Tom Collins' Photo Journal: Beacon Rock 25k and 50k Uphill Run, Beacon Rock State Park, Washington

This past weekend was spent with a group of amazingly nice folks with a very deep devotion to physical fitness and sharing in that love together by running either a 25k or 50k uphill race on trails through Beacon Rock State Park.

The Runners getting ready

I went along, not to run, but to be with friends who did run and we spent the weekend camped at the park. The race, scheduled for Sunday morning at 8am drew an estimated 300 runners and their families who all camped in the group campground. Rainshadow Running sponsored the race and and put on an excellent event.

And they're off

Activities began as early as Friday night with a "Hash" run, loosely described as "beer drinkers with a running problem" and as you might expect it's a race that includes frequent stops for beer. There were more races on Saturday and runners and campers descended upon the State Parks Group camp grounds beginning as early as Friday night. Well the only folks there on Friday night were us three and a new friend Conner Meakin. You can see Conner's Blog here .

Conner Meakin

But by Saturday afternoon the park was full, tents were up and everyone was having fun. By that night people were gathering by the fire to meet each other and talk about the race in the morning. George, Herb and I retired early in anticipation of the 8am start time for the race.

Rain Shadow had prepared the area well with flags on the course, breakfast foods at the starting point, races for the tots and a promise of prizes, food, beer and live music at the end. And they came through with it all. A wood fired pizza oven showed up and started turning out some of the best pizza I've ever had, a truly wonderful folk band played, beer was cold and children were happy and playing everywhere. It really was an absolute success. Props to the group from Rain Shadow Running for putting on a truly good time.

The band was playing by noon and the after race party was on.

Wood fired Pizza all the way from Olympia

George finishes in a very respectable time.

Herb finishes shortly behind George

And the beer was cold, good and in high demand

Without too many race activities to attend on Saturday the three of us decided to take off and look over the local area. Highway 14 along the north shore of the Columbia River in "the gorge" is another one of the most beautiful areas you'll see in our fine state. The views are magnificent and there's no shortage of things to do, to see and places to eat.

Beacon Rock State Park

Our first stop was a town in Oregon known as Cascade Locks. After you pay a $1.00 toll to cross The Bridge of the Gods from Washington to Oregon you enter this small and friendly town rich with a history that dates back to 1875 when locks were constructed to aid the settlers who were traveling from the east to navigate the intense rapids of this area.

The Bonneville Dam, fishing, wind surfing and sailing, hiking, climbing and boating are all available in this area.