Join us for free samples of premium GTEA, either Ancient White or Black Loose Leaf Tea and a hike to steep in appreciation of nature.

Appreciation Hike: Lower Macleay to Pittock Mansion out & back

Date: Sunday, October 30th at 11 AM to 1 PM

Distance: 5 miles round trip

Pace: 2.0-3.0 mph

Duration: Roughly 2.0 hrs

Address: 2960 NW Upshur St. Portland, OR 97210

Directions: Turn onto Highway 30 heading west towards St. Helens, and exit at Vaughn St. Turn left at the first light onto NW 23rd, then right onto Thurman Ave. Turn right on NW 28th, then an immediate left onto Upshur. The park is 3 blocks further at the end of Upshur.

Join Rich Hood, co host, and I for free samples of either Premium GTEA Ancient White or Black Loose Leaf Tea and a hike to steep in appreciation of nature:

Appreciation Hike: NW Leif Erikson out-and-back

Date: Saturday, August 13th at 11 AM to 1 PM

Distance: 4-6 miles round trip

Pace: 2.0-3.0 mph

Duration: Roughly 2.0 hrs

Address: Forest Park NW PDX Entrance, 4099 NW Thurman St, Portland, OR 97210

We will meet at the end of the paved road where Thurman St. meets the dirt trail leading the official trail head further down the path.

Join Rich Hood, co host, and I for free samples of either Premium GTEA Ancient White or Black Loose Leaf Tea and a hike to steep in appreciation of nature:

Note: We will meet in front of the Japanese garden and then walk to the trail head.

Appreciation Hike: Hoyt Arboretum out-and-back

Distance: 4-6 miles round trip

Pace: 2.0-3.0 mph

Duration: Roughly 2.0 hrs

Address: Portland Japanese Garden in Washington Park. 611 SW Kingston AVE, Portland, OR 97205

Stress sucks. But the forest is close at hand. Share your presence while immersed in time honored elements of nature. Seek the profound simplicity of an observant walk with likeminded folks. Allowing ourselves to experience the visceral calm of the natural world can become the antidote to our largely unnatural waking lives. With time you may even find some sense of clarity about what is truly necessary and what is glaringly unnecessary for you on your path.

This hike will include brief introductions of participants so inclined to share. The majority of the hike is silent. This is your opportunity to be mindful of your forest experience, and perhaps enjoy a passive camaraderie with other hikers, or whatever else happens to enter your mind and your senses. We will not tell you how to be mindful or further try to define your discovery. This is about you! And in a way, because of you it is about all of us together! At the conclusion of the hike, and time permitting, we may talk about what we enjoyed, unexpected surprises and any challenges that crept up.