February Hiking Update

February 28, 2020

During the month of February we hit the trail 7 more times including a nice 9.2 mile hike through every corner and height of Prescott Park.  Since there has been little rain or snow this month, plus lots of sunshine, the flowers are already making their "pre-spring" appearance in some areas.

Oaks Toothwort

Marsh Marigolds

One of many young bucks we saw at the JWT

The first Spring flower we saw this month was the Western Buttercup as we hiked the Lower Table Rock trail.  That was followed by Oaks Toothwort at the Jacksonville Woodlands Trails.  During this last week of February we have seen Grass Widows, Fawn Lilies, Houndstongue and Indian Warriors.  Seems like all of these are a few weeks early due to the warmer and drier weather here in Southern Oregon.

Houndstongue

Grass Widow

Indian Warrior

As March approaches we can only anticipate even more flowers along the trails and when combined with the start of daylight savings time, it makes for one of the high mileage hiking months of the year for us.  We plan on some new trails in March too and will try to post those as  time allows.  Till then, get out and enjoy nature as Spring arrives.

Trekking Together
Glenn and Carol

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

Cathedral Hills - Sunshine & WIldflowers!

March 10, 2017

Even though our last posting back in January was of Cathedral Hills, between these two visits we have hiked various other trails when weather and time would allow -- mostly the weather.  But when we ventured over to Grants Pass this past Friday & decided to take in the Cathedral Hill trails again, we were treated to sunshine and wildflowers!

Blue sky - a rare occurrence in Southern Oregon this year -- so far.

Our route for this almost 7 mile trek included the Outback trail, Ponderosa Pine trail, Timber Riders trail, Madrone trail and the Skycrest Loop trail.

So many trails and so many choices!!!

As we started out on the Outback trail from the Espy parking area and hiked clockwise, our first wildflower of the season appeared, the little Oak Toothwort.  We did see more of these, but the most populous wildflower while hiking today was the Indian Warrior.  In a couple of weeks it will be an all out invasion of these flowers as they seem to take over the Cathedral Hill Park.

First wildflower of 2017 - Oak Toothwort

Indian Warrior sighting

Along the Timber Riders trail the main flower was the beautiful Grass Widow.

Grass Widow

Other wildflowers spotted were the Houndstongue, Buttercup (always makes us want to watch The Princess Bride movie), Goldfield and even a Shooting Star or two.

Nice to see the word "easiest" on your trail sign!!

Trail shot along the Timber Riders trail

Really enjoyed the almost 70 degree sunshine and it made a nice end to the work week.
So Spring really is coming, or so the flowers indicate.  Be sure to get out and enjoy them - and the sunshine too!!

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Cathedral Hills Park - Grants Pass

January 29, 2017

As January comes to a close, we got in a couple of local hikes.  First on Friday we revisited the Jacksonville Woodland Trails to find that most were now clear of snow and ice.  That being said, they were now muddy.  But hikers can't always be choosy and Katie loved getting her paws all muddy!  The sun was out while we hiked for 4.3 miles and we got to see wild turkeys, deer, and even our Screech Owl friend on the Britt Ridge trail.

Time to hike in Grants Pass!

On Sunday we drove over to Grants Pass and hiked at Cathedral Hills Park.  Our 6.7 mile hike consisted of hiking out to and on the Wild Rose Loop followed by hiking what is probably the most popular trail at Cathedral Hills Park, the Outback Loop.  We started both hikes at the Espy TH.

Looking up the ridge at the inversion layer.

One the views of Grants Pass - where???

We found out that even though Medford had some clearing and sunshine, Grants Pass was all about the inversion layer, so we literally hiked "in the clouds".  We kept trying to envision the wildflowers that will be all along these trails in a few months.  For now the trails were mostly lined with creeks & puddles from the winter weather.

View of the Outback Trail from the Outback Trail

 We did get to see a large Pileated Woodpecker while hiking the "W" trail out to the Wild Rose Loop.  We couldn't get a picture, but if you want to see what a Pileated Woodpecker looks like, click here.

The start of what we consider the toughest climb on the Outback Loop!

Well that's about it for now.  Felt great to get out a stretch the legs again and soon the wildflowers will be here!

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol