Hiking Therapy
"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." --Sir Edmund Hillary
Day 1: Eagle Creek Trail
Our first hike as a group will be Eagle Creek. After a brief orientation and pick up from the determined Portland location you will be transported to the trail head of Eagle Creek. This moderate hike found in the gorge will quickly become one of your favorites. The 6.4 round trip hike will take you from the trailhead to High Bridge and back. We will stop a little over halfway up the trail at the Lower Punchbowl falls and take a 30 minute quiet reflection time near the water. Studies have shown the benefits of white ambient noise from a water source to be calming and stress relieving.
After our time by the water we will continue the hike to High Bridge which covers a span of a towering gorge over the creek. This will the farthest we go on the trail. It is here that we can discuss the accomplishment of hiking and the relation to overcoming obstacles in our lives. We will hike back from here and have lunch along the trail.
After the completion of the hike you will be transported back to Portland.
HIKE DESCRIPTION:
•Columbia gorge
•Start point: Eagle Creek Trailhead
•End point: High Bridge
•Hike Type: Out and Back
•Distance: 6.4 miles (round trip)
•Elevation gain: 840 feet
•Difficulty: Easy to moderate
•Seasons: Year round
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like falling leaves." -John Muir
Day 2: Lower Macleay Trail
We will meet at the determined Portland location for our pick up and be transported to the Lower Macleay Trailhead. This moderate hike is 5 miles round trip with 900 feet elevation gain. We have chosen this location to show Portland's vast network of trails that are offered. Many people don't hike because they think the only trails accessible are to far away, we want to show that there are hiking possibilities everywhere.
The trail first follows Balch Creek, with it's lush canopy of trees and moss it is hard to believe we are so close to the city. The trail climbs first to the old stone house, this will be our first stop. It is here we will take a short break and take in the beautiful surroundings. The trail then climbs from there as we leave the creek into the tall trees and winding trail. Eventually we reach the Pittock Mansion. Here we will sit and have lunch and enjoy the views of downtown Portland. We will facilitate a group discussion while we enjoy our surroundings. After lunch it is back down the trail to sit along side the Balch Creek. Here we will take 30 minutes of quiet time to gain the benefits of white noise next to the flowing creek. We will then complete the hike and you will be transported back to Portland.
HIKE DESCIPTION:
•Start point: Lower Macleay Park Trailhead
•End point: Pittock Mansion
•Hike Type: Out and back with a small loop
•Distance: 5 miles round trip
•Elevation gain: 900 feet
•Difficulty: Moderate
•Seasons: All
"There are moments when all anxiety and stated toil are becalmed in the infinite leisure and repose of nature."--Henry David Thoreau
Day 3: Silver Creek Falls
This will be the furthest we travel so we will have an earlier start than the other days. We will meet at the determined Portland location where you will then be transported to the Silver Creek Falls trailhead. This moderate 8.7 mile hike will take you pass 10 different waterfalls. Although this is the longest hike we will be taking of the 4 scheduled hikes this moderate trail is not difficult. We will then take our 30 minute quiet reflection time beside one of these famous waterfalls. We will continue snother 2 miles passed 2 waterfalls and then stop and enjoy a lunch together, here a group disussion will be facilitated. After lunch we will complete this long loop and marvel at we saw and accomplished for the day. We will then be transported back to Portland.
HIKE DESCRIPTION:
•Start point: South Falls Lodge Trailhead
•End point: Upper North Falls
•Hike Type: Loop
•Distance: 8.7 miles
•Elevation gain: 1,300 feet
•Difficulty: Moderate
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way."--Dr.Seuss
Day 4: Tryon Creek Trail
We want to again show you the diversity of hikes that are offered within the Portland area. Our goal is to have you continue this therapy after the program ends. By learning that you don't have to go far to find beautiful trails nearby.
Tryon Creek trail is a real an urban jewel. This 5.7 mile trail cuts through a lush forest of cedar, maple, and pine trees each vibrant with colors of green. It is hard to believe that one is so close to a major metropolitan while on this trail. We will take our final 30 minutes of quiet time near an ideal spot by the Tryon creek. This final reflection time will help to see the importance of having this be a regular activity in our life to drown out the daily noises we encounter.
We will then continue down the trail to where we will stop for lunch and have a group discussion. After lunch we will complete the final 2 miles of the loop which will bring us back to the Nature Center and the trailhead where we started. We will then be transported back to Portland.
HIKE DESCRIPTION:
•Start point: Tryon Creek State Park Trailhead
•End point: Tryon Creek High Bridge
•Trail Log:
•Hike Type: Loop
•Distance: 5.7 miles
•Elevation gain: 630 feet
•High Point: 350 feet
•Difficulty: Moderate
•Seasons: All
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity” --John Muir
Our first hike as a group will be Eagle Creek. After a brief orientation and pick up from the determined Portland location you will be transported to the trail head of Eagle Creek. This moderate hike found in the gorge will quickly become one of your favorites. The 6.4 round trip hike will take you from the trailhead to High Bridge and back. We will stop a little over halfway up the trail at the Lower Punchbowl falls and take a 30 minute quiet reflection time near the water. Studies have shown the benefits of white ambient noise from a water source to be calming and stress relieving.
