kpff group hike

Last night marked a significant milestone! Our very first official Alpenglow Trail Co. group hike! I had the pleasure of guiding a team of 23 structural engineers from the Japanese Garden to Pittock Mansion.

This wasn’t just any group of engineers. Their firm, kpff, played a pivotal role in shaping two of Portland’s most beloved landmarks: the Japanese Garden and the iconic Barbara Walker Crossing (the bridge that connects wildwood over Burnside Rd. Walking with them through Forest Park, enjoying the exchange of knowledge and stories, felt especially meaningful. I don’t know about you but I don’t like to imagine a life with out the Barbara Walker Crossing!!!

A special thank you to John Gavan, who connected me with his kpff team, and to Sam Lee and Kristen Dziok, who helped organize the outing and were an absolute joy to work with.

A special shout out goes out to the sharp eye in the group who spotted a Dawn Redwood along the way! One of the few conifers that sheds its needles in the fall.

And to top it off, this kind note from Sam Lee:

“Thank you for everything you did to contribute to and facilitate an incredibly successful hike outing tonight! Our team members had nothing but great things to say and especially enjoyed having you lead us and share your experiences and Portland/trail running insights with us along the way. We had an amazing time!”

Here’s to many more adventures ahead! ❤️