Tam-a-Lau Trail, Culver, Central Oregon

"Fun" is an operative word for me.


It doesn't mean that you don't take things seriously.  It means that when you know what to take seriously, there are a whole lotta things you can have fun with.  I take many things very seriously, including having fun.  That's why I take these weekly adventures, most often alone, just to spend some time having fun.  More about that later...

But, just so you know, a couple people asked in church this morning whether these were all my pictures, which they are.  I took the picture above by creeping as far as I could to the canyon rim, and then holding the camera over the edge at arm's length, hoping that I wouldn't fumble it, and tumble down, and down, and down.  I have vertigo, so getting the above pic was well beyond my comfort zone.  But it was fun...


The Tam-a-Lau Trail in Culver is about 30 minutes from my house, and takes you through many ranches and fields.  You kinda wonder if the huge canyon is ever going to appear.

But then when you come to the sign that says a 7% down grade, you know something's going to be coming up.

Tam-a-Lau Trail is a 7 mile trek, which includes a 3.5 mile loop on the top of the canyon.  It's a trail that allows incredible views of the Dechutes and Crooked River canyons.  Here I'm about half way up the canyon, taking a break for some Gatorade and to hydrate the vegetation...

The view is spectacular from the top of the canyon.  In the distance you can see The Island, which is a 200 acre plateau that is one of the few Western remnants of the pre-settlement ecological systems.

You know, these hikes are very much fun, but they're also "centering", focused time for me.  I take a lot about my work as a pastor very seriously, and I put in a whole lotta hours every week to do that during the days, evenings, and weekends.  But no matter what, you have to have fun.  And having a weekly time of solitude and serenity keeps me on task.  Reflecting on the going-ons of the week while I'm climbing, hiking, taking in God's beautiful creation, and sweating and breathing hard helps me remember what to take seriously.  That's why "fun" is an operative word for me.  It keeps things in perspective.

Speaking of perspective, a storm started to blow in, and it was time to get down off the canyon rim and into my waiting car.

But the storm on the Tam-a-Lau trail was nothing compared to the snow going over the pass yesterday (Friday), when I went over to spend some time with Laura, as she was in Portland very briefly for Spring Break weekend.  That afternoon, on the way home, it had cleared up.

Princess One and Princess Two.  Laura makes her daddy so proud.  And with a smile like that, she know how to take fun very seriously!

Enjoy your week.  Make sure to make time to have some fun, and if it includes a little serenity for yourself, take that very seriously!

Misery Ridge at Smith Rock State Park

Remember.  Clip your toe nails.  Don't let them come back to haunt you.

Oh, that's right.  That advice comes at the end of this week's adventure blog...

Misery Ridge Loop goes up and around Smith Rock and then back down around the other side of Monkey Face.  It has about a 1,000 foot vertical climb, and is about a 5 mile trail.  Early morning hiking is best.

That's why Advil is a hiker's best friend, both before and after the trek...

Gotta love a trail that says "MOST DIFFICULT."  Kinda like those black diamond runs....

But it's so worth it when you get to the top.  You can barely see the Crooked River in the lower middle of the picture.  Worked up a bit of a sweat, but it wasn't too bad.  And the view in the early morning is just fab.  Central Oregon, baby!

Snow on the top part of Misery Ridge.  I went on the whole hike and only saw three people until I got close to the parking lot.  Hmmmmm.....was thinking I was adventerous, but probably it's more true that many people have more sense than to hike in the snow on treacherous trails.  That's why I brought my hiking sticks.  Didn't need them, but just for insurance.

Nice Monkey Face.  Kiss the Monkey Face, Eric.  He won't hurt you.

It's always nice that they have these, just in case I would have slipped and fallen and not found for 3 days when I didn't show up for church.  At least they'd be able to bring my cold, lifeless body out with ease!

Ya know what I was thinking on the way down?  My toenails.  I had clipped them this morning, as they had gotten a little long.  Last summer I went on an early Spring hike with a lot of vertical drop on the way down, and all my weight and my energy went right to my unclipped toenails, which ended up painfully cutting into my other toes and getting my socks all bloody.  Unfortunately I didn't carry a nail clipper (I do now...) and couldn't take care of them, and am not limber enough to bite the intruding edges off.  Probably a good thing.

