bausch personally, but I just want to say thank you, Mr. Bausch, for your dedicated service for all the bloggers. You will be missed.

B. Dorr’s Blog usually updates to Google’s search engines fairly quickly.