Lower Table Rock & More

April 28, 2019

Over the last few weeks we have been busy hiking a lot of local low elevation trails enjoying the color and bloom of the many Spring flowers.  A few weeks ago we hiked Lower and Upper Table Rock the same day.  We were surprised that the plateau on Lower Table Rock did not have "the bloom" going on and were treated on Upper Table Rock to a plateau that was a sea of yellow Goldfield flowers with numerous vernal pools still full of water.  So on Sunday we headed back to Lower Table Rock and got to see the plateau finally in bloom with Lupine, Sea Blush, Camas and other wildflowers, while along the lower portions of the trail and the Oak Savannah trail we were treated to more Sea Blush, Desert Parsley, Camas and a pair of wild turkeys (the animal, not a flower).  As the snow melts away at higher elevations, we look forward to heading out on some new and familiar favorite trails that are more "out in the woods".  In the meantime, here are some pictures from Lower Table Rock, Upper Table Rock and Cathedral Hills Park in Grants Pass.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Rare albino camas at Lower Table Rock

Sea Blush at top of Lower Table Rock

Blooms on some sort of fruit tree at top of Lower Table Rock

Field of Camas on Oak Savannah trail

Goldfields on Upper Table Rock

Vernal pools on Upper Table Rock

Indian Warriors at Cathedral Hills Park in Grants Pass

Groundcones in bloom - Cathedral Hills Park

Sterling Mine Ditch Trail: Little Applegate TH to Tunnel Ridge TH

April 6, 2019

With all of the rain and snow storms this season in Southern Oregon, hiking has become a matter of timing. A few weeks ago the Friends of the Umpqua Hiking Club from Roseburg came down and hiked at Applegate Lake.  With rain storms in the forecast, we didn't make it to that  hike.  So when their club came down again on Saturday to hike a section of the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail and it appeared that storms would hold off, we were in.  Besides, we had never hiked this section of the SMDT from the Little Applegate TH to the Tunnel Ridge TH.

Time to hike another section of the SMDT

It may have been a daytime hike, but there were plenty of Shooting Stars out!

Carol & Katie enjoy one of the many "benches with a view" along the SMDT

Fawn Lilies were in abundance on this hike!

After a quick car shuttle, we started at the Little Applegate TH and hiked uphill for about a half mile to connect with the main flat trail that typically follows the mine ditch.  This particular section would wander through forested sections and then along grassy ridges with beautiful views of the surrounding valleys and snow capped mountains.  We were also treated to many wildflowers which are in abundance this year due to all of the rain. Towards the end of our hike we did check out the tunnel at the Tunnel Ridge area where they now have a historical sign highlighting various facts about the Sterling Mine Ditch creation, cost and usage.

A typical section of the SMDT with "the ditch" off to the right

The squirrels have been very busy along the SMDT

John taking a break by an old oak while taking in the views

Richard painfully crosses the one large fallen tree on the entire trail

Looking through the tunnel at Tunnel Ridge

We are glad that the Friends of the Umpqua Hiking Club let us join them and want to thank Richard, John and Diane for letting us tag along on their adventure in Southern Oregon. Make sure and check out their website and if possible, join them on one of their hikes in the future.  They venture out twice a month from Roseburg to Crater Lake to Southern Oregon to the Coast.  They are a wonderful group and we have always enjoyed our hikes with them.

Thank you John, Diane, and Richard!

One last note.  We have yet to see a bear or mountain lion on one of our hikes.  But today, for the first time ever, we actually saw the ever elusive Unicorn and got a picture to prove it.  Maybe we will see Sasquatch next!

A very rare photo of the elusive Unicorn - a first for us while hiking!

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Harris Beach SP trails

March 29, 2019

Our original plan while camping at Alfred A Loeb SP was to head out to the Samuel Boardman Scenic area and hike the Oregon Coast Trail @ the House Rock Viewpoint on Friday and hike north to Whaleshead Beach and then South to Lone Ranch Beach for a nice coastal 10-11 mile hike.  But after a 16 hour rain storm that began Thursday night at 8:30 pm, both the trail conditions and the time needed were not conducive to our plans.  So we drove over to nearby Harris Beach SP and hiked through the campground, along the beach, and on the Sunset Point, Rock Beach, Harris Butte and Harris Beach trails.  Sounds like a lot of hiking but it was under 4 total miles.  But we did enjoy the sunshine, beach, sound of the waves and birds, and took some time to sit back and relax.  Here are few pictures -- sit back and relax too.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

P.S.  If in Brookings, check out the Superfly Distilling Co (BBQ pulled pork sandwich) and Zola's Pizzeria  (BLT pizza) for lunch or dinner.

View from the Sunset Point trail

 

Katie profile while sitting and enjoying the view on the Sunset Point trail

Heading to the beach via the Rock Beach trail

View along Harris Beach

Taking in the view while avoiding incoming waves

View of day use area from top of Harris Butte

View along the Harris Butte trail

Back at camp after hiking, Katie take a nap.

River View and Redwood Nature Trails @ Alfred A Loeb SP

March 28 & 30

We have looked at Alfred A Loeb SP a couple of times when camping at nearby Harris Beach SP, but for the first time we camped there for a few days to wrap up Spring Break.

Time for camping....

and time to  hike......

and hike some more!

We began our hike with the 0.75 mile long River View trail as it follows the Chetco River upstream beginning at the day use area.  Although short in length, it did provide great views of the river and worked it's way through a landscape of ferns & moss while crossing numerous runoffs.  At the end of this trail we simply crossed the North Bank Chetco River Road where the Redwood Nature trail begins.  In the summer, little or no water flows through this 1.0 loop trail, but this is March and it has been a good water year.  Thus we were treated to numerous streams with varying cascades, lots ferns and greenery, trillium's in bloom and of course, the beautiful and large Redwood trees.  What a treat!  So much so that we did this short 3.7 mile round trip hike twice in three days.  Enjoy the pictures.....

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Hiking along the River View trail

The Chetco River

The main cascade at the beginning of the Redwood Nature trail

Looking up at one of the larger Redwood trees

Trillium

View through the Redwoods along the Redwood Nature trail

Red fungus thingy

One more look up at the Redwoods