The Forest of North Portland: Pier Park

    While attending PCC, I took advantage of my time out of class to explore Portland by Bus. One evening, I hopped a 44 downtown, but instead of transferring at the mall, I continued north, riding the route all the way to its end at a large urban woodland called Pier Park. Here the 44 laid over before its southbound return trip to PCC. If the layover was long, I killed time walking across a field into a grove of Sequoia trees: and stared into the forest beyond. I never had time to explore the park in much detail, though it had my curiosity. And with my campaign this summer to visit the parks in North Portland, I decided it was time to revisit the park.
     My trip there was different this time: I drove, approaching from the west via Saint Johns bridge and parking just outside the park's southwestern corner by the pool. As with most of my expeditions, the timing and season helped set the stage: stepping out of the car, I was greeted by a cool, jasmine-scented breeze. It was surprisingly quiet for so close to the heart of Portland, and squirrels watched me from the twisted branches of  ancient apple trees.
     The park is instantly imposing. Massive fir trees up to 3 feet in diameter and over a hundred feet high are scattered throughout the entrance, forming an enclosed canopy above you. Yet the native ground cover has long since been cleared away, like many of the parks in Portland. So the forest has survived, but it looks much different than it did when settlers first arrived in the area. An eager explorer is meant by concrete trails heading off in every direction, vanishing into the trees, or behind one or the ridges that cross the park. While the ground cover is gone, an eclectic mix of smaller trees form a veritable Arboretum in the understory, and everything from Oaks to Maples to aspens can be found here. 

A small cottage and dogwood tree
in the northwest corner of the park.
Perhaps this is the groundskeepers
residence? 

     While some of the outlying areas are open and grassy, the park is mostly forest. Clearing the woods minimized, and the attractions of the park are woven into the forest. A playground and wading pool occupy a clearing just big enough for their footprint, and a complete disc golf course hides in the understory. Towards the southern end of the park are a collection of mostly abandoned brick sheds, their moss-covered roofs rotting and falling away, windows boarded up with brick-red plywood. One of these structures was a functional restroom, but the others remain a mystery. More restrooms perhaps, or snack shacks. We may never know. 
     I located the old gravel lane I'd walked while I was waiting for the 44, and took it around the edge of the park into the Sequoia Grove. I took the bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad, chimney park, then it was time to head for home.
    It was a pleasant walk...yet as I headed back to my car along the packed earth trails, I began to notice more disc golf paraphernalia. Holes and starting points dotted the landscape, on hilltops and ravines, some ranges crossed trails and most of my fellow travelers were engaging in the sport in some way. It felt a bit like i didn't belong, like in the process of walking through this forest, I was intruding. Perhaps I was in the way of someone's shot, or in danger of getting hit. Don't get me wrong: it is the perfect location for the sport: the forest canopy hides hills and ravines, and the trees grow wild making for a good challenge. No encounter I had was hostile, but hiking or picnicking in that part of the park would feel a bit out of place. Just passing through is likely harmless, and perhaps I wasn't actually in their way. Maybe I was worried about nothing with safety. I mean, disc golfers shout "FORE!" when they are about to throw a Frisbee...I hope.

One of the holes of the disc golf
course in Pier Park. Winding paths
like these cross the park to form
walking routes and access to the golf course.

     I made my trip in July, and likely many things have changed. I assume the park is cooler, and damp. The mob of children probably no longer crowd the poolside entrance (having returned to school), and there are fewer hikers. However in a Pacific Northwest forest, many things change little. With its fir trees and evergreen shrubs, I'm sure the park is just as green in October as it was when I visited in July. And your odds of being hit by a flying disc are probably halved as well! -KP