Oiselle Apparel
www.oiselle.com

Here’s another Pacific Northwest company. I love walking in these knickers and the top is just so pretty. The knickers are made of a soft material (90% nylon and 10% lycra) and not shiny. There is a convenient zip pocket in the back. The fit is a comfortable low-rise and is even slimming.
The Par Avion top is too pretty to only wear walking. I even wear it with skirts. This ultra light weight top is shaped but does not fit tight, which I really like. It’s 100% polyester and machine washable. It comes in several colors.

Thorlo Socks
www.thorlo.com

Before you put on your shoes you need some great socks. I have found that the Experia Thorlo sock is the sock for me. The sock is ultra lightweight with a lot of extra TLC. There is a lightweight Achilles tendon pad to protect against rubbing and chafing, and sculpted pads in the ball and heel to provide protection from impact. It fits like a glove and comes in great colors.

Asics Arm Warmers
www.asicsamerica.com

On most cool mornings I have started off wearing my arm warmers. These are the perfect solution for when the days start off cool and then heat up, or you in fact warm up. I simply roll them down when I get warm. They are great for a variety of sporting events. They allow you to regulate your body temperature without shedding layers. They stay in place without constricting your arm or slipping down.

Take a Hike Portland
Synopsis by Barbara I. Bond

It’s the end of summer in the Northwest and that means it’s time to get outside. Portland and its surroundings are home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the west. Formed by fire and ice, the landscape is varied and complex, offering hikers hundreds of options limited only by their desire. With a wide range of choices it can help to have some expert advice. Moon Outdoors recently published guidebook Take a Hike Portland: Hikes within Two Hours of the City has something for everyone. Take a Hike Portland includes a handy list of “best hikes” with picks for things like best “butt-kickers,” “hikes with children,” and “waterfalls.”

The book’s organization is centered on the areas five major regions. Within two hours of Portland are five ecoregions, each with its own unique geology, terrain, and natural beauty. The main regions — The Cascade Range dividing the state north to south, Willamette Valley that surrounds Portland and Salem, and the Coast Range skirting the Pacific, contain hundreds of miles of trails to entice even the novice explorer to take a walk. Less well known, but nonetheless loved, are the Columbia River Plateau and the Eastern Cascades, both of which offer early season options for hikers looking to get away from Western Oregon’s winter rain and snows.

Moon Outdoors Take a Hike Portland offers a wide range of hikes to urban dwellers in the Portland area. Hikes include Gorge classics, wildflower viewing, Willamette Valley bird watching, and city get-aways. There is a chapter on hiking Washington’s Cape Horn rich with natural beauty and colorful human history. Take a Hike Portland will also introduce enthusiasts to some lesser-known hikes in the area. The Klickitat River environs offer hikes along a former railroad rewarding hikers with a unique experience in an area less well known to Portland residents. Check out Take a Hike Portland (ISBN: 9781598801972) then go ahead and go for a hike. You’ll be glad you did.