New Year's Eve Day - December 31, 2015 - Niagara Falls and Pheasant Falls

I had read about a hike that sounded just perfect for our extended families - not too far away from Portland, scenic, short hike of just a mile (one way) to two beautiful waterfalls, and...the bonus... the route included travel along the beach and a trip for ice cream at - yes - Tillamook Chese Factory.

A map study showed that there are two ways to get to the area.  One is "overland" in that you access the road up into the mountains from the area where Grandpa Lund lived, by Cove Orchard.  The other access was one that required actually driving to the beach to a little town called Beaver.  There were also written directions saying turn left and turn right.  We decided to try the second route - seemed safer.

The initial difficulty was negotiating the traffic in and around Tualatin and environs.  The major second difficulty was needing a rest stop and choosing, unwisely, a small mini mart with one unisex bathroom with rows and rows of candy and chips and cookies and pop tempting all the small children and quite a few older children too.

On our way again.  Dad and I enjoyed the drive, mainly because it was the way we used to go to the beach when we lived in Newberg.  We were constantly saying, "Oh, look at that!"  When nearly to the beach we turned north on Hwy 101 and had gone quite a ways when it became apparent that we were not at the beach..not even near the beach..no waves in sight at all.  Now, the description I had given to the mothers in the group was that the hike was at the beach..not exactly correct, and I soon discovered that the "beach" was what attracted them to the event.  I guess I was thinking of the hike.

We got to Hebo where the USFS Ranger Station is located.  I wanted to stop and get a map....and our first foreboding of the rest of the day became clear.  The parking lot, situated on a sloping hill, was covered with packed snow.  All of our vehicles did just fine - except one Honda Odessey, but with the help of confident brothers, we were on our way again.

Perfect driving directions took us into the back country up picturesque logging roads that were......read this in hushed tones..covered with packed snow in many places.  We passed tree limbs which had fallen onto the road - thank you again confident brothers for removing the limbs.  There were a few other minor obstacles, but never mind.

Finally we got to the trail head and the pictures can begin.

Parking lot preparations - dressing children, throwing snow stuff, running and sliding

Either Eric didn't like the baby back pack or the pink snow hat.

And now the trail

Niagara Falls in the distance

Pheasant Falls

Great hike.  Back to the cars.  Just a few tiny issues with packed snow on road but, once again,  confident brothers solved the problem.

Back to the beach - not exactly...back to Hwy 101 - and on to ice cream heaven.

And then home to a frolicking New Year's celebration at Jessica's.