Smith Rock State Park

Our outdoor adventure today took us a half hour north of Bend to the fabulous Smith Rock State Park. I had visited this rock climbing mecca many years before to climb a rock called the Monkey Face. The park has changed tremendously in the intervening years, so so many more people. We arrived at 10:00 and could hardly find a place to park in the newly expanded lot yet I distinctively remember being one of the few people around when we climbed back in the late 80s. The amazing rock formations and intensely blue sky have remained unchanged despite the incredible increase in visitors allowing for dramatic photos throughout our three hour hike.