Boccard Point

June 16, 2018

Over the last month we have read numerous blog postings about hiking to Boccard Point from fellow local hikers and hiking clubs.  All that psychological warfare finally took effect and we headed out for a 10+ mile hike along the PCT and Boccard Point trail to see what all the fuss was about.

Hobart Bluff TH of the PCT - notice the clouds in the background!

One of the highlights of this hike happened before we even began hiking.  As we drove the access road off highway 66 to get to the trailhead, we say deer cross the road and one remain on the road right in front of us.  We also saw something trotting along and crossing the road behind the deer.  As we got closer to the deer on the road, another animal trotted across the road ahead of us -- a wolf!  Yup, we evidently got a rare glimpse of some wolves that are in the Southern Oregon/Northern California area.  Amazing!  The deer in front of us did quickly depart - opposite direction of the wolves and our car.

Hiking into the clouds and through the wind.

Indian Paintbrush was everywhere on this hike.

Columbine also made numerous appearances along the trail

Ok, now to the hike.  When we arrived at the Hobart Bluff TH on the PCT, we were immersed in clouds and the wind was really blowing.  The first hour of our hike was like hiking at the coast.  We had double shirts and jackets on and were still freezing!  It also cut out the various views of meadows and valleys that are featured along this section of the PCT.  Fortunately many portions of the trail went through forested areas which helped to cut down the wind.

Beautiful beautiful area!

VIew of Pilot Rock from Boccard Point trail

As we finished our cloudy & windy 3 mile hike south on the PCT, we connected to the Boccard Point trail which rambles slowly uphill for 2.2 miles, finishing as one might suspect, at Boccard Point.  At times this trail was hard to follow as it appeared that no maintenance had been done recently, but as the sun came out we managed our way to the point and took time to enjoy views of Mt Shasta, the Irongate Reservoir, and Pilot Rock.  We even had our own little stone bench slightly below the point where we took a break out of the wind and enjoyed the newly arrived sunshine and blue sky.

Our natural stone bench break area.

View of Boccard Point with snow covered Mt Shasta in the distance

Trail just below Boccard Point

Usually on an out-and-back hike, the return hike is pretty much the same, just in reverse.  But since we didn't get to see much on the hike out due to clouds, the hike back provided us with lots of opportunities to see the surrounding valleys, large meadows, and enjoy many many beautiful wildflowers --  a few that were new to us.  The Soda Mountain Wilderness is an incredibly beautiful area with such diversity in wildflowers.  Pictures just don't do justice, nor words, to depict how beautiful this hike was in regards to the flora.

Heading through one of the forested areas.

Trail shot through one of many large meadows

Another beautiful large meadow just off trail

We both felt pretty good even after the 10.4 mile hike and no wolves were seen on the drive back out to highway 66.  For those of you who enjoy wildflowers, we have included some pictures from this hike at the bottom of this posting for your viewing pleasure.  Of course getting out and seeing them yourself before they are gone, is even better.  Hope you get a chance to do so.

Trekking Together
Glenn and Carol

 

Deschutes River Trail

May 20, 2018

The last of our three hikes while camping at Tumalo SP started at the park and involved no driving to a trailhead.

Beginning at the day use area, the Deschutes River trail heads upstream and provides beautiful hiking in the canyons and along the river.  The river had a nice combination of slow water segments mixed with some whitewater and even a few small falls all framed between a beautiful canyon filled with various rock formations.  There were some pretty large houses at the top of the canyon too which must make for great views but a dangerous backyard!

One of the faster sections of water 

Trail view with Deschutes river to the right

View of the canyon across the river

Living on the edge!

 We eventually came to the newest addition to the trail which is a steel grated boardwalk that was put in to cross a boulder slide area.  Although Katie didn't like the feel as she walked across, it did provide a much easier way to get across the boulders and allowed for some nice views up and downstream.

