November 26, 2006.

9 miles | 1000′ ele. gain | 4 hr.

After my adventurous but low mileage Thanksgiving trip, I decided to get in a long hike closer to home. It felt great to be on an actual trail, instead of trying to find a route in new terrain with no obvious path. This is much easier!

The Herman Creek Trailhead is accessible year-round, so it seemed like a good starting place for a hike. A light snow coated the ground and all the trees. It was just enough snow to be pretty without impeding progress.

The trail was well-graded, with occasional viewpoints and some pretty waterfalls. The snow glaze on all the vegetation made it feel very much like winter. It’s going to be interesting to spend my first winter in Oregon. And I’m glad I developed my winter hiking skills back in New England. They’re already coming in handy.