"Hidden" Washington Park

Sometimes things work out unexpectedly.

While I was in between caring for my mother and starting my new job, I wanted to get out more, but I was also trying to get some organizing done. I came across a section of newspaper I had saved, from the July 14th, 2006 Arts & Entertainment section of The Oregonian.  

(Here is NOT aligned and justified scan of the map part.)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/k2r2vpubewvp2ux/Get%20Started%20with%20Dropbox.pdf?dl=0

Written by Inara Verzemnieks, with graphics by Eric Baker, it focused on places in Washington Park that don't appear on the maps. I wanted to go to them, and it turns out I was doing most of my exploration during the park's 150th anniversary. That worked out well.

There were six features, though "5" -- Estelle's Benches -- were in two locations. I eventually found them all, and some other things, not without difficulty.

For one thing, you quickly learn there are memorial benches everywhere. Maybe a lot of them weren't there in 2006. So I was sure I found the other Estelle's Bench, but that one was dedicated to John Reed.

There is less difficulty in finding Wesley's Bench (3), but getting a shot of it can be a little harder. The more secluded location makes it popular with people who may want a little nap or couples who want some privacy.

I was actually not looking for the Stairway to Heaven (4) when I found it. It was on the list, and I guess I knew I was in the general area, but on my way to something else, there it was.

The serendipity of discovery was part of the delight of being there, and part of why I kept returning. Of course, that also meant sometimes getting lost and missing things, which was also a reason to go back, but in a different way. (More on that in the next two posts.)

The Hidden Bowl (2) is actually on the map now, and they call it the Secret Garden. Does that make it less secret?

There is now not only a path to it, but also one leading out toward the shuttle stop and bike parking nearby. 

That is if you go forward, but if you go right, it takes you pretty directly to "6", the Memorial Garden. This is now well known enough that I saw wedding photos being taken there on one trip.

I think the greater visibility came about with road improvement, and there is nothing wrong with that. Not only is beauty a good thing to share, but also, the park is still full of solitude and quiet spots. They may not all make good landmarks, but there is still that atmosphere.

It was good to be able to see everything was still there. I was most worried about Chipmunk Manhattan (1). At first, I was afraid this stump might be all that remained. I kept going, however, and then I saw what was clearly it.

Of course,  what I really wanted to see was a bunch of chipmunks, and this was the closest I came:

I suspect visiting closer to dawn or dusk would work better; this was on a pretty warm day, and right in the middle.

Chipmunk Manhattan is located on the MAC trail, and while it does get frequently used, it is not crowded. The chipmunks should have a fair amount of privacy, but they probably still have their own "rush" or "happy" hours, and I did not get to see that.

Accessibility: That part is not great. One could get easily to the Estelle's Bench in the Rose Garden, and there are zig zag trails (mainly used for biking) that could intersect the Stairway to Heaven, but otherwise there is a lot of going over grass, sometimes with trails, sometimes steep. The MAC trail is narrow, uneven, and frequently walked with poles just for some extra help.

COVID: Conversely, Estelle's Bench in the Rose Garden is where you are most likely to be in close proximity to other people. Otherwise, everything is outdoors and and in areas where social distancing is quite easy.

https://explorewashingtonpark.org/