Plus: Do the Timbers have their next head coach?
 
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Today’s Forecast

56º | Partly cloudy | 4% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:18 a.m. | Sunset 4:34 p.m.
 

🥾 A climb worth your time

Hike of the Month: Saddle Mountain
A windy and steep trail makes its way up Saddle Mountain's summit in Oregon.
Don’t let this view deter you — it’s daunting, but worth it to make it to the top. | Photo by Ben McBee, PDXtoday
When Saddle Mountain reopened after a lengthy closure, Portland hikers were chomping at the bit to experience this demanding yet rewarding outdoor destination 1.5 hours outside of the city.

Quick facts

Starting point: Saddle Mountain State Natural Area
Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 5.2 miles
Route type: Out-and-back
Elevation gain: ~1,900 ft
Trail surface: Dirt, rock, and wire mesh for traction
Wheelchair accessible: No
Open: Year-round
Dog friendly: Yes, on leash

Alternating photos show a narrow path atop a cliff at Saddle Mountain.

Whether it’s foggy or clear, exercise extreme caution around the cliffs.

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Photos by @amy_balbier | Ben McBee, PDXtoday

Brief overview

About 15 million years ago, basaltic lava — the same that formed the Columbia River Gorge — flowed into the Pacific, creating violent explosions that resulted in outcroppings of rock like Saddle Mountain. At 3,290 ft, it’s one of the highest points in the Oregon Coast Range. Chinook peoples called it Swallalahoost; it was known as the nest of a Thunderbird and the source of their creation myth.

Why you should try it

During the spring, rare wildflowers like western red avens and rosy lewisia sprout, splashing color among the slopes. Equally stunning hues emerge among the alder and maple trees in the fall. But the main reason anyone puts in the significant effort to get to the top is the view. On clear days, you can soak up vistas of the sea and gaze to the east where Cascade peaks stand like titans (even Mount Rainier is visible).

Views of logging clear cuts and forest stretch to the horizon and the ocean from atop Saddle Mountain.

Sharp eyes can pick out the Astoria Column silhouetted against the Columbia River.

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Photo by Ben McBee, PDXtoday

Pro tips

Several stretches of this trail are very steep, including the last half mile to the summit, so if you have hiking poles, bring them. Also, be aware there is a gate that closes from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and no overnight camping is allowed.
More hikes to try
 
Events
Monday, Nov. 6
  • Kishi Bashi Presents His Song Film: “Omoiyari” | Monday, Nov. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark St., Ste. 110, Portland | Take a journey with Japanese American musician Kishi Bashi, as he sets out on a journey to find his heritage and reconcile the pain of the past in this documentary.
Tuesday, Nov. 7
  • Skip the Small Talk | Tuesday, Nov. 7 | 7-9 p.m. | Von Ebert Brewing + Kitchen, 131 NW 13th Ave., Portland | $15 | Bring your friends or come alone for an evening of connection with others through “big talk” conversational prompts (ex. “when are you happiest?”) paired with beer and snacks.
Wednesday, Nov. 8
  • Mothers Who Meditate | Wednesday, Nov. 8 | 7:30-9 a.m. | The People’s Yoga, 3014 NE Killingsworth St., Portland | $25 | Wake up, connect, and meditate at this session for moms that also includes light snacks.
  • Trail Sister’s Gear Swap | Wednesday, Nov. 8 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Chris King Precision Components, 2801 NW Nela St., Portland | Free | Women-identifying cyclists are invited to bring gear they want to rehome and shop around for new finds.
Thursday, Nov. 9
  • Jonas Brothers: FIVE ALBUMS. ONE NIGHT. | Thursday, Nov. 9 | 7 p.m. | Moda Center, 1 N. Center Court St., Portland | $25.95+ | If you’re a “Sucker” for this talented trio, then you’ll enjoy hearing all their hits from over the years.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Sports
  • At least we had the rain to hide our tears. The Portland Thorns lost a heartbreaker at home on Sunday, losing 1-0 to NJ/NY Gotham FC in extra time, ending their season and hopes of going back to back as NWSL champions. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Fun Fact
  • Researchers with the University of Cambridge analyzed the personalities of residents in 53 metropolises in the US. They looked at five traits, including extroversion, where (shock) Portlanders ranked dead last. For a city our size, we scored high on openness, an indicator of creativity and willingness to try new things. (Portland Monthly)
Plan Ahead
  • Do Hawaiian plate lunches in an underground cocktail lounge pique your interest? That’s exactly what you can expect from Hapa Barkada, serving delicious eats from the kitchen of new Pearl District bar Below by Botanist. You can also taste Filipino flair (lumpia, anyone?) and vibe with occasional live DJs. (Eater Portland)
The Word
  • “Essayons” is French for “let’s try.” It’s the motto of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the name of the dredge ship it operates to keep the Columbia River Bar deep enough for cargo vessels. Its two vacuum arms suck up and move sand to keep Oregon’s economy flowing. (OPB)
Environment
  • How can something so dirty, be clean? Through a partnership with Portland General Electric, City of Roses Disposal and Recycling will roll out the city’s first all-electric garbage truck in the coming weeks. On a single charge, the zero-emissions vehicle can run for 20 hours (or two days’ worth of pickups). (OPB)
Read
  • Do you think you Kann cook like Gregory Gourdet? With a copy of “The Weekday Table” in hand, you just might. Set for a 2025 release, the collection of 125 recipes was formulated during the pandemic, when the James Beard winner simplified his global dishes while cooped up in his apartment. (Portland Monthly)
Shop
  • Got a LAIKA Studios fan in your family? The Hillsboro animation production company behind films like “Coraline” and “Kubo and the Two Strings” has launched an online store, where you’ll find everything from plushes and puzzles to paint-by-number sets. (Willamette Week)
Finance
  • Billionaires wanted this painting, but 54,538 everyday investors got it first — all thanks to Masterworks, the award-winning platform for investing in blue-chip art. Investors have benefited from 16 sales with returns including 17.8%, 21.5%, and 35.0%. Interested? 6AM City readers can skip the waitlist to join. †*
† See important Masterworks disclosures.
Sports

🪓 Timbers taking a swing?

Portland Timbers reportedly close to hiring Phil Neville as new head coach
Phil Neville does an interview with Sky Sports.
Phil Neville would be the Timbers’ 11th head coach in the club’s history and its fifth of the MLS era. | Photo by James Boyes
The Portland Timbers may soon have a new, big-name manager. Reports by The Athletic (also corroborated by The Oregonian/Oregon Live) suggest that the team is close to hiring Phil Neville as its fifth head coach of the MLS era.

There’s no denying he’s well-known on the beautiful game’s global stage. As a player, Neville won the Premier League multiple times with Manchester United (as a teammate of David Beckham), while also playing for the Three Lions.

However, his managerial career has been noticeably less illustrious. During his stint at the helm of England’s women’s national team, Neville won just over half of the matches during a tenure that was rife with controversy. And in June 2023, he was fired as head coach of Inter Miami FC when the team was bottom of the MLS.

It also appears that Miles Joseph, who was interim head coach following the dismissal of Giovanni Savarese, will be retained on staff as an assistant.
The Buy

The Buy 11.06.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
Cuisinart’s 16-inch roaster and rack — because you deserve an easy-to-clean roaster this year, and this one’s big enough for a Thanksgiving turkey and has a nearly five-star rating.
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The Wrap
 

Today’s edition by:
Ben
From the editor
Over the weekend, I finally took my wife to see the commemorative brick that I bought for her birthday at Pioneer Courthouse Square. It’s pretty cool to have a tangible family monument in the city (even if it is only 3 inches by 7 inches).
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