The rolling hills around the Dalles Mountain ranch have exploded in color. Fields of balsamroot, lupine, buckwheat, and a myriad of other varieties were in full bloom. Mt. Hood provides a snowy backdrop on the horizon.The Timberline Trail is a 36 mile route around Mt. Hood. The trail heads up and down over all the ridges and valleys that emanate from the top of the mountain. In all, the trail gains over 11,100 ft of elevation. Some people take 4 or more days to hike the Timberline trail, others run it in one day. It took me about a day and half to complete the loop. (It's not a race by the way!) A third of the trail, along the west side of the mountain, is the same as the Pacific Crest Trail. Ramona Falls, pictured here, is in that section.