LAST OF YELLOWSTONE
I forgot to post these!
I have no idea what all the flowers are in Yellowstone but flowers no matter where they root are each a delight!
Big elk!
Leaving the park through the West entrance and heading towards Quake Lake
FAIRY FALLS
Fairy Falls is a very popular hike and even though I got there early there was already another car in the parking area . By the time I got back the parking area was full and people were parking on the side of the road. This is a nice hike on a well maintained trail and starts with a walk around a geothermal area. If I remember its about 2 1/2 miles to the falls.
What my hiking book didn’t tell me is that its better to hike later in the day when the sun can shine on the falls.
FOGGY SUNRISE IN YELLOWSTONE 1
Always up before sunrise I drove into Yellowstone to capture the sunrise. I stop at the same Madison River turnout. Its one of the most beautiful views of the Madison River but not many people stop (I like that!) because it is so close to the entrance. Most people are heading for Old Faithful….except for the fly fishermen!
I had never walked the Artists’ Paintpots before and it is in my best Yellowstone Day Hikes book as a place that people overlook. I had certainly passed over it on my first trip to Yellowstone…but then I passed up Old Faithful as I heard it was just a parking lot-NOT! (I went there later in the day)
I got here at just the right time. There was only one other car in the parking lot and they left too soon probably disappointed by the fog but as I was going in the perfect morning fog photo opportunities were just starting!
UPPER ROGUE GORGE 6
I didn’t see any bear skat so I’m thinking this was a raccoon…but I headed back anyway!
MUIR FALLS TRAIL 4
Well I must say I was more impressed with the fungus than the falls!
Isn’t this a work of art??
I love photographing the forest…there is so much to see..
THE END.
MUIR FALLS TRAIL 2
I love how light filters through the forest…
When I went to Bend the little towns on the way had mushroom camps….I guess its big business. I don’t know anything about mushrooms other than they taste good…I wouldn’t know which ones to pick….the forest was filled with new mushrooms pushing up the ground. I wish there had been more light shining on them I would have taken a lot more photos!
I loved this fallen tree….like a woman lying on her side..
more to come…
MUIR FALLS TRAIL
I originally started out for Mt. Thielson Trailhead but forgot to bring money! I had three dollars and no checks. It costs five dollars to park. And I refuse to pay three dollars to use a cash machine so I took some photos and looked for a FREE trail!
Below is Mt. Bailey….I love the geological history of these mountains!
Mt Thielson info and photo below
Diamond Lake info and photo from the overlook…you can’t see much of the lake but its much busier than Lost Creek…..so I decided not to hike there….
Finally found an empty trailhead! it was a beautiful day to catch the beginning of fall..
more to come!
YELLOWSTONE 19
Oops this is actually South Rim Trail….Kicked my ass…I had been on a longer hike in the Redwoods weeks earlier but I guess the elevation makes a difference. The canyon is beautiful and there aren’t too many people hiking the whole thing. Most people and the tour buses drive from scenic point to scenic point….but hiking the whole thing is much better experience….
YELLOWSTONE 11
Back on the Storm Point Trail to my car…it takes me through a different part of the forest which I find enchanting probably due to the lack of undergrowth the lines of the trees become a pattern
And as soon as I leave the woods I run into this beautiful creature…I have no car to jump into so I stay put and use the zoom. He is keeping his eye on me and looks so peaceful that I have to resist the urge to walk over and sit beside him! I stick to the trail and move along…out of harms way…
Heading back towards Indian Pond….
Pelican Trail is only a quarter mile from Storm Point Trail so I decide to hit that too…
Unfortunately the boardwalk is damaged….and the ground is very wet…maybe next time!
its getting late and I think about heading back towards West Yellowstone…knowing I won’t be able to resist making several stops on my way back…
more to come!
LITTLE BALD HILLS TRAIL 2
Oops I forgot to put this post up….I started these before I left and didn’t have time to queue them up before I left.
Cougar scat? All hair…To think that is all that is left of the squirrel or bunny that was eaten. Never mind my own fondness of jerky…
Charcoal in a burned trunk from a lightening strike…a common site in the Redwoods since the trees are so old and have weathered many a storm.
still heading up hill…I was actually in much better shape than I thought I was. I really didn’t need a rest on the way up sometimes I use taking pictures as an excuse to rest! But not this day…although I did stop quite a bit….most was just for the five second shot…
This is the canopy above…
and this is what it looks like with my zoom!
