Lower Table Rock - Bloom Update

March 28, 2018

Just a quick update on the Spring bloom here in the Rogue Valley.  Today we hiked up Lower Table Rock and there are many different types of wildflowers already in bloom.

Nice new sign at the entrance of the parking lot

As you hike the trail to the top there are literally thousands of Fawn Lilies in bloom.  Some portions along the trail are like a sea of Fawn Lilies -- the most we have ever seen on one hike!  Other wildflowers we spotted include Shooting Stars, Buttercup, Saxifrage, Desert Parsley, Hounds Tongue, Oaks Toothwort, Grass Widows and even a few Gentner's Fritillary plants with flower buds on them - just not opened yet.

Goldfield - up close and personal

At the plateau there are some patches of Goldfield (especially at the far end), a few Popcorn Flowers and Desert Parsley.  Still a few vernal pools with two that are quite large.  One even had a Canada Goose as a guest.

Canada Goose enjoying the vernal pool and view of Mt McLoughlin

View of the large vernal pool with Mt McLoughlin in the background

View of the Rogue Valley 

Great views of snow covered McLoughlin too.  The path at the top is still a little muddy but drying up quickly with the recent sunshine.  So get out and enjoy.

Trekking Together
Glenn and Carol

Lower Table Rock - It's Bloom Time!

April 21, 2017

With sunshine in the forecast and Glenn needing an excuse to take a day off work, we headed up to Lower Table Rock for a 5.3 mile hike to check out this year's wildflower bloom.......and we were not disappointed!

Time to hike and see all the wildflowers

We arrived at the parking lot around 12:30 pm and it was completely full - not one spot open.  So we parked in the bus area.  Once we started hiking it didn't take long to see the wildflowers as there were seas of Sea Blush along the lower portion of the trail.

Looking up at the plateau of Lower Table Rock with Sea Blush in the foreground

Along the way we saw many more wildflowers: Fiddleneck, Cat's Ear, Buttercup, Desert Parsley, Camas, Frittilia, Shooting Stars, Houndstongue, Larkspur, Miner's Lettuce, Balsamroot, Fawn Lilies, Saxifrage, Ookow, Monkey Flowers, Cow's Udder Clover and Woodland Star.  Those are the one's we remembered.

Fields of Sea Blush and Popcorn Flowers

The boardwalk segment of the trail on the plateau

Once we arrived at the plateau, we were treated to fields of Bi-Colored Lupine, Goldfield, Blue Eyed Mary and Popcorn flowers that ran along the entire trail to the viewpoint.

Fields of Goldfield

Fields of Bi-Color Lupine and Blue Eyed Mary

And more fields of Goldfield.

There were also still vernal pools full of water among all the wildflowers which enhanced the views.

One of the larger vernal pools with snow covered Mt McLoughlin in the background

We hiked out to the end of the plateau for a view the entire Rogue Valley area.  While taking a break there, we had a visitor who was looking for leftover food from past visitors - or maybe squirrels enjoy seeing all the wildflowers too.

Our little friend at the viewpoint on the Lower Table Rock plateau

So if you are in the mood to see lots of wildflowers and can spare a couple of hours, be sure to check out Lower Table Rock soon.  It is beautiful!

Trekking Together
Glenn and Carol

Prescott Park Update

March 11 ,2017

After hiking the Cathedral Hill trails on Friday, we headed up to Prescott Park for a short hike along the main road and loop around Roxy Ann on Saturday morning.  Nothing eventful about the hike, but just wanted to share an update on the Prescott Park trail improvement and expansion project.

The world is a dangerous place!

At the beginning of the loop around Roxy Ann they have now cleared out, leveled and added rock to what will be one of the new parking areas.  

New parking area at beginning of Roxy Ann loop

We also noticed new posts at various trails around the loop that will eventually include the trail names and maybe miles or other information.

One of many new trail posts that we spotted.

There were also covered display boards put in since we last hiked that we are guessing will eventually include maps of the park with trail information and the famous "you are here" dot.

One of the future homes for park maps???

We did find another new trail just before the rock quarry on the right side when hiking the loop road counter clockwise.  If anyone hikes this or knows where it leads, let us know.  Otherwise we will eventually hike it ourselves and see where we end up.

Snow covered Mt McLoughlin looms in the distance

We did see a few Goldfield and Desert Parsley wldflowers in bloom and included their pictures below. That's if for now - looking forward to seeing what other changes takes place over Spring & Summer.

Goldfield

Desert Parsley

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