At times I’m truly amazed at the diversity of beauty in the Portland area. On the first Saturday of March my destination was the eastern foothills of the Coastal Mountains. A 14-mile trail (1,450 feet of cumulative elevation gain) travels around Henry Hagg Lake, the impoundment behind Scoggins Valley Dam.

There are five creeks flowing into the 2 1/2 mile long reservoir, providing outstanding habitat for song birds, wildflowers and butterflies. But, it was just several weeks too early for the flora and fauna extravaganza to begin in earnest.

To make matters interesting though, it was opening day of trout season on the Lake. There were literally hundreds of people in boats or lining the shore in places. I could not help but smile. Small kids with their families, grandsons being taught by their grandfathers to bait a hook, young girls catching the biggest fish and not one person tweeting on an iPhone.

To my surprise I was the only person doing the hike around the Lake. In the summer I tend to meet other hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers. Too much mud on the trail for summer soldiers I suppose.

What a pleasant way to spend a sunny six hours of exercise and fun.

Fishing for the wily Trout

Indian Plum about ready to blossom

Pleasant stretch of the trail

A tiny spider on a Rose hip

Nice sized Trout

Lichen

Yellow Stream Violet

Passing the expertise and enjoyment to a younger generation

Yes, this is the muddy trail