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

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

Lower Table Rock -- Two Rare Sightings

May 5, 2018

We decided to venture back to Lower Table Rock, after a hike there about a month ago, to see what wildflowers were still in bloom and to check on the Vernal Pools at the plateau. In addition to the normal hike, we were treated to a pair of rare sightings.

Time to hike a local favorite

Yes, there were swaths of Sea Blush, Camas, and Fiddlenecks along our hike to the plateau joined in at times by various other wildflowers like Cat's Ear, Larkspur, Lupine, and Desert Parsley.  However, as we went through the lower Oak Savannah area, our eyes caught something different in the middle of all the purple Camas blooms.  There, all by itself, was a white Camas.  We have seen white Shooting Stars and white Houndstongue on other hikes, but this was the first white Camas ever -- so beautiful.

Rare white Camas.  Purple Camas in background.

Then just a little further up the trail, a couple groups of hikers were stopped.  Out of breath?  Reconsidering their hike? Nope. Instead they were looking at a Great Horned Owl who (no pun intended) was still out on an oak branch despite it being late morning.  One of the observers was a co-worker of Glenn's and took some incredible pictures of the owl.  Thanks Sammie!!

Great Horned Owl hanging out at Lower Table Rock

Sammie also took a picture of a Blue Grey Gnatcatcher he saw at Lower Table Rock the same day  (we didn't see it) and shared a recent picture of a Burrowing Owl he saw at Agate Lake.  Beautiful creatures and beautiful pictures.  Thanks for sharing Sammie.

Blue Grey Gnatcatcher @ Lower Table Rock

Burrowing Owl @ Agate Lake

When we arrived at the plateau, only one vernal pool still had water, but it was loaded with tadpoles. We enjoyed the great views of snow covered Mt McLoughin and of course the Rogue Valley.   Even though it was a hike we have done many times, our hike today proves that you never know what rare sights you may encounter or miss.  So get out and explore....and keep your eyes open!

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

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

Lower Table Rock -- End of Summer

September 18, 2016

Five months may not seem like a long time in the grand scheme of things, but in the realm of nature, five months can dramatically change a landscape.

Back in April we hiked Lower Table Rock and were greeted by an incredible display of wildflowers, one that we had never seen on Lower or Upper Table Rock before.  Just go back to our April posting on that hike and you will see the vast fields containing thousands of flowers.  But that was five months ago and now it is September.  So when we arrived at the top of Lower Table Rock on our most recent hike, it was quite a contrast to our hike in April.  Though still beautiful in it's own way, the colors of Spring flowers had now faded and were replaced with dried grasses on the plateau.  Below is a pictorial comparison of a few views at the top of Lower Table Rock between our April and September hikes.

View upon arrival on the plateau in April........

......and the view in September

Vast fields with thousands of flowers in April.......

....are now flowerless with dried grasses in September.

The plateau trail in April......

....and now in September

Don't get us wrong, we still enjoyed our hike.  Each season with it's colors and unique aspects adds to the fun of hiking and makes nature what it is.

View of Upper Table Rock from Lower Table Rock

A hot summer hike under blue skies with white waves of clouds.

 But as Summer comes to a close, we look forward to Autumn and the return of color in the form of yellow, orange and red.  Each year we try to get out and hike a few trails that feature the short lived Autumn foilage here in Southern Oregon.  The cooler weather and fewer people along the trails also allows you the time to just take in the sights, relax, and enjoy the views, sounds and smells of the outdoors. We'll do our best to try and share those hikes and sights with you, but why not get our yourself and enjoy first-hand what we think is the best season of the year, Autumn.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Roxy Ann Loop

December 26, 2015

Even with the holidays and all the recent rains & snow, we have still managed to get out hiking.  We haven't done any postings on those treks because most have been local hikes that we have posted about in the past.  But since our daughter Maggie was out visiting for the holidays and there was a good covering of snow, we decided to do this quick posting about our recent hike on Roxy Ann.

And so it begins......

 After driving up through the clouds to get to our starting point, we were treated throughout the hike to blue skies, much welcomed sunshine, and beautiful views.  The trail around Roxy Ann wasn't too bad although the shaded parts were still covered with lots of ice and snow.

Hiking along one of the shady portions of trail

Glenn's 3 snow angels - Maggie, Carol & Katie

We enjoyed seeing the Upper and Lower Table Rocks, the Rogue Valley, the snow covered mountains toward Ashland, and of course, Mt McLoughlin with its snow covered peak.  It's great to see all the much needed snow already!

First view of Mt McLoughlin

Full view of Mt McLoughlin

Katie got her snow fix as she took time to make snow puppies (her version of snow angels) and take an occasional dash through the snow off trail.

Panoramic view from the trail

When we started our hike there were only four cars at the trailhead, but as we finished two hours later, there were literally dozens of cars.  It's great to see so many people taking time to get out and enjoy nature.

Panoramic view with Mt McLoughlin  in the middle of the picture.

In closing, we want to wish all of you a Happy New Year, and we hope that in 2016 you will get to do some trekking of your own.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol (& Maggie)