BCEP 2023 Team 01: Triple Crown/Knots & Belay

Activity Notes

This is a classic Portland hike that is a great addition to your hiking repertoire.  It is close, cheap to get to, and offers endless variations while you explore the stairs and trails right here in town.  For all those times when weather, time or motivation prevents you from tearing out into the great outdoors, Forest Park is a great alternative.

We'll meet at the Blue Star Donut at 1701 SW Jefferson St. at 7:30am and then gear up at the small brick bench at the corner of SW Jefferson and 18th St. We'll start walking at 8:00am. Bring a travel coffee mug. It's on the Gear List.

Our first leg is from SW 20th & Jefferson up to Council Crest Park.  From the start we will follow a somewhat linked route up urban staircases and side roads, including SW Summit, Montgomery, Vista and Talbot, finishing on the 4T Trail to Council Crest.  Along the way we will demonstrate good pacing, the rest step and team management, all skills useful on any climb.  At Council Crest if conditions allow we will have a short discussion of map and compass skills as we point out the several peaks in the distance.  From there we head north on the Marquam Trail past Patton Road, continuing on the trail down to the Zoo, crossing Route 26, and through the Hoyt Arboretum, our Second Crown, where we will take a break to learn knots, belaying and rappelling. 

To reach our third crown of the day we will continue on the Wildwood Trail to the Pittock Mansion, crossing a wonderful pedestrian bridge over Burnside St. The trail then climbs back out of the canyon to Pittock Mansion.  With its grand view across downtown, the port area, east Portland and beyond it makes a fitting place to complete our coronation.  Finally we will descend through MacLeay Park and then wind our way back to our starting point back to the Goose Hollow through the streets of NW.

You can use TriMet to travel to the trailhead, since it will be a part of our hike anyway, and saves the hassle of finding a place to park in busy Goose Hollow.