Pretty sure that this is a cougar track since I didn’t see any other scat on the trail…of course I forgot my tape measure…
Still braved the trail…more to come..
MONTANA REDUX….Homestake Pass
This is the first half of a lovely hike I had on top of Homestake Pass which is on top of the Rocky Mountains on the edge of the Continental Divide I was telling my brother that I didn’t get as much hiking in as I thought I would…and how tired I was…apparently it was because of the change in elevation. Medford is at 1,382 Whitehall where I was mostly staying is at 4,351 and Homestake pass is 6,329. I thought I was just being a pussy…which I sort of am….but pretend not to be!!
The sun was early in the sky and lit up the flowers…
there are lots of trails for atv users…..ponds and trails for hiking….
AMAZING TREE ON LITTLE BALD HILLS TRAIL
The photos still don’t do this tree any justice…it is not only the biggest tree in its surroundings but the branches are HUGE…many have broken off and are bigger than the surrounding trees. Its a big jumbled chaotic beauty with the branches jutting out at all angles. I’m not just a tree hugger but a tree kisser!!
LITTLE BALD HILLS TRAIL
Guessing this is another consequence of spending most tax dollars on war , loaning out money at near zero % to companies who declare socialism is evil except when it applies to them…anyway the road to Stout Grove the “crown jewel” of the Redwoods was closed due to bad road conditions….
There was scant parking and people had a difficult time turning around on this little one lane dirt road. Since I have been visiting the Redwoods (last five years) each year I see how trails are let go..not fixed in a timely fashion or not fixed at all if it is not a popular trail.
I’m wasn’t headed for Stout Grove but this trail I have never been on.
Little Bald Hills climbs up and up and transitions from Redwoods to Jeffrey Pines. A guide says there are 22 native grasses, more than 100 flowering species, 5 manzanitas. This is the only trail in the Redwoods that allows bikes and horses.
You can be sure that by the time I turned around a bit after the wilderness camp I wished I had a horse to ride back down!!
truly I never get tired of hiking in the Redwoods….and depending on the time of day where the sun is shining its a different experience and different opportunities to take photographs.
Along most trails in the Redwoods are these wood benches with dedication plaques for those people who helped save the Redwoods. It was quite an effort as you can imagine most of the Redwoods were already cut down by logging. I can’t imagine the disconnect of putting a chainsaw to one of these beautiful, majestic trees….Like cutting off one of GOD’S fingers…and never a thought about it.
more to come….
LUMBERING WATER BUFFALO INVADES FORT KLAMATH…
Memorial Day weekend is not the best time to find a place to go hiking when looking to avoid multitudes of tourists….I’m sure Crater Lake was a madhouse….most of the traffic was headed that way….or the Upper Rogue River….I headed for Fort Klamath thinking it would be a great place to spend the day and take photos….get in some hiking…
My brother who has a knee injury and is out of hiking for the most part came along for the ride…He loves the high desert and wide open spaces and going to college and working in Medford leaves longing for open range. Luckily he is transferring to a university in LaGrande where he will get his fill of Western scenery. Fort Klamath is a itty bitty town and the general store was quite filthy with little on the shelves but luckily we spotted this little gem….its a motel with an organic grocery store instead of a lobby….they make organic burgers…sandwiches and espresso!! Best damn Mocha I’ve had in awhile (made with Dagoba chocolate) Also a bit pricey but for a special occasion (too many of those lately)….
Oh and you can buy gifts!
This sign for a ranch was right next to the motel….prompted my brother to exclaim…It must be mighty hard to get a saddle on those fish!!!
down town Fort Klamath
I thoroughly embarrassed my brother by insisting to stop and take photos of the cow who was on the wrong side of the fence! (the ranchers came up behind me to herd her back in the field) That’s me!! You would never know I grew up on a farm the way I act when I see a farm animal!!! MOOOOOOOOO!
Just driving around I spotted a sign for a park….swear I can’t remember the name of it….DOH!! Where we encountered this beautiful little lake….
There is a trail that goes to the headwaters of this lake which is actually a river
I’m trying to make my way across to take a photo of where the water comes out of the mountain and to get to the other side as my brother drove my car to a logging road above the headwaters so we could see the view from above.
This is where the water comes out of the mountain
and looking back
this lovely view is from the logging road
and the river that snakes away from it…
The valley is gorgeous filled with sky
I left my brother to fend for himself and took off down the road…got a little nervous when I saw this….damn I left my bear serial killer spray in the car….but….
I can’t resist trying to turn it into an “artistic” shot!
the logging road…
on the way back I spied my brother sitting by the creek writing the next great western novel….
I lumbered on down to take some photos…..me standing above a rock…another spring coming out from the mountain. And let me tell you how wonderful these Nike Equalon 4′s are….usually after a 6 mile hike my feet would be burning in either my other running shoes or my hiking boots….WAHHHH!!! But with the cushioning in these its awesome!!! I could go another 6 miles!!! Mind you these are for people who over pronate…Nike makes shoes for all foot types.
On the way back home we stopped at the actual Fort Klamath….Confederate soldiers reenacting….in Oregon???? THAT is another post!
My latest extravagance is this little gadget from Nike. In order to track my miles I have been going on MAPMYRUN.(or walk or hike!) and spending half an hour figuring it out and saving my info…I wanted to buy an expensive Garmin unit that can even map your journey with elevation…but I opted to purchase the less expensive NIKE+ for now. It too is a wonderful time savor you just put a sensor in your Nike+ ready shoe (or you have to buy a holder)….strap on the “watch” and hold down the button…and walk until its ready then start your run or walk. It tracks your distance, time, calories you burned and ….
then you just unsnap it and pull off the time piece which inserts into your computer and uploads all of the information instantly AND recharges at the same time!! At the Nike site you can set goals and challenges for yourself and it tells you how you are doing reaching those goals….the first challenge I signed up for was 10 miles a week in 2010 made it every time so far! You can also get an IPOD with Nike+ but unless your doing something incredibly boring like running around a track or on a treadmill in a safe place….I wouldn’t recommend using headphones on a run in the city or on a trail. You really need to be aware of people around you. Recently a woman was a victim of attempted rape in Medford on the Greenway trail. Even though she heard him behind her she waited for him to pass but he grabbed her and started dragging her into the bushes. Luckily a cyclist saw it going down and called the police. The creep is behind bars now. But seriously if I hear any noise behind me I turn around….to make eye contact….let people know I am alert. I don’t like anyone behind me so I will move aside until they pass. But then I’m not such a competitive runner that I am singularly focused on my time and distance….more of the Lumbering Water Buffalo with a camera type!!
19.66 MILES THIS WEEK….YOU WOULD THINK I HAD LOST A BUNCH OF WEIGHT….but remember what I said about too many “SPECIAL OCCASIONS”? OOPS!!! That damn scale has been stuck for two weeks!!! But I always have “NEXT” week!!
REFLECTIONS AND FLOWERS
More from John Stewart State Park…
actually beneath the reflections are slices of trees resting under water.
TRIP TO EDDYHELL
I went to school in Eddyhell Eddyville, OR but actually lived in Burnt Woods….a rural area with lots of trees. I was visiting some friends I have known since childhood but since they lived a mile from us they were technically in Eddyville. I rarely do anything when I visit them but sleep talk and eat. Actually the order of that is wrong…it should be talk eat and sleep!
Wish I had stopped to take photos on the way down. With all the rain one could see why the Willamette Valley is called the Emerald Valley….so much green between the mountain ranges.
Most of the trip was rain but with lots of breaks in the clouds which gave me an opportunity to walk on the logging road with my friend Dianne
Some of you long time readers will remember Dianne from previous visits. Dianne is one of the most positive people I have ever met…although a bit dismayed by the direction our country has been taking..I had bought new running shoes in Eugene on the way down and intended to go running but Dianne would have none of it. Insisting that she couldn’t live with herself if I was eaten by a cougar, bear or serial killer! So we went on walks and I took pictures when I could.
I just love these salamanders..my brother and his best friend used to throw the poor little guys in front of cars…boys!! I actually felt bad when I put this one down he stayed all curled up for a few moments before he ventured away. Then Dianne and I speculated on what it would be like if a giant alien suddenly lifted us off the ground….SORRY SALAMANDER….
Like I said it rained a lot and there weren’t too many photos although I do have some film to be developed.
LUMBERING WATER BUFFALO TRIES TO NAVIGATE LOST CREEK RESERVOIR
This week as incredibly busy with work…had a hard time working in any running but on Friday I did manage another 3.2 miles but instead of seeing how far I could run lumber -I ran as fast as I could and then walked…ran then walked. Discovered the brain likes the running faster as far as producing the runners high….oodles of good chemicals hit my being…same place on the Bear Creek Greenway so I didn’t bother with photos.
Saturday morning almost noon I took off towards the Upper Rogue thinking I would try my luck on the trails around the Upper Rogue Gorge…then I remembered that I had been meaning to try the Peyton Bridge Trail Head to the headwaters of the Lost Creek Reservoir….not big on reservoirs but its better than running in Medford! I have two different books on trails in Southern Oregon which usually give detailed descriptions of hikes….but in the case of this trail there is very little so I assumed it was going to be a bit on the boring monotonous side walking through trees around a reservoir for 5 miles. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety in landscape!!
I had hiked about a mile up this trail previously about two years ago….had a little picnic and took photos…
This is Peyton Bridge…spanning Lost Creek Reservoir…
Not sure if the water is blue from algae….but most of this water comes from Crater Lake via the Rogue River and lots of little creeks that feed into it….
The thing I don’t like is that like most reservoirs there is a marina and you can hear power boats and even in the middle of the lake where people are just fishing with the engine turned off you can hear them talking….but as I discovered the further you go the less boats!!
Madrone leaves lit by sunshine..
The trail is in good shape most of the way….there were a few points where some brambles are growing over the trail and other parts where the ground is a bit soggy!
Bad people have no place else to put their used tires except to roll them down the hill!!!!
The trail goes up and down and around constantly so my running was limited to the places that were flat….or just a slight incline. But to my shame I met a man who was in his sixties on another trail in California who was recovering from prostate cancer who ran on a trail much worse and more hilly than this one….he also ran ultra marathons….50 miles and up….none of that pussy 20 mile running for him!!! (my head is hanging with shame!!!)
looking up
There are a few waterfalls along the trail not sure if they are seasonal….
Lots of bridges along this trail!!! I love bridges
Place to rest…..but didn’t. There are no mile markers along this trail….that I could see anyway
The trail leaves the forest for a time and ahead are some wonderful cliffs above!!
the reservoir stretches on….
another place to rest….but didn’t. I got such a late start and took quite a few photos…most not included in this post.
looking back at a bridge
I found this curious….closest part of the trail to a boating accident??…eaten by cougars or bears??….tree fell on them???
lots of bridges!!
hard to see through the trees and shrubs but this is a fairly big falls….they ramble over a fairly wide distance
about this time I wondered if I should turn back my feet were getting a bit tired but there is always another bend to see around….
This looks like its getting close….
finally I came to this drift wood clearing
lovely family of geese in the distance…I only brought my little digital because I wanted to run next time I will bring my back pack to take one of my “real” cameras….
There are thousands of these little burrs….stick right to you even after picking them off I kept finding them on the way back ….even found one stuck on my butt when I got back to the car!!
Cool flotsam and jetsam….lots of pumice rocks floating among the wood…
a little further is another bridge…and waterfall of course. The trail doesn’t stop here but its my turning point….hate to be a pussy but my feet were really getting tired by this time…and still there were no trail markers.
Finally….leaning over the bridge I realize that I now have the the conservative estimate of five miles back!!!
And I could swear that the hills grew bigger and there were more of them on the way back!!! Resting on one of those benches on the way back….actually did a lot more running too. Then my knee started bothering me towards the end so I walked….NO INJURIES!!! No problems today but still debating whether I will lace up my shoes and at least walk….
Since there weren’t any markers like I said I am calling it a 10 mile excursion…although I think it was a bit more after looking at maps when I got home…can’t find any decent maps either…even the one by the Army Corps of Engineers….Norton says is dangerous….
Anyway I got my appetite back and while I mostly stayed away from anything bad….I did break down and buy ice cream….to celebrate finally doing my taxes!!!!….the shame of it all!!
So far I have been weighing myself on Friday but because of an exhausting work week I completely forgot on Friday (had to watch my latest installment of MAD MEN)….anyway with an extra day I logged in 20.79 miles. Good thing I gave myself an extra day…10 of it was on Saturday…
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