- First; you get on the Blue Line to the last stop in Hillsboro to cut 30 miles off your initial travel. I recommend leaving on a weekday to avoid excess commuter loads or tourists.
- Second; do take in the opportunity to check out the lesser known communities of Gaston, Yamhill and Carlton Oregon. I like to stop into each one for supplies and random photo ops. In Yamhill you should stop at Zippy's Pizza for a bite because the road past Carlton goes up, up, up. The travel over the coast range is on Meadow Lake Road.
- Camp in the BLM area that includes Dovre, Alder Glen and Elk Bend. http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/site_info.php?siteid=238
- When you wake up, you will head 20 miles to the town of Beaver, there is a small deli (eat there, pat yourself on the back). From Beaver you can head up the 101 heading north and find additional camping at Whalen Island Campground near Pacific City. In Pacific City enjoy a pint at Pelican Brewery.
The elevation profile and map given by the Portland Transportation folks is good enough. https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/36638?a=316552 however, it will not give you landmarks for the journey and you will be questioning where you are on that mountain at all times till you reach the campground. "Is this the summit? Nope, there is another peak.?" Not until you pass the Weyerhauser Private Land part will you be close to the summit. You can't miss it, it is just past the dead porcupine and the turkey vultures.
My trip total was 77 miles one way.
Journey on! -R
