Back on Vancouver Island means back into the woods!

I got the chance to stay with my friend Taylor in Sooke again. He is an expert for any kind of traditional, outdoor and self preserved food. There we had hering eggs on hemlock branches with home made sour kraut for lunch. 

Up in Comox I met Mike "the mushroom man" again. He took me out to Mt. Washington and I we had a good harvest. Pounds of chanterelle, boletus and one cauliflower mushroom in a couple of hours. It´s been a blast, never found so many shrooms on one day!!

I wanted to get on a summit a last time in Canada and hiked up to Mt. Albert Edward in the Strathcona Provincal Park. It´s been a long day and I did´nt enjoy the flat approach but since I was on top it has been totaly worth the effort.

Obviously I have´nt been by myself. Thanx for the warning. 

Big Foot was watching me. I should have brought my footprint plastering set ...

I have been busy with selling my car and getting organized for the next stage of my journey in the last days. So it has been great to stay couchsurfing with Biff & Deb. They are passionated bike-travellers, easy for them to fill up my backpacks with new inspiration. Thanx guys I appreciate your support and I definitely had fun!

It´s pumpkin time in Oregon and there is already snow on the mountains.

Elias and me spent about 10 days in Smith Rock. This is the place where sport climbing in north america was developed. Old school then. The first bolt is rarely lower than 5 meters above the ground. If I have had a clip stick I would have brought it...

Scenic view from top of the monkey face.

I met Ryan from California. He carried an extra bike with him. So we went for a ride in the backyard hills of Bend. Uhhyeah... I love these fall days. Thanx man!

After more than a month climbing, camping, driving and a lot of fun together I had to say „good bye" to Elias. He is going back to Switzerland and my travels will lead me to the southern hemisphere soon. „S´is hure guad xi, Herr Pfarrer!"

After a long time out in the woods I felt like having urban life again. Together with the local Ben I explored Portland on a fixed gear bike. I realy enjoyed cycling this social and bikefriendly city. On top there are lots of breweries, bike stores, coffee shops, freaky people and the biggest book store I´ve ever been to.

 

Columbia River, the largest river in the Pacific Northwest, trenching it´s way through an impressive landscape.

The nights are getting colder and fire wood is rare in the desert like environment.

We stopped in Vantage witch offers exhilarating climbing on basalt columns.

Endless roads and magic light in northern Oregon.

Trout Creek is the place to be in terms of trad climbing. Local climbers enjoying the fall sun.

The current political situation in the USA is affecting my travels as well. Actually in a good way. Free Camping!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crack climbing is still a new world for me. I have had a hard time learning how to jam up the steep cracks. Despites it is a really exhausting exercise it´s a question of gear as well.  

An epic sunset and Mt. Jefferson is totaly compensating the physical effort.