Apparently, Keeps Mill was a stop on an alternative route around Mt. Hood on the Oregon trail. If that’s true, how people got wagons here, I do not know. The hillsides rise quite quickly from both sides of the river. The White River flows from the White Glacier on Mt Hood. Keeps Mill is a primitive, secluded campground at the end of Forest Road 2120. The last mile is pretty narrow and down a steep, exposed hillside with a really tight switchback.
A nice place to relax within an easy drive from Alamosa; dirt road is sketchy in places though. This view is from the Bluff Overlook. I drew this on my iPad.
Lots of Trilliums (trillia?) were in bloom in Forest Park on my hike last week.
Watercolor of the “St Jons Bridge” section of the trail – all uphill.
For Sarah
This drawing was one of two that I did during the December plein air event in Scappoose, Painting to Save the Trees. Sarah Lamberson was the pioneer wife who moved here with her husband in the 1830s. They were among, if not the first, non-Native Americans to occupy this land. They came via the Oregon Trail. The Scappoose Historical Society is compiling a history of the Lamberson family. They had quite a life. Sarah died at age 48 and is buried on the property alongside two infant sons. Their grave markers are barely visible among the four oak trees in the distant right of my drawing.
The purpose for the painting event was to draw attention to the old trees. The land went through many ownership changes and is now for sale. If and when that happens, the trees could be lost to development. The land is also quite historic as it is the last large tract of land in the area that was used by native peoples as a gathering and trading site. According to records (2nd hand info to me), the Scappoose area, prior to White settlement, had the largest concentration of Native Americans (several tribes) in the entire Americas.
Badger Lake in Mt. Hood National Forest, was quite dry when I was there at the end of the summer. I might try to get back this winter if the roads are open. Ice skating anyone? 🙂
I looked and looked, but did not see a one. Not even any tracks or other signs. Sigh. Maybe next time. A badger is one of the few mammals that I have not seen in the wild.
My painting shows a view the campground at Badger Lake in Mt. Hood National Forest; west of Portland, Oregon. It was from my September trip. Check out the story; a couple of blog posts back. The red bushes are very dried out huckleberry plants.
Enjoy!
