2013-12-07 45 -122

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Location

In a vacant field between US30 and Gable Rd.

Participants

Rex Wolf (talk)

Plans

Hoping to be here around the graticule-specific meetup time of 2PM, possibly with a friend in tow. Would be nice to meet some hashers from around the area! -Rex Wolf (talk) 09:53, 6 December 2013 (EST)

Expedition

I was down visiting a friend in Portland for the day. And since this hash looked accessible, I managed to convince him to come with me instead of sitting in a theatre watching some random movie.

With how cold it had been lately, the landscape on the way to the hashpoint was bleaker than I had expected. I'm sure in spring and summer it's much greener, being along the river and all, but right now, not so much. We even went through a spot where the snow was still very thick on the road and I had to slow down to make sure that we didn't go sliding into any other vehicles.

After getting through the snowy spot, though, we did finally arrive at the intersection. I was surprised at first to see a Starbucks on the corner, since I had been expecting a field. It wasn't too long before I figured out that I had forgotten to check the scale of the Google Maps preview I'd looked at. There were indeed buildings along the side of the road, but the field was much bigger than I had thought--and the hash was further out into it.

There was a fence, but there was also a wide-open gate that gave us admittance. A flat lot of asphalt gave us an easy walk, but then the brush started. And it was thick with thorny bushes and burrs of all kinds! In fact, that's the first time I can remember feeling thorns through my jeans, and it was quite uncomfortable! There was also a small line of coniferous trees to work through.

In spite of the cold snap and the remnants of snow and ice on the ground, I could hear the babbling of a small stream or two. I tried to avoid soaking myself, but I still got my feet a bit wet (as usual).

When I got close enough to the hashpoint, I took photos of the surrounding area. I didn't know where to put the sign at first (since I left my hammer and nails back in my car), but I found a wooden stake with a nice big crack in it that served to secure the sign in place.

Getting back to the car took more time and took us through lots more thorns. But on the whole, it still beat going to a theatre to watch something I would have had no interest in!