I needed to step away from the computer, so I loaded up my two Labradors and my camera, and headed off to the Columbia River Gorge for a small hike. The sun poked through the broken clouds as I pulled out of the driveway at my house in Milwaukie. As I drove east on Johnson Creek Boulevard, I could see this ominous dark cloud hovering over northeast Portland. The the rain dumped heavily.

My first destination was Latourell Falls, but it was dumping rain there too. I headed east on the old highway, passing Wahkeena, Multnomah and Horsetail Falls. The further east I went, the rain was lighter. By the time I reached John B. Yeon State Natural Area near Warrendale, the rain stopped. The dogs jumped out and we headed up the trail to Elowah Falls.

I packed light for this small two-mile hike. I really didn’t think it was necessary to pack 20 pounds of camera equipment to a shooting location that would soak every piece of camera equipment I had. I also don’t believe every photograph taken of the natural outdoors should be on a sunny, cloudless day either. I’ll just capture the weather, no matter what mood Mother Nature is in (that is, if my camera doesn’t drown in the rain).

The leaves are beginning to change. The trees are very much still green in the Columbia River Gorge. A few trees are starting to hint some gold, red and brown.

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.

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.

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.

I love the Ardenwald-Johnson Creek neighborhood in Portland/Milwaukie. The neighborhood boundaries are in two cities, but when neighbors get together, we unite.

Tuesday night the Milwaukie city council authorized the settlement of the discrimination suit filed by the Columbia Care Services, Inc. instead of bringing the case to trial, which the city has a very slim chance of winning.

Many residents in our neighborhood are against this facility because of the high-risk criminally insane forensic patients residing in a low-security facility built under the same codes as a residential home. The code also includes fences that cannot be higher than 6 feet and cannot have barbed wires.

The crimes committed by the criminally insane residents range from theft to arson to assault to murder. You can read more about the secured residential treatment facility on SE Balfour St. in Milwaukie at the www.ardenwald.org/balfour.html Web page.

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 photo gallery was offline for a few hours this morning while I categorized the images. The photos are categorized by topic. Specific albums are located inside the category, sorted alphabetically with a brief description and a thumbnail image.

I thought categorizing the images by date would be easier because it would tag the recent uploaded photos, then site visitors would seek for specifics by using the search field for other content. That method left visitors to play the home game “Battleship” by guessing to see if the topic keyword exists or not. “Ramona Falls?” Miss. “Mt. Hood?” Hit.

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.

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.

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.