We first thought this was our hiking destination as seen from a distance--but this was across the river.
Parking lot with a canyon between the rock bluff--which WAS our hiking destination.
View from the parking lot area.
Rock climbers. Lana was envious!!
Our hike is in Smith Rock State Park.
Misery Ridge Trail loop hike is described "a fantastic hike, with outstanding scenery that is quite different from other areas around Bend." In fact, our lead picture for the blog is a scene from this hike. I have my new Fitbit Ionic, but discover I need to add a Hiking exercise app as it does not come standard. Fortunately, Lana has a personal hotspot for her iPhone so I can access the internet and she googles "how to add the hiking app to a Fitbit Ionic" to get directions. I make the manual changes to the Fitbit apps successfully. We start our trip down into the canyon around 10:40 am. You need to walk down into the canyon, cross the bridge and then begin the steep ascent.
Online picture of very beginning of the hike.
Grasses in the canyon.
Pictures do not do justice to the steepness of this ascent.
The title for this hike being Misery Ridge has a good reason. It is very steep with many switchbacks and steep staircases. Some of the path is sandy in places. I quickly decide that nobody is going to pass me on the way up as Lana gradually fades. Many hikers resting in various places on this uphill grind. There are rock climbers on the very steep cliff faces so that is entertaining. Our fellow hikers are pretty diverse with all ages, skin colours and body shapes.
Very weird rock shapes on top of bluffs.
Another picture of the ascending trail.
Taken from the top of the ridge looking down and the trail does show as being pretty steep.
I make it to the top of the ridge by 11:05 (25 minutes) and Lana shows up at 11:20 so about 15 minutes later. This is very dry country. At the top of the ridge you look over the backside to a flat valley with mountains in the distance. I did manage to make it to the top without anybody passing me so my ego is intact. Lana does pretty well considering the elevation gain and the fact we had a long first day hike the day before.
Lana ascending a very steep section close to the top of the ridge.
Kissing rocks.
Yup, Lana finally made it to the top of the ridge and her face is flushed from the exertion. But at least she made it!!
We sit for a bit at the ridge top and then mosey along the top of the ridge and take in the views. Eventually, we see the Monkey Face being a huge rock pinnacle resembling a monkey head and rock climbers scaling its sheer walls. I don't really see the monkey face, but Lana did... Very steep drop on the backside of the ridge with tricky parts where you can easily slip. Eventually you are down to the river below, but not before witnessing more rock climbers up close and personal.
View from the trail descending towards Monkey Face.
Example of unusual rock formations.
Online pic of Monkey Face for marketing purposes.
This is our camera shot of the famous Monkey Face. Check out the climbers. Randy got the heebie jeebies just watching them! Funny, but we can clearly see the Monkey Face in the picture--it's looking to the left and his mouth is open. The two climbers are standing by his nose--but it was hard to see in real life when we were standing there!!
Another view of Monkey Face--a little further out.
This shot gives a wider perspective of the surrounding countryside.
Yikes!!! This is how you descent from the climb!!
Check out the monkey mouth and one eye from this angle.
Lana's perch against a cliff face. There is a long drop off this ledge if she tripped or slipped. She is very brave!
Rock climber on a very steep cliff face. His buddies are right on the trail below.
On the descending trail - more incredible rock formations.
Many holes in this porous rock that is covered by a larger boulder. This is beside the trail.
Lana's effort of a miniature rock sculpture.
We find a great place on the river for our lunch at 12:14. Huge rock by the shore line that we can access from the rear. Our lunch consists of chicken with truffle paté, bread, brie cheese, apple slices and some water. Very soothing along the river. Like yesterday, many dogs on leashes with the hikers. Along the river we see eagles, lizards, a goose and soaring eagles. The trail is sandy in some places so that is quite a treat. An undulating trail back along the river and then the steep walk up to the parking lot.
This is the view from our lunch spot sitting on a huge rock in the river.
Gigantic sized boulder along the river.
More interesting rock formations, cliff faces and just unique sights along the river.
Lana pointed this out. The white is from rock climbers usage of chalk which she said kind of spoils it for other climbers because now they can see where to grab hold for their hands and feet.
Big goose looking very coy!
Bridge across the river. This is the only way across the Crooked River for hikers, walkers, cyclists, dog walkers etc.
Randy's Fitbit Ionic wristwatch GPS match of our hike this afternoon (Strava app).
- 10, 511 steps
- 6.70 kms
- 310 elevation gain
- duration 2 hours 15 minutes of actual hiking
- a good hike with excellent scenery, rock climbers and some wildlife
On the road back to our apartment very close to the hiking area we came across this huge crop of marijuana. Randy first thought this was a tiny Christmas tree farm until Lana said "those aren't Christmas trees!!" This area even had that funky smell!! Since 2015, cannibas has been legal for both recreational and medicinal usage in the state of Oregon. This is industrial scale growing.
Commercial marijuana farm that is huge!
Lana had arranged a spa treatment at Jinsei Spa for 15:30 located about five minutes by car from our apartment. I drop her off, but need to take her iPhone as I didn't bring the GPS and it is tricky to find my way back without getting lost. I will pick her up at 17:15. On pickup she has a huge smile on her face and looks pretty relaxed!
Dinner tonight is at Immersion Brewing located fairly close to our apartment. Yes, when in Bend do as the Bend citizens do which is eat and drink at brew pubs. Good welcome and it is not too busy so we are seated quickly. I order a Copper Jacketed beer described as a classic Amber beer. I notice that both brewpubs have featured a German Pilsner and a Mexican Lager. Very interesting...
Entrance to Immersion Brewing.
Randy's dinner of elk/wagyu hamburger (70/30) and delicious fries. This unique burger was pretty special although I could not interest Lana in a taste. Something about elk meat. That is one huge burger that I could barely finish.
Lana's dinner of salad with steak and avocado dressing--simple good tasty especially after a gruelling hike today.
Randy very frustrated this afternoon and during the night as none of our pictures would load onto our blog! Finally, I shut down the Macbook Pro and re-booted it around 21:30. Yeh, I could finally load the pictures to complete our blog. Phew! Very late though! Prior to this, Lana and I watched an episode of Black Mirror Season 5 on Netflix. We can edit the blog tomorrow (Monday) and publish. Another great hike in fantastic weather finished with a pretty good dinner/beer and some tv. Plus, Lana's favourite afternoon consisting of a spa treatment.
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