Urban Hike to Pittock Mansion

 Martin and I have started doing urban hikes. The first was another hike through NW Portland's beautiful residential area and a loop through Forest Park. I think Portland is one of the few cities to have such a huge park within the city limits. Today we did another loop through the classic old neighborhoods, through Forest Park and up to Pittock Mansion. This was a 5 mile loop with an elevation of 930 feet. According to my Fitbit, we walked over 90 flights of stairs!

 The flowers in the neighborhoods were beautiful, we walked through Portland's Nob Hill and up through King's Heights where we entered Forest Park to hike the rest of the way up to Pittock Mansion. Hidden in these neighborhoods were all these secret stairways, that we never knew existed. We got to scale at least 4 of these hidden gems. The longest one was 171 steps.

 We found beautiful little gardens and incredible art like this gate that protected someones hidden retreat in the middle of the city.

 As we ascended we were treated to beautiful views of the city. The one below highlights the industrial area with Mt. St. Helen's in the background.

 When we reached Pittock Mansion we were able to tour the Gate Lodge that Henry Pittock built for his gardener.

 This is what the front of Pittock Mansion looks like. You are able to tour the house which is looked after by the Pittock Society.

 I was standing on the porch of the mansion when I took Martin's picture with the unbelievable view of the city of Portland.

 Another view from a bench where we stopped and rested and enjoyed some cold water before our trip back down to our car.

 Henry Pittock emigrated from England in 1850. He started working for The Oregonian then a weekly newspaper. They weren't able to pay him for his work so they gave him the newspaper which he turned into a daily periodical which is still in existence today. Martin and I continue to subscribe to it which publishes an on line edition. He also help found the city of Camas, Washington where we live. The newspaper needed newsprint, so he started a paper mill in Camas which still exists today. When Henry Pittock was in his 70's he would ride his bicycle to Camas to visit one of his daughters who lived there. I don't think I could ride my bike from Camas to Portland! See the pictures of him and his family below.