Ramona Falls

This hike is one of the more popular ones in the Mount Hood area and for good reason. The trail follows along a beautiful little creek with impressive cliffs on the other side (not always easy to see through the trees, but impressive anyhow). And, at the trail's end, Ramona Falls. The falls fan out over columnar basalt formations. Very scenic.

Earlier this week, when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and Pentagon, one of the first things I did was go hiking. To remind me of the good things still left in the world. The stamp for this letterbox was one of the first I carved, but never hid until now. It's of a bird, and I was never sure what kind of bird it was--sort of a made up creation. But now it reminds me of a Phoenix, rising from its ashes, better and stronger than ever. And as tragic as the September 11th attacks were, it's even more amazing to see everybody working together to help those most affected and insure tragedies like this do not happen again.

Clue

You've reached the end, the cascading falls,
Walk on water, but don't get your feet wet
A hundred and thirty steps, no less no more,
But stay on the trail, your mark is near.
At the end of a fallen giant
At the base of a sibling near
Nestled under a rock,
A bird has been born,
A phoenix--born in ashes,
But with your help will rise again.

Hike Length: 6.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 1000 feet