Kinda like life, these downward switchbacks on the picture.  When we don't pay attention to those little things that irritate us, then when our lives start to switch back and forth down hill (which it sometimes does...) then all our weight and energy goes to that which irritates us, and which we didn't take care of, and which we sometimes can't fix when we're in a downward spiral, and we end up unnecessarily bloodied.  It happened to me on that hike last year.  It has sometimes happened in the past in other areas of my life, too.  Probably in yours, too.

Remember.  Clip your toenails.  Don't let them come back to haunt you.

Works in hiking.  And it works in life. 

Check back with me next weekend for another adventure.  And I promise I won't be so gross!

Smith Rock, Central Oregon

Smith Rock is an amazing place, just a scant 8 miles from my house.  It shows the cumulative force of ancient volcanos and the erosive power of water.  Millions of years ago there were major volcanoes here in Central Oregon, and after a long time the lava flowed into the canyon and established a new path for the Crooked River.  The multicolored formations of rock are knows as "welded tuff" in which volcanic ash formed under conditions of extreme heat and pressure.

It's a beautiful 5 mile hike around, and early this morning there was just nobody there.  I came across only 5 other people as I was ending.

Monkey Face is a 350 foot spire that is called the centerpiece of Smith Rock.  From a certain angle it resembles the face of a money with a mouth, nose, and eyes.

Monkey Face wasn't summited until 1960.  It's actually the location of one of the toughest free climb routes in the world, Just Do It (real name...).  It's a 5.11 plus free climb, first climbed in 1992.

Monkey One.  Monkey Two.  You decide which is which...

Smith Rock is also one of the 10 best climbing places in the country.  Rock climbing is such a paradigm for faith in so many ways, in that you have to have trust; trust in the rocks to hold you up, trust that the one who is belaying you is going to support you when you fall, and trust that your God-given strength will help you overcome the challenge to reach your goal.

It's also a paradigm for life, because whenever you fall as you climb, you get your bearings, learn from your mistakes, latch on to the rock, and begin your climb again.  You don't just figure, well, I failed, and now it's best that I just pack up and quit.  You keep going, pick up where you left off, learn from your fall, and take the next step until you overcome the challenges in front of you.

Here Mr. Cougar.  Nice Kitty, Kitty.  Would you like to meet Mr. Mace?  How about you, Mr. Rattlesnake?  I have one for you, too. 

Even though it took me 2 years to get my Tenderfoot Badge before the Boy Scouts kindly asked to to resign from their organization (they kicked me out when I was 10...) I will always remember their motto to Be Prepared!

It's a beautiful place.  Gotta love Central Oregon!

Check in next week for another adventure.  Who knows where it will lead us!

Steelhead Falls, Central Oregon

Let the adventures begin!

Central Oregon is an amazing place to live.  There are so many incredible places to hike and climb and visit, and each week (or so) I'll bring you on my adventures, and reflect a little on all the gifts that God gives us.

Saturday morning I went to Steelhead Falls, just a scant 10 miles from my house.  It's an easy hike, but the beauty of the falls is stunning.  The sun had just risen, the air was crisp, and a little fog adorned the top of the canyon.

On my way I thought about my children's sermon the next day, and wanted to help them look at things a little differently.  God does amazing things in our lives, but we have to look for them.  Often, even on a hike like this, it's easy to take in the beauty of things without really thinking of God's amazing gifts.

But how can you be out here in the early morning and not think, "You go, God!" 

It's a perspective thing, I think.  I've said in sermons at Zion before that the more we look for God, the more we'll see how God is active in our lives.  I think we often miss out on what God is doing in our lives because we just aren't looking for God.  So that's my children's sermon for Sunday.  Pretty simple, but I think if they start at an early age looking for God's activity in their lives, the more they'll grow up seeing and experiencing it.

Gorgeous, serene, calm.  What a great place to sit on a rock and think God-thoughts...

Yeah, it's not a great picture, but they never are when you're out hiking.  Oh well....

Back in the parking lot my car is still the only one there on this quiet morning.  As you can see, my Mighty Manly Macho PT Cruiser can take me anywhere I need to go!

Think God Thoughts.  When you do, you'll see God much more present and active in your life, and you'll grow increasingly thankful for God's presence in your life.  Think that'll work for tomorrow's children's sermon.