Cooper Mountain Nature Park

Does anyone else get a bit stir crazy by the end of January, only to realize we have at least 4 more months of rain to get through in Oregon before the weather decides to be nice?  I mean I get it - it's winter, it's cold, it's rainy, there is a lot of great college basketball on Saturdays, and I love me some NFL on Sunday, but at a certain point I get tired of being inside.  I am like a child that way.  You can only entertain me indoors for so long.  Plus, I get extra tired of using it's grey and rainy out as an excuse to lay on the couch all winter day.

This past Sunday I asked Brad if he wanted to get out of the apartment even though it was raining and luckily he was game.  (It did help that only the Pro Bowl does anyone eve watch that? was on and his Indiana Hoosiers had already won earlier that morning.)  We wanted to try a new trail so I headed to Google and found that Cooper Mountain Nature Park is only a few miles away.

Now, technically this isn't hardcore hiking or anything, but it was definitely a nice change of pace from a treadmill or busy street roads. It offers 3.5 miles worth of graveled trails and overlooks the Tualatin River Valley.  Tough Mudder Training, anyone?! We are signed up to run our second mudder in June, who wants to join our team?!

Oh hey, Cooper Mountain. Nice to meet you. 

Initial view of the TRV. 

Don't ask...

Pre hike stretch, which was needed because our pace was as fast as you could walk without turning into a run.

Look guys, Nature!

Rain, we're not afraid of you.

Brad and I were curious to know how the tree lost its bark, but not quite curious enough to Google it.  Do any of you nature enthusiasts know why?!

It bodes well for me that grey is one of my favorite colors.

Team Selfie. #telfie? Okay, I will stop talking now... 

This playground was perfect for Tough Mudder training.  Obstacles on obstacles on obstacles.

Beast mode.

There might have been an older couple giving Brad and I funny looks as we were on the playground, but whatever....We are definitely planning on returning to get a few runs and other training in, maybe even bring Jessi and Dan the Man with us, since they are also signed up to run the Mudder! #hoorah!


Anyway, if you are looking for a change of pace or want to get some Mudder training in, Cooper Mountain may just be the place for you.


Cheers,

<3 BB