Taylor Creek Trail

April 22, 2018

W C Fields was once quoted as saying "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.  Then quit.  There's no point in being a damn fool about it".  Since we tried and failed to hike the Taylor Creek trail in 2012, we decided to give it a second try before quiting and we are glad we did. The main factor being that the bridges over Taylor Creek that were missing in 2012 had been rebuilt in 2016.

Time to hike!!

We started at the trailhead located 3 miles up the Briggs Valley Forest Road 25 in Galice.  The entire trail is 10 - 11 miles long, so our goal today was to do between 5 - 6 miles.  The hike began by descending from the trailhead along numerous switchbacks to the canyon below.  Of course this meant that on our return trip, we would be ascending the same switchbacks when we were tired.  But you try not to think of that when your hike is just starting.  We worked our way along the trail through a couple of meadows and across the first rebuilt bridge before entering the old growth forest that would dominate most of this hike.

First meadow along the trail.

The first newly built bridge and Taylor Creek

During our section hike today we crossed 5 wooden bridges (the new bridges are wonderful, well built, and picturesque) and at least a half dozen small side creeks.  These side creeks, as well as stops along Taylor Creek, provided Katie with lots of water opportunities and may have made this one of her favorite hikes.

Yellow Violets

Wild Ginger

Burned Timber Creek Falls

Trail near Tin Can Campground

We encountered many varieties of wildflowers on this hike including first of the season sightings of Wild Ginger and Western Spring Beauty.  The Lemon Colored Fawn Lilies dazzled us with the large groupings right along the trail and every now and then we spotted Fairy Slipper Orchids.  Other varieties seen were Snow Queen, Goldfields, Buttercup, Oregon Grape, Houndstongue, Larkspur, various Stonecrops, Trillium's, Yellow Violets, Wake Robins, and Blue-Eyed Mary.  Wow!  So many wildflowers!

Fairy Slipper Orchids

Stonecrop Plants

Western Spring Beauty

In addition to the wildflowers, the trail either stayed above Taylor Creek on a ridge with views or made it's way next to the creek. So we had old growth forest to hike through while viewing wildflowers and enjoying the sight and sound of the creek.  We really enjoyed this hike and it may now be our favorite.

Our turnaround and lunch stop

Katie gives this trail a 5-paw rating!

We took a nice break right next to Taylor Creek at new bridge #5 where there is also a large pullout for parking and trail access.  After enjoying the sunshine, some food, and of course the creek, we began our hike back to finish at 10.1 miles for the day.  We hope to come back and hike the balance of this trail this year or even do an Autumn hike here like our hiking friends "Boots on the Trail did in 2016.  Spring or Autumn, this trail is a MUST DO.  So if  you get the chance, try the Taylor Creek trail or visit the area and spend part of a day along the creek with the kids, dog, or by yourself.  You'll be glad you did and will probably want to come back for more.  We do.

Trekking Together
Glenn and Carol

Pilot Rock

April 14, 2018

Pilot Rock is a well known landmark here in Southern Oregon and played a role in helping guide pioneers who migrated north from California on the Applegate Trail. Yet during all of our hiking days here in Southern Oregon, we have only viewed it from other hikes and never hiked along the short but steep trail leading to it's base.  We decided to change that today.

At the start of the Pilot Rock trail and ready to go!

After driving south on I-5 and then along the old highway 99, we followed a rough 2-mile stretch of Pilot Rock Road 40-2E-33 to the relatively new parking lot that used to be an old quarry.  From the trailhead we, along with Glenn's sister Karen and our dog Katie, headed out on the trail with the sight of Pilot Rock looming in the distance.

Pilot Rock looms

The trail was in good shape and started out as a slow slight incline as we slowly worked our way up the slope.  We soon came across a few lingering patches of snow which Katie took advantage of by rolling and frolicking through.  Please note, no other hikers followed Katie in this moment of exuberance, but it was tempting.

Trail view

Katie in heaven on a large patch of snow.

Eventually our trail came to an intersection with the PCT which we followed with a left turn.  The trail now began to gain elevation and became quite steep for this last mile of the hike. At points the trail was a series of rock steps put on the trail to help against erosion (and maybe to help hikers not "slide" down the trail on the descent).  Soon a series of switchbacks ensued to increase the climb until we came to the base of Pilot Rock.

And on to the PCT we go...

Rock step portion of trail

View over the valley as we near the base of Pilot Rock

The look up was incredible and Pilot Rock is huge  -- much bigger viewed at the base than from the freeway or other trails in the distance.  The thought of scrambling up to the top never entered our minds once we arrived at the base despite a few folks coming done from having done so.  NO WAY!  Climbing up would be bad enough, but coming down again in reverse?

View of Pilot Rock from the base.  The climb up is along the crevice in the middle.  Not Happening!

After straining our necks to look up and taking some pictures, it was time to head back down (down being the key word) the trail.  We did see some Snow Queen and Yellow Bell wildflowers along the trail, but as Spring progresses we are sure more wildflowers will make their appearance.

Yellow Bells made an appearance along the trail

A small pond created by snow melt runoff

Well, another new hike in the books for 2018.  If you haven't hiked to the base of Pilot Rock, we highly recommend it, but be prepared for a steep climb. It is one of those amazing sights in Southern Oregon that you need to see in person. Be sure to let us know if you scramble to the top!


Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Jeffrey Loop & Little Falls Loop

April 13, 2018

Going hiking always sounds like a good excuse to leave work early.  So despite the clouds, threat of rain, and the fact that it was Friday the 13th,  Glenn used the "going hiking" excuse at work and with our pack and pup in the car, we drove just south of Selma to hike a group of trails along the Illinois River.

Up first, the Jeffrey Pine Loop trail

We have hiked all of these trails before and they offer some great views of the river and include a wide variety of plants and flowers.  However, we didn't expect to see very many wildflowers today since the cold weather is still hanging around.  But as we started hiking the Jeffrey Pine Loop clockwise, we were soon treated to groups of Camas Lilies, Phlox and Wild Pansies.  Little did we know that this was only the beginning of the wildflower parade.

Camas

Phlox

Wild Pansy

After completing half of the Jeffrey Pine Loop, we merged onto the Little Falls connector trail that would take us to the Little Falls Loop and campground area.  Parts of the trail were very muddy and covered by water from recent rains and runoffs, but we managed to work our way along the trail. Of course these portions of trail caused no problem for Katie to navigate. Death Camas, Lemon Colored Fawn Lilies, Mule's Ear, and Iris along with more Phlox, Pansies and Camas led to many oohs and aahs as our hike continued. We even saw a few Checker Lilies - a variety of Fritillary. In some areas there were large patches of Fawn Lilies or Camas making quite the show.

Illinois River

Lemon Colored Fawn Lilies

Checker Lily

When we arrived at the campground area, we continued on to the Little Falls Loop which is around a mile in distance, about the same as the Jeffrey Pine Loop.  More wildflowers here included many appearances by Indian Paintbrush and Mule's Ear.  We also were treated to some amazing views of a very full and fast Illinois river.  So full that the Little Falls were not falls at all, just part of the river.

Mule's Ear

Little Falls on the Illinois River.  The falls normally would be visible in the lower left corner - a 4-6 ft cascade - not today!

Indian Paintbrush

Our return hike on the Little Falls connector trail gave us a second chance to see and enjoy all the wildflowers again - many that we didn't mention due to not knowing their names.  We then hiked the last half of the Jeffrey Pine Loop back to the car.  But before we left, we crossed the road and hiked up to and along the Eight Dollar Mt Botanical Boardwalk trail.  The main feature of this very short boardwalk trail is the California Pitcher Plants at the end, but they are not in season till May - June.  Still lots of other wildflowers to view along this short trail.

Our trail to the right, Katie's trail to the left.

One last trail to hike.

The California Pitcher plant area at the end of the boardwalk

So four short trails (total of 4.5 miles) with lots of wildflowers and views of a beautiful river.  Sounds like a good excuse to go hiking, and it was!

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol