CENTRAL OREGON LOOP: Painted Hills, John Day Fossil Beds, Fall Mountain Lookout, Steens Mountain Wilderness

Our quarters for the evening.

Dreamy Dream Dream.... sigh...

Yes please! Gosh this place was incredible!

Thank you beautiful Oregon and hard workers that built these amazing structures in the 30s!

Cheeesh!!!

Painted Hills, some jerk face ran up the side, big troubs. 

Yikes what a gorgeous view! Interior and Exterior :)

Night walk view.

Dreamy.

Strawberry Mountains love.

Big Indian Gorge

Kiger Gorge.

Wildhorse Lake besos.

East Rim Alvord Desert Lookout ladybug.

INDIAN HEAVEN LAKE LOOP HIKE: JULY 2016

Here is your link for the 16 mile lake loop hike which we completed last week. 

http://www.nwhiker.com/GPNFHike63.html

The most important thing to know about this hike is THERE ARE A SHIT TON OF MOSQUITOES. Most people know that, this is a well known program up in the Indian Heaven Wilderness Area--but I just wanted to remind everyone, it's not a joke, may want to bring the deet for this one. Whether you are in the sun, shade, near water, doesn't really matter, it's a party. If you come later in the season, closer to September, it usually eases up and doing an overnighter would be a bit more manageable in the bug department. 

The road getting here was a little rough in spots, so bring the four wheel drive, and a good map. You will pass what seems like about 20 lakes on the hike, I lost count. They are all beautiful, and if you decide to do an overnight backpacking trip, you could most definitely have a private lake to yourself. How lucky are we to be surrounded by these magic areas?

We did the 16 mile dog bone in a little over 5 hours. We were moving fairly quick and could not stop because of the bugs, so no lunch or nap breaks :)

We also spotted a ton of elk tracks on the trail, and a few cougar tracks freshly scattered in the mud nearby, so keep an eye out!

Thomas Lake

One of the many meadows, we were blessed with perfect weather.

Thomas Lake, right before a duck tried to kill Greg.

Very cool old PCT flash.

One of the many lovely lakes, didn't get the name of all of these! Will try and get my map and add later :)

Greg is part mountain goat.

Pretty new trailhead signs.

EAGLE CREEK: Spawning Chinook: October 2014

Over the past few months, we've been on a quest to find the the best spots to catch the salmon running. We have taken family and friends to the ladder windows at  Bonneville Dam, as well as the Bonneville hatchery to catch a glimpse of the hard working fishies. We visited Eagle Creek in late October to find a massive amount of very tired, and very determined, mostly Chinook, salmon. 

(and also several very dead, if you can't handle heavy smells maybe this isn't for you, or at least just stay further down the creek towards the river).



Flying Salmon!

Chanterelle Hunt November 2014: Gifford Pinchot/Panther Creek Wilderness

A few of us from work went Chanterelle hunting last weekend, we pulled off on Warren Gap Road in the Panther Creek Wilderness, and walked down a trail for a quarter mile, we found several magical spots filled with Chanterelles as well as other beautiful mushrooms. It was my favorite mushroom hunting trip to date.

We came back to carson via a loop to Panther Creek Road. We decided to sneak in a trip to Panther Creek Falls. This is very hard to see if you have never stopped before, above is the only sign at the trail head on the north side of the road, but it may be easier to look for the gravel pull out.

Rob with his treasures.

 Lower Panther Creek Falls

Photo Credit: Dale Davis, Lower Panther Creek Falls

 Daydreaming in fairy land.

 Dale looking adorable as ever.

INDIAN RACETRACK HIKE: Falls Creek Horse Camp Trailhead

LINK FOR DIRECTIONS: http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Indian_racetrack_hike

Not too much to stay about this hike. We had a great time, but we zigged where we should have zagged and did a completely random trail that ended nowhere. Read your directions/map! This time of year the whole Indian Heaven area is loaded with mosquitoes, so beware of that as well.

Note: Park your car at the trailhead sign, then turnaround and cross the forest road and enter the trail that way. If you go straight into the forest from the trailhead, you end up with a nice jaunt in the woods, but I'm sure the other way is better!

Wildflower!



Cicada and former Cicada! 



The Girls!