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.

STRAWBERRY LAKE(wildfire weekend): via Fossil/John Day/Strawberry Mountains

Some late photos of our trip to Strawberry Lake and the Strawberry Mountains last month. Click the Portland Hikers link for more information. Strawberry Mountain Loop. We had to delay this trip the first week because of several uncontrolled wildfires in the area, we passed several brand new fires on our drive out, and back home on this trip. (see pictures below). We are so grateful for all the selfless fire workers and volunteers, and can't imagine how hard they are all working to try and keep us, and all the animals in the area as safe as possible. Thank you!

Chloe the camo Basset.

Smoky Oregon.

Giant Bug friends. He kept trying to play Yahtzee with us. I approve.

This may have been the Murderer's Creek/Wilderness Fire, or the beginning of it.

Murderer's Creek Wildfire. Malhuer National Forest.

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!

Oneonta Gorge

http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Oneonta_Gorge_Hike

The Gorge has such a wealth of hiking/backpacking opportunities, that I often skip the more popular trails/destination thinking that they will be too crowded. One of the great advantages of having weekday availability, is being able to experience awesome places such as Lower Oneonta Falls while most everybody else is at work. This might be my new favorite swimming hole in Oregon.


The "hike" is a 1 mile there-and-back, but it is rated as difficult for two reasons. Here is the first:

  

There is a large log jam at the beginning of the trail that you have to scramble over. I wouldn't recommend this for dogs or people who aren't so sure on their feet. I've heard the logs can be unstable at times, so definitely exercise caution here.

 

The second reason is this:

 

  

The hike isn't really on a trail at all, but rather one must follow a shallow-ish stream all the way to the falls. The stream is in a gorge, so there is no way to avoid getting wet. The deepest part in mid summer will about chest deep on an average-sized adult. If it's a hot day it will feel great, and the payoff is worth it.

 

The hike ends .5 miles from the log jam at Lower Oneonta Falls, seen here. The water gets much deeper here, so you can swim right up to the falls if you like. It's amazingly beautiful and a great way to spend a weekday afternoon.