After our time by the water we will continue the hike to High Bridge which covers a span of a towering gorge over the creek. This will the farthest we go on the trail. It is here that we can discuss the accomplishment of hiking and the relation to overcoming obstacles in our lives. We will hike back from here and have lunch along the trail.
After the completion of the hike you will be transported back to Portland.
HIKE DESCRIPTION:
•Columbia gorge
•Start point: Eagle Creek Trailhead
•End point: High Bridge
•Hike Type: Out and Back
•Distance: 6.4 miles (round trip)
•Elevation gain: 840 feet
•Difficulty: Easy to moderate
•Seasons: Year round
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like falling leaves." -John Muir
Day 2: Lower Macleay Trail
We will meet at the determined Portland location for our pick up and be transported to the Lower Macleay Trailhead. This moderate hike is 5 miles round trip with 900 feet elevation gain. We have chosen this location to show Portland's vast network of trails that are offered. Many people don't hike because they think the only trails accessible are to far away, we want to show that there are hiking possibilities everywhere.
The trail first follows Balch Creek, with it's lush canopy of trees and moss it is hard to believe we are so close to the city. The trail climbs first to the old stone house, this will be our first stop. It is here we will take a short break and take in the beautiful surroundings. The trail then climbs from there as we leave the creek into the tall trees and winding trail. Eventually we reach the Pittock Mansion. Here we will sit and have lunch and enjoy the views of downtown Portland. We will facilitate a group discussion while we enjoy our surroundings. After lunch it is back down the trail to sit along side the Balch Creek. Here we will take 30 minutes of quiet time to gain the benefits of white noise next to the flowing creek. We will then complete the hike and you will be transported back to Portland.
HIKE DESCIPTION:
•Start point: Lower Macleay Park Trailhead
•End point: Pittock Mansion
•Hike Type: Out and back with a small loop
•Distance: 5 miles round trip
•Elevation gain: 900 feet
•Difficulty: Moderate
•Seasons: All
"There are moments when all anxiety and stated toil are becalmed in the infinite leisure and repose of nature."--Henry David Thoreau
Day 3: Silver Creek Falls
This will be the furthest we travel so we will have an earlier start than the other days. We will meet at the determined Portland location where you will then be transported to the Silver Creek Falls trailhead. This moderate 8.7 mile hike will take you pass 10 different waterfalls. Although this is the longest hike we will be taking of the 4 scheduled hikes this moderate trail is not difficult. We will then take our 30 minute quiet reflection time beside one of these famous waterfalls. We will continue snother 2 miles passed 2 waterfalls and then stop and enjoy a lunch together, here a group disussion will be facilitated. After lunch we will complete this long loop and marvel at we saw and accomplished for the day. We will then be transported back to Portland.
HIKE DESCRIPTION:
•Start point: South Falls Lodge Trailhead
•End point: Upper North Falls
•Hike Type: Loop
•Distance: 8.7 miles
•Elevation gain: 1,300 feet
•Difficulty: Moderate
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way."--Dr.Seuss
Day 4: Tryon Creek Trail
We want to again show you the diversity of hikes that are offered within the Portland area. Our goal is to have you continue this therapy after the program ends. By learning that you don't have to go far to find beautiful trails nearby.
Tryon Creek trail is a real an urban jewel. This 5.7 mile trail cuts through a lush forest of cedar, maple, and pine trees each vibrant with colors of green. It is hard to believe that one is so close to a major metropolitan while on this trail. We will take our final 30 minutes of quiet time near an ideal spot by the Tryon creek. This final reflection time will help to see the importance of having this be a regular activity in our life to drown out the daily noises we encounter.
We will then continue down the trail to where we will stop for lunch and have a group discussion. After lunch we will complete the final 2 miles of the loop which will bring us back to the Nature Center and the trailhead where we started. We will then be transported back to Portland.
HIKE DESCRIPTION:
•Start point: Tryon Creek State Park Trailhead
•End point: Tryon Creek High Bridge
•Trail Log:
•Hike Type: Loop
•Distance: 5.7 miles
•Elevation gain: 630 feet
•High Point: 350 feet
•Difficulty: Moderate
•Seasons: All
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity” --John Muir
•Transportation (round trip from Portland locaction to trail and back)
•Certified hiking guide
•Outdoor therapy
•group setting where group development processes facilitate learning
Tour Dates Every Other Saturday:
April 8, April 22, May 6, May 20
Cost: $300 per person
Maxiumum group size 16
($300 payment may be applied as credit toward any of our Swiss Hiking Tours)
April 8, April 22, May 6, May 20
Cost: $300 per person
Maxiumum group size 16
($300 payment may be applied as credit toward any of our Swiss Hiking Tours)