Steel grated boardwalk over boulder field

View of Deschutes river at the boardwalk area

Downstream view of boardwalk

After 2.4 miles of enjoying this beautiful trail, we had to stop and turn around.  Although the Deschutes River trail is 12 miles long currently with plans to extend all the way to Bend, dogs are now allowed  past this point due to the Riley Ranch Nature Preserve.  Signs were posted clearly prohibiting dogs, but after reading more about the Riley Ranch Nature Preserve, we are interested in coming back some day and hiking the various trails located in that preserve.

Trail shot

Katie's worst nightmare.

Our hike back to camp was just as relaxing and beautiful and we came across many other folks out enjoying this trail today.  We spotted a Magpie and some waterfowl on the hike back and were treated to a few wildflowers too.  It was a beautiful hike to end our camping trip.

Waterfowl enjoying a view of the river

Deschutes river at the day use area

Looking upstream from the bridge at the day use area.

If you ever get up to the Bend area, be sure to check out Smith Rock SP, Tumalo Falls, or just hang out at the day use area of Tumalo SP and enjoy the scenic Deschutes River.  We really enjoyed all 3 of our hikes in the area and hope to come back again someday to explore other hiking trails in the area.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Our yurt at Tumalo State Park

North Fork - Happy Valley Trail & Tumalo Falls

May 19, 2018

The second hike while camping at Tumalo State Park combined Tumalo Falls and the Happy Valley trail.  One might think that Tumalo Falls would be at Tumalo State Park, but it is about a 17 mile drive from the state park.  So once again we headed out early, especially since the parking lot at the falls/trailhead is small.

When we arrived we took one of the last two spots still available in the parking lot (holds about 12 cars) and then hiked across the lot to the first viewpoint of Tumalo Falls.  Wow!!.

Tumalo Falls from lower viewpoint.  Upper viewpoint is just to left at top of falls -- see the wall?

Vertical view of all 90 feet of waterfall

After oooooing and ahhhhhing at the falls, we began hiking the North Fork trail up to the top of the falls where there was another viewpoint.  Most people hike this short quarter mile portion of the trail so they can see the falls closeup.  Only a few days earlier crews had repaired the platform since there was a crack found in it, so we proceeded with caution.

View from the upper viewing area

Looking over the top of Tumalo Falls

Having read about Tumalo Falls, statistics show that about 75% of people only view the falls and/or  hike this short trail portion to the top of the falls and then leave.  Only 1 out of every 4 people continue hiking the North Fork/Happy Valley trail which is another 3.75 miles one way from the top of the falls to Happy Valley.  If one does not have a dog along, there is an actual loop hike you can do that is about 8 miles long.  Either way, if you visit Tumalo Falls and are able, be sure to at least hike out to Happy Valley - you will be amazed.

Onward we go past Tumalo Falls

So we continued on the North Fork - Happy Valley trail which follows Tumalo Creek and came upon waterfall after waterfall that were roaring due to the snow melt.  It was amazing and beautiful.....we can't even begin to describe how incredible it was seeing all these waterfalls.  We probably saw at least a dozen waterfalls along our hike so here are a few pictures for your viewing.

Eventually we crossed the creek on a one-sided plank bridge (a first for us and Katie)  and began hitting patches of snow.  Yes, the frozen white stuff.  It wasn't too long after the bridge that we finally had to stop hiking and turn around since the trail was completely covered, but we got about 3 miles along on the trail.

Across the one-sided plank bridge we go

Snow across the trail close to where we turned around.

As we returned we got to view all the waterfalls again and began to run into a lot of hikers and backpackers.  We began to think that maybe those statistics were wrong, maybe a lot of people do hike this trail past the falls.  But then when we got to the parking lot we found that there were cars parked along the gravel road past the parking lot for about a half mile and more coming.  Being early paid off again and so did going the extra miles along the North Fork - Happy Valley trail as we were treated to some beautiful and incredible scenery that we won't soon forget.

Trekking Together
Glenn  & Carol