Lower Table Rock - Above The Clouds

January 27, 2019

As of late, clouds/fog have filled the Rogue Valley in the a.m. hours only to give way around 2:00 pm or so to sunshine.  So afternoon hikes have become the new norm.  Today though we decided to venture out to Lower Table Rock and see if we could rise above the clouds before 2:00 pm.

The sunshine fights through the clouds and trees as we near the plateau of Lower Table Rock

With the recent government shutdown and lack of maintenance reported at the Table Rock trailheads (and factor in the clouds and cold weather), we were surprised that the parking lot at Lower Table Rock was about half full.  Our hike started out in the clouds/fog, and it didn't take long for our hearts and lungs to get really pumping with the cold air and steady climbing along the trail.  As we neared the end of the 1.4 mile climb to the plateau, we began seeing sunshine beaming through the trees and had to stop to get a few pictures.

Plateau reached with sunshine and muddy trails ahead.

One of the larger vernal pools

Once we reached the plateau it was all sunshine!  We had a great view of snow covered Mt McLoughlin (Mt Pitt to the old timers) and the plateau was full of vernal pools from recent rains.  We stopped a couple of times on our trek across the plateau to listen to all the frogs who were out enjoying the sunshine and pools too.

Our view of the Rogue Valley, a sea of clouds.

Mt McLoughin above the clouds

Even Upper Table Rock is above the clouds

When we reached the view point at the far end, we looked out across the ocean of clouds that still engulfed the Rogue Valley. What a view! We watched a couple of airplanes circle and then disappear into the clouds at they landed at the RV airport and looking across the valley we could also see  Upper Table Rock basking in the sunshine.   Great views all around.

Proof that the sun was shining on Lower Table Rock

As we descended on our return down Lower Table Rock, the clouds disappeared and by the time we got to our car sunshine had come to the Rogue Valley.  But for just a little while we were above the clouds and were treated to some unique views.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Joseph H Stewart State Recreation Area

January 21 ,2019

Since it has rained almost 4 straight days here in Southern Oregon and today was a holiday, it seemed that the only logical thing to do since the sun came out was to hike.  Since most trails in the area were either under water or now consisting of mud, we headed up to Joseph H Stewart State Recreational Area where we knew a paved hiking path and views of Lost Creek Lake awaited us.

It seems that each year we hike at Stewart in January or February, which may be due to the paved hiking path as mentioned,  but also because the various waterfalls along the trail actually have water at this time of year and the campground area has very few (if any) folks in it which make for a nice scenic quiet hike through woods and along the lake shore.

Trail heading through a forested area near Peyton Bridge

View from trail of large meadows within the park

One of several waterfalls along or near the trail

We started at the day use area and followed various bike and hiking paths for a counter clockwise loop hike of 6.3 miles.  We had a mix of sun and clouds which provided numerous picture opportunities and although not completely full, the lake was beautiful and we even spotted a couple of boats out today.  There was also a dusting of snow on one of the nearby mountain tops as a background to the lake.

Clouds made for some great pictures throughout our hike today.

A light dusting of snow on the mountains around the lake.

Lost Creek Lake

If you are looking for a paved hike this time of year, Joseph H Stewart State Recreation Area is a great place to try out and it is only about 40 minutes from Medford.  There are numerous ways to hike or bike along the various paths and trails, so you can create your own route and length.  Although we did not stay after our hike, there are also picnic areas along the lake shore which provide a great place to eat, talk or just relax before or after some time outdoors.  Plus the day use area is free.  What a deal!

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Lunch with a view?

Mountain on the Rogue

January 12, 2019

After reading about the Mountain of the Rogue trails from fellow hiker Boots on the Trail, we ventured over to the city of Rogue River on a 65 degree winter day to test out the climb on these relatively new trails --- brand new to us.

Time to hike some new trails!

We arrived mid-morning and since there was only one other car in the parking lot, the trails were not crowded - yet.  Since some portions of the trails are hiking & biking, we kept an eye out for the bikers but only encountered two cyclists heading up to Tin Pan Peak.  Since it was uphill, it was easy to see them coming up behind us and move over while they slowly climbed past us.

Which side is the Darkside?  I can't feel the force!

Looking up at far away Tin Pan Peak

It was about 3.5 miles from the parking lot up to Tin Pan Peak via the Rat Pack and Darkside trails. The Darkside trial was nice as it took us through a rather forested section of trail and gave us a few views of Mt McLoughlin.  Unfortunately there was not much of a view once we arrived at the end of that trail and the top of Tin Pan Peak.  It also seems that sunny winter days are the best time to burn yard/trash waste and so the sight and smell of burning was in the air and in our view.

It's still Christmas on the trail.

Getting close....

Tin Pan Peak. The BLM should remove whatever this is and add some benches.

We backtracked on the Darkside and Rat Pack trails till we reached the Sasquatch trail (love that name) and headed downhill on numerous long switchbacks.  It was here that we ran into (not literally) cyclists going uphill and downhill.    We kept our eyes and ears open and were able to get us and Katie out of the way without any collisions.  Please note, the cyclists did let us know they were coming when they could and one even had a cowbell on their bike.

View of Sasquatch trail from the Rat Pack trail.

Can Sasquatch be difficult?

Looking back as we make our way down the Sasquatch trail

The hike came in around 7.6 miles for us and we were hot and tired when finished, but it felt good to get in a longer hike.  The entire parking lot was full when we finished our hike, so these trials are well used which is great.  One other note, the warmer weather brought out the ticks (yes, even in January) and we did pick them off our clothes as we hiked.  When we got home both Katie and Glenn were inspected further and additional ticks were removed -- both patients survived.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

2019 Hiking Begins

January 5, 2019

As the new year begins, we look forward to getting out and hiking old and new trails throughout the year.  In 2018 we hiked more times (90), more miles (465.3), more long hikes of 10+ miles or 4 hours (6) and our average miles per hike even surpassed our previous personal best too.  We traveled out to Wyoming to visit our daughter and got to hike in the Snowy Mountains again and we checked off another of Oregon's 7 Wonders when we visited and hiked at Smith Rock State Park.

Snowy Mountains

Smith Rock State Park

In 2019 we hope to make a few trips to the coast where we plan to hike Floras Lake, Cape Perpetua, and more of the Oregon Coast Trail (OCT).  With the year only 5 days old, we have already been out hiking 3 times, although all were relatively short hikes.

On January 1 we hiked at Touvelle State Park. The trail took us along the Rogue River and Little Butte Creek.  Then we did a quick 1 hour hike at the Jacksonville Woodland Trails one day after Glenn got off work.  We basically hiked till it was dark which comes early this time of year.

Today we hiked at Prescott Park as we tried to get a hike in before some winter storms arrived.  As we hiked the Manzanita Trail up to the top of Roxy Ann, the wind preceding the storms hit and it felt like we were hiking at the coast.  Needless to say, we did not stop and take many pictures for fear of being blown off the trail or having a tree blown on top of us, but we did get one short of an old Oak tree along the Manzanita trail that didn't seem to mind the wind at all.

Old oak along the Manzanita trail at Prescott Park

On the hike back to our car the winds really picked up and a few times we could not even step forward as the wind blew some gusts at an estimated 60 mph.  We found that Katie doesn't like hiking in the wind as the extreme gusts made her really pull to get back to the car.

As the year goes on we hope to share our adventures with  you and look forward to hearing your comments and questions.  Hopefully you set a goal to get out and walk or hike in 2019.  In which case we look forward to hearing of your adventures.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol