We made a short trip to TouVelle State Park recently and took some pictures of the Autumn landscape at the State Park. Thought we would post of few for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
Showing posts with label Autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Autumn. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Monday, September 24, 2018
Applegate Lake
September 23, 2018
Autumn.....just the sound of it is enough to make us want to hike, It is our favorite season of the year and along with Spring, is one of the most beautiful times to get out and hike. So we wasted no time and got out on the first full day of Autumn for a hike at Applegate Lake.
We started at the French Gulch trailhead and hiked along the Payette trail which follows the shoreline of Applegate Lake. However, this shoreline had no lake as Applegate Lake is very very very low. So our first mile or so was along dry lake with a shoreline. We did notice a few Autumn colors in the trees and spotted a large Osprey nest up on a tree, so not all was disappointment at the start.
We continued on the flat Payette trail for about 4 miles which did provide us with some beautiful views of various portions of the lake. We then turned off onto the Osprey trail which headed uphill to the Prospector's Loop trail. Our plan was to hike the loop trail, but after about a half mile, we came across a very large tree across the trail. The picture does not do justice. Our choices were to hike either up or down the very steep ravine 20-30 yards to the end of the tree and then hike either up or down the ravine to get back on trail. Not our idea of fun with all the poison oak and since Katie voted "no" to make it a 3 - 0 vote, we turned around and headed back to the Osprey trail.
We then hiked up the Osprey trail to the Dagelma trailhead parking lot and started down one of our favorite trails, the Calsh trail. This short trail wanders down and around the ravine from the trailhead to the lake shore where it intersects the Payette trail. With the sun out, blue skies, and a slight breeze, it was a wonderful hike along the Calsh trail.
After rejoining the Payette trail we hiked back to the French Gulch trailhead and our car having finished a beautiful 7.2 mile Autumn hike. Get out and enjoy Autumn yourself.
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
Autumn.....just the sound of it is enough to make us want to hike, It is our favorite season of the year and along with Spring, is one of the most beautiful times to get out and hike. So we wasted no time and got out on the first full day of Autumn for a hike at Applegate Lake.
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| A view of the very low but still beautiful Applegate Lake from the Payette trail |
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| Osprey nest along the Payette trail |
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| Autumn sunshine and blue skies! |
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| Road block and turn around spot on the Prospector's Loop |
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| A little color of Autumn along the Calsh trail |
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
Monday, December 18, 2017
Enchanted Forest & Felton Memorial Trail
December 17, 2017
As the year is closing out, we looked back at the hikes we've done this year and realized that very few were "new" hikes, ones that we had never done before. So with Glenn getting a rare day off and no rain in the forecast, we took Katie and headed out to the Applegate Valley to hike not just one, but two new trails.
The Enchanted Forest trail is an out and back hike totalling around 3.4 - 4.0 miles, depending on when you stop and start back. During the spring there are fields where wildflowers abound, but not on this December day. Instead most of our trail, especially up through the canyon, was covered in fallen leaves. The trail worked it's way slowly uphill in the canyon before taking a left turn where the trail became very steep up to a saddle with a 3-way intersection. It was at this point that we turned around although there are options for going a little further.
We were treated again to the trail of leaves which were interrupted at times by groupings of bright green ferns and mixed with various large moss covered trees. When we came to the trail intersection with the Felton Memorial trail, we took a left turn and headed out on this 1.5 mile trail.
This trail offered a little more variety as the trail had ups and downs and wound itself around various ridges and canyons. Once we arrived at the memorial, we took a few minutes to enjoy the silence and refuel for the hike back. The memorial is to three BLM workers who died in a helicopter crash at this location while doing a logging operation in 1993.
Once back to the Enchanted Forest trail, we turned off and hiked the loop portion back to the trailhead. It featured another meadow area that will probably be full of wildflowers in the spring.
We enjoyed our 7.1 mile hike and it felt great to hike a new trail and enjoy the beauty and quietness that comes with the season. This hike also helped us break our record for most miles hiked in a year. Hopefully we will get out another time or two. Till then, have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
P.S. Other blogs about these two trails were done by Boots on the Trail, the Oregonator, and the Wanderingyanucks.
As the year is closing out, we looked back at the hikes we've done this year and realized that very few were "new" hikes, ones that we had never done before. So with Glenn getting a rare day off and no rain in the forecast, we took Katie and headed out to the Applegate Valley to hike not just one, but two new trails.
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| Time for a new hike! |
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| It was cold, but sometimes that adds to the beauty of a hike. |
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| Old rusted & abandoned truck at the half mile mark. |
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| Leaf covered trail. |
We were treated again to the trail of leaves which were interrupted at times by groupings of bright green ferns and mixed with various large moss covered trees. When we came to the trail intersection with the Felton Memorial trail, we took a left turn and headed out on this 1.5 mile trail.
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| On to the next new trail. |
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| Lots of bright green ferns |
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| The Felton Memorial plaque |
This trail offered a little more variety as the trail had ups and downs and wound itself around various ridges and canyons. Once we arrived at the memorial, we took a few minutes to enjoy the silence and refuel for the hike back. The memorial is to three BLM workers who died in a helicopter crash at this location while doing a logging operation in 1993.
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| Autumn decorations |
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| View along the Felton Memorial trail |
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| Loop portion of Enchanted Forest trail -- where's the forest? |
Once back to the Enchanted Forest trail, we turned off and hiked the loop portion back to the trailhead. It featured another meadow area that will probably be full of wildflowers in the spring.
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| Looking up at all the trees along the trail |
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
P.S. Other blogs about these two trails were done by Boots on the Trail, the Oregonator, and the Wanderingyanucks.
Sunday, October 29, 2017
River's Edge Trail and Rogue River Greenway
October 29, 2017
As daylight savings time approaches and autumn colors begin to fade, it was time for one more hike to enjoy the color and sunshine of autumn.
We drove highway 99 from Medford to Valley of the Rogue State Park so we could enjoy a last autumn drive only to find that most of our drive was in fog. As a matter of fact, our entire hike on the River's Edge trail and along the Rogue River Greenway to our turnaround at the Depot Street Bridge was in fog and clouds.
On our return hike though, the fog and clouds burned off and the sun and blue sky took over.
We saw lots of autumn yellow, especially on the River's Edge trail through Valley of the Rogue State Park.
It was a very nice 6.8 mile hike and we enjoyed what will probably be our last autumn hike with color. Hope you got our to enjoy the season with a walk in the neighborhood, at a park or on a trail.
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
As daylight savings time approaches and autumn colors begin to fade, it was time for one more hike to enjoy the color and sunshine of autumn.
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| Time for some hiking along the Rogue River at Valley of the Rogue State Park |
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| Adding a little excitement for our hike. |
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| Despite the fog, the Rogue River is still beautiful with some autumn color added. |
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| Wooden carved dog at the pet waste box at Depot Street Bridge |
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| Our turnaround spot - Depot Street Bridge |
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| Blue sky and autumn yellow! |
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| View along the Rogue River Greenway |
We saw lots of autumn yellow, especially on the River's Edge trail through Valley of the Rogue State Park.
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| Yellow, yellow, yellow! |
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| View of River's Edge trail covered & surrounded by yellow. |
It was a very nice 6.8 mile hike and we enjoyed what will probably be our last autumn hike with color. Hope you got our to enjoy the season with a walk in the neighborhood, at a park or on a trail.
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
Friday, October 6, 2017
Cathedral Hills Park - Wild Rose Loop Rock Hunt
October 6, 2017
It's been such a beautiful Autumn week that after work on Friday we made a mad dash with Katie to Cathedral Hills Park in Grants Pass to get a hike in before it got dark. We have hiked at Cathedral Hills Park many times with many of those visits including the trails to and around the Wild Rose Loop. But today's hike was a little different and unique as we came across a pumpkin, hiking boots, and even a skull along the trails.
Evidently there is a trend to paint small rocks and then bring them out on the trail and leave them for others to see, take or trade. We saw a total of 9 rocks on the three trails we hiked and it became a game for us to find them and it made our hike go by quickly. So for this short posting our pictures are some of our favorite rocks from this hike. Hope you enjoy and if you get out to Cathedral Hills, maybe you will find some fascinating rocks too.
Be sure to comment on this post and let us know your favorite rock.
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
It's been such a beautiful Autumn week that after work on Friday we made a mad dash with Katie to Cathedral Hills Park in Grants Pass to get a hike in before it got dark. We have hiked at Cathedral Hills Park many times with many of those visits including the trails to and around the Wild Rose Loop. But today's hike was a little different and unique as we came across a pumpkin, hiking boots, and even a skull along the trails.
Evidently there is a trend to paint small rocks and then bring them out on the trail and leave them for others to see, take or trade. We saw a total of 9 rocks on the three trails we hiked and it became a game for us to find them and it made our hike go by quickly. So for this short posting our pictures are some of our favorite rocks from this hike. Hope you enjoy and if you get out to Cathedral Hills, maybe you will find some fascinating rocks too.
Be sure to comment on this post and let us know your favorite rock.
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Applegate Ridge Trail - East
October 1, 2017
Here in Southern Oregon there have been many trails added during the year for us locals to hike. New segments have been created at the Jacksonville Forest Park to bring their trail count to 25. Prescott Park has added new trails as they begin their upgrade and expansion which includes a new parking area and kiosks throughout the park. But our goal today was to try out the new Applegate Ridge Trail East - "The ART".
That is where our hike today fit in. Our friend Richard drove down from Roseburg to join us as the lure of a "new" trail was too much to pass up. We began our hike at the trailhead off Sterling Creek Road to try the this just completed 5.6 mile segment which ends at Route 238 near Ruch. There are plans to have a trailhead at the Route 238 junction in 2018.
The first 3 miles or so offered us incredible views of the Applegate Valley with the Autumn colors of the grasses, poison oak, and a few trees that have begun to change colors. Richard was hooked on this trail within minutes and exclaimed "this is why we hike!" The varying weather of sun, clouds and even a little rain, only enhanced the color and beauty that surrounded us as we hiked along the ridge.
At times the trail led us into forested areas and offered a contrast and change of view from the ridge portion, but was still just as beautiful to hike. After the first 3 miles or so, the trail begins to slowly descend on its way down to the Route 238 junction. We did not hike all the way to the end, but found a spot just a half mile short of the end where we took a nice break and told old hiking stories. Richard did not bring a banana for our dog Katie, so she had to suffer by eating jerky and dog biscuits.
Our return hike began with climbing back up to the more level ridge segment and allowed us once again to take a deep breath and enjoy the quiet and beauty of the surrounding hills, mountains and woods. When we finished our hike, we had logged 10.5 miles. Richard enjoyed the trail so much that he is hoping to bring the Friends of the Umpqua Hiking Club down to try a shuttle hike of this segment.
If you are interested in a shorter distance, there was a bench at about the 2.5 - 3 mile mark which had an incredible view and allows you to sit down and take a break before hiking back.
If you are interested and want more information on the ART, Jack-Ash and other trails in the area, be sure to check out the website for the Applegate Trail Association and the Siskiyou Uplands Trail Association. Their websites have great information, maps, and updates and you can also sign up to receive emails/newsletters from both. Happy Autumn Hiking!!
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
Here in Southern Oregon there have been many trails added during the year for us locals to hike. New segments have been created at the Jacksonville Forest Park to bring their trail count to 25. Prescott Park has added new trails as they begin their upgrade and expansion which includes a new parking area and kiosks throughout the park. But our goal today was to try out the new Applegate Ridge Trail East - "The ART".
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| Time to go hike the ART! |
The Applegate Ridge Trail is currently a work in progress. The goal is to have a trail from the Cathedral Hills trail system in Grants Pass to the Jack-Ash (Jacksonville to Ashland) trail located in Jacksonville. When completed, this would be over 50 miles of trail from Grants Pass to Ashland. But don't worry, there are plans for various trailheads along the route that would allow access for day hikes.
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| First view of the Applegate Valley from the trail |
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| Hiking along the trail with a view of the trail crossing the ridge up ahead. |
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| Some of the Autumn color we saw along our hike |
At times the trail led us into forested areas and offered a contrast and change of view from the ridge portion, but was still just as beautiful to hike. After the first 3 miles or so, the trail begins to slowly descend on its way down to the Route 238 junction. We did not hike all the way to the end, but found a spot just a half mile short of the end where we took a nice break and told old hiking stories. Richard did not bring a banana for our dog Katie, so she had to suffer by eating jerky and dog biscuits.
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| Peeking through the oaks from the trail |
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| A tree that has seen better days, but still beautiful. |
Our return hike began with climbing back up to the more level ridge segment and allowed us once again to take a deep breath and enjoy the quiet and beauty of the surrounding hills, mountains and woods. When we finished our hike, we had logged 10.5 miles. Richard enjoyed the trail so much that he is hoping to bring the Friends of the Umpqua Hiking Club down to try a shuttle hike of this segment.
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| Great views on a beautiful Autumn hike! |
If you are interested in a shorter distance, there was a bench at about the 2.5 - 3 mile mark which had an incredible view and allows you to sit down and take a break before hiking back.
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| Looking up the ridge from the trail |
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
Friday, September 22, 2017
Autumn & the Jacksonville Woodland Trails
September 22, 2017
HAPPY AUTUMN!
Finally as the season changes, the heat and especially the smoke are gone. It has been a while since we have posted a hike so we thought we would post today's hike to get you up to date. We have been hiking over the last couple of months, but mostly local trails. Even those hikes though have been limited since Southern Oregon was in a cloud of smoke for quite some time due to all the forest fires in every direction. For 29 straight days we had air in the unhealthy range!
But since today was the first day of Autumn and there were blue skies, big white clouds and temps in the low 70's, we headed out to the Jacksonville Woodland Trails after work and got in a couple hours of beautiful hiking.
The grasses are now all brown, trees and bushes are slowly beginning to change, and acorns litter the ground in the oak tree groves. During our hike today we saw many busy squirrels, a few deer, a rafter of turkeys, along with a few crows and a flicker. Sorry but we didn't get pictures of any of them. Maybe it was the Katie factor?
Well that's it for now. Since Autumn is our favorite season of the year, we look forward to getting out as often as possible and plan to hike a few new trails that have been on our radar during the summer. Hope to share those and more with you soon.
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
HAPPY AUTUMN!
Finally as the season changes, the heat and especially the smoke are gone. It has been a while since we have posted a hike so we thought we would post today's hike to get you up to date. We have been hiking over the last couple of months, but mostly local trails. Even those hikes though have been limited since Southern Oregon was in a cloud of smoke for quite some time due to all the forest fires in every direction. For 29 straight days we had air in the unhealthy range!
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| Time for some AUTUMN hiking! |
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| The colors are a changing. |
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| Some many trails, so many options! |
The grasses are now all brown, trees and bushes are slowly beginning to change, and acorns litter the ground in the oak tree groves. During our hike today we saw many busy squirrels, a few deer, a rafter of turkeys, along with a few crows and a flicker. Sorry but we didn't get pictures of any of them. Maybe it was the Katie factor?
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| One of many great views of the hills in Applegate and blue sky. |
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| The shadow knows it's Autumn |
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| Jacksonville Woodland Trails - half in sunshine, half in the shade as evening begins. |
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol
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