Inspired by the Zach Urness list from the Statesman Journal Best of the outdoors: top trips of 2013. I am indeed excited about what 2014 may bring, and at the same time it is nice to reflect on my adventures of 2013. This map shows my top ten as well as my honorable mention trails: So, without further adieu, my top 10 Pacific Northwest Hikes of 2013:

#10 Chimney Peak, North Santiam Wilderness, Oregon

June 30. 12.2 miles in and out. My first time on this adventure only one hour drive from Albany, an expedition of 10 people and two dogs. It was obvious this area is rarely frequented, we had to do a good amount of bushwhacking as the trail was overgrown in several stretches, many fallen trees we had to climb over or under. The very last 100-yards of the hike features an all-fours scramble up Chimney Peak which only half of us dared. We caught the rhododendrons in full bloom, as well as columbia wildflower, and several other nice floral species. There was even a few patches of beargrass on the summit, a nice reward for our effort.
           

#9 Oneonta Gorge, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

April 21. Just one exit past the famous and very busy Multnomah Falls, this 4.7-mile hike loops around the deep, narrow, mossy chasm known as Oneonta Gorge and features three waterfalls: Ponytail Falls, Oneonta Falls, Horsetail Falls, and Triple Falls. A delightful hike despite the overcast weather.

#8 Catherine Creek, Columbia Gorge, Washington

April 6. We hiked this easy 3.4-miles on a rainy and overcast day, but the weather did not diminish the impressive natural beauty of this area. Northwest Indians built small rock-rimmed meditation sites in places where spirits were thought to be powerful - often on mountain peaks (see also #4 Indian Point below). Young men would fast in such locations in hopes of honoring the spirits of Indian dead, and receiving a spirit vision to guide their adult life. We hiked up to the natural rock arch and had lunch in the mysterious vision quest pits. Witnessed spectacular wild flowers including camas and jeffery shootingstar.
           

#7 Patjens Lakes, Mt. Washington Wilderness, Oregon

June 21-22. Camped at Big Lake and the next day we hiked the 6-mile Patjens Lakes loop. The Big Lake / Patjens Lake area had suffered a devastating burn in 2011 and the landscape is just starting to recover a midst a forest of dead, charred trees. Bear grass, which is known to bloom infrequently every 5-7 years or so, was in abundance, perhaps because of the burn. The beargrass in concert with the burn was a surreal landscape.
              

#6 Eagle Creek, Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon

July 26-27. This spectacular hike has been on my list for quite a while now and it certainly did not disappoint my big expectations. Along six very nice waterfalls, the Eagle Creek Trail is a marvel of civil engineering. To maintain an easy grade through this rugged canyon, the builders blasted ledges out of the sheer cliffs, bridged a colossal gorge, and even chipped a tunnel through solid rock behind 120-foot Tunnel Falls. We hiked in 7 or so miles past Tunnel Falls to just above Criss Cross Falls and had some lunch at a very nice spot on the Creek. Then we came back a mile or so, thru Tunnel Falls again and camped for the night. I would rank this place higher but was very crowded, especially before Punchbowl Falls which is the destination for many day hikers. We hiked out on a Friday and during the last two miles to the trail head we passed more than 250 people coming in. Regardless of the crowds there is a reason so many visit, it is a marvelous place I highly recommend.
           

#5 Iron Mountain, Santiam Cascades, Oregon

June 29. If you like wildflowers, this is the place to go, and you should do it in late June. From the top of Iron Mountain it seems that the Three Sisters are just a stone's throw away. We caught this bio-cornucopia at the perfect time, over 300 species of wildflowers were in full bloom (a friend went back two weeks later and they were nearly all gone)! It was really amazing, dizzying.
           

#4 Indian Point, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

July 27-28. The day we left Eagle Creek (see #6 Eagle Creek above), Dr. Andersson and I drove just a few miles east on I-84 to the next campground at Herman Creek. We backpacked in one mile and set up at the primitive Herman Creek Campground (not to be confused with the Herman Creek RV campground near the trailhead!) We had the whole place to our selves and the deer, a stark contrast to our experience hiking out of Eagle Creek. Next day we hiked up to Indian Point which is one of the most spectacular hiking views of the Columbia Gorge. There is another Indian vision quest pit here (see #8 Catherine Creek above), which features the best, most dramatic view of both east and west on the Columbia River Gorge.
           

#3 North Umpqua Hot Springs, Oregon

May 18-19. The natural hot springs are amazing by their own right, but this is a beautiful area rich with amazing geology and abundant plant and animal wildlife. Not my first visit here, nor it will not be my last.
           

#2 Tam McCarthur Rim, Three Sisters, Oregon

August 21-23. This was a long-overdue return trip to an area which brings great memories. We arrived on Wednesday, camped at Three Creek Lake and hiked in to watch the sun go down over the Three Sisters the next day. The Rim is just an epic landscape, so close the Three Sisters. Perhaps my favorite place to watch the sun go down. So far I have been blessed to do it twice from here. I was able to experiment with some time-lapse video of the sunset:

#1 Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington

August 8-11. The first night we all huddled under a tarp as a huge lightning and thunder storm came in right after we got our tents set up. Next day we went for a walk over to Blue Lake and on the way over we spotted a fresh Sasquatch print (?) On Sunday I went for an 8-mile loop solo hike which was spectacular. Unfortunately got myself a bit lost on the way back trying to make a cross-country shortcut. Was thankful to make it back to camp right at dinner time, right before dark. Good times.
           

Mention: Bagby Hot Springs, Oregon

February 11. I still love this place although it isn’t what it used to be. My little car didn't make it to the trail head because of the snow, but strangers following us in a Subaru gave us a ride the last half mile.
           

Mention: Crabtree Lake, Oregon

August 4-5. Joey’s first backpacking trip. Nice area, close to home.
           

Mention: Cape Kiwanda and Nestucca Spit, Oregon

August 17-18. 6.5 miles. We explored nearly the entire Cape Kiwanda one day, and the next we explored Bob Straub State Park and the Nestucca Spit. Teaming with ocean wildlife we saw many seals, crab, jelly fish, thousands of gulls and some pelicans. We found dozens of whole sand dollars.

Mention: Latourell Falls, Columbia Gorge, Oregon

March 9. Includes Latourell, Wahclella and Elowah Falls.