The Power of Giving...

Over the last year I have been involved in the Mentoring to Achieve Potential (MAP) program through a local not-for-profit org called Portland Impact (PI). PI offers many services to low income/disadvantaged families and one of them is MAP...I applied, went through an intense interview process and lo and behold I became a mentor. Pictured here is Shane, my mentee for the last year. We meet about 1 hour a week...our activities have ranged from shooting hoops (he schools me), playing catch (he's got a 'gun') or more intellectual endeavors like playing chess (he's a quick learner) and going to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Shane is pictured here at OMSI, where he was learning about technology and panning through satellite images of Portland to look for a baseball field near his house. Meeting w/ Shane over the last year has enriched my life and helped me realize that giving of one's time is one of the best gifts we can give...even if its only an hour a week.

Happy Father's Day!

Greetings Fathers, fathers to be and children of fathers...(that should cover everybody). For all those fathers who used to tell their children about "the good ol days" when they had to walk to school in the snow...uphill...both ways...well, give the Wahkeena Falls to Multnomah Falls hiking loop trail a try. It's only 5 miles round trip, but it has more switchbacks than you can shake a stick at...My dad, Steve Sr., and I hiked this trail last September...turns out that he's in very good shape...so he may have actually hiked in the snow...uphill...both ways for most of his childhood. Funny...I don't remember Northwest Indiana having many hills...Pictured here is one my favorite spots along the trail that brings respite during hot summer days. Happy Father's Day!

Nature's Paintbrush

Mike, a fellow Wildersness Steward, and I hiked to Burnt Lake today...covering ~ 8 miles and about 2,200 feet in elevation gain. We saw snow, "camp robbers," "skunk cabbage," and of course Burnt Lake...a little drop from heaven about 70 miles from Portland at the base of Mt Hood. Pictured here is Indian's Paintbrush, one of the many types of flora you will find in the Mt Hood Wilderness. Remember you can look, but please leave the land in its natural state to preserve it for future generations.

Badminton...a game of Strategery!

My English friend, Chris, re-introduced me to the fine game of Badminton. Most of us know the game from the perspective of our childhood backyard or local park...well, there's a breed of folks out there and hit the "birdie" or "shuttle-cock" with the velocity and ferociousness of Roger Clemens throwing 'chin-music' to a rookie in Spring Training. Its not only fun, but quite a workout...