Mount Hood!

Can I put an exclamation mark after Mount Hood if we failed to see Mount Hood itself? I think I can. Although fog obscured the peak, we did a lovely short hike from Timberline Lodge (where they filmed The Shining) to Zigzag Canyon. The coldest, most rainy part was hiking from the car to the lodge. Once on the trail, the wind and rain died down, making for a nice hike.

Here I am at Zigzag Canyon with my friend Maggie:

and here is the canyon itself, which should end in a spectacular view of Mount Hood but instead ends in a spectacular whiteout:

I think my favorite part of the hike was the terrain underfoot: soft ash. Purple flowers dotted the area, spaced apart in seemingly deliberate formation, as if some ambitious gardener had landscaped the entirety of the mountain.

Another bonus to this trip: Ben and I found our first good Chinese restaurant in Oregon. The winner? Shandong, 3724 NE Broadway, Portland. The curry chicken fried rice and Manchurian beef are, I think, the most delicious Chinese food I've eaten since Taste of China back in Clinton, Connecticut (WARNING: their website plays annoyingly loud music).