This last Saturday the hiking club went to the Rogue
River, a perennial favorite. However, we changed it
up a little. Normally, the standard hike is to walk
along the north side Rogue River Trail to Whiskey
Creek Cabin and back. We did do that this last
Saturday but first preceded that route by hiking the
Rainie Falls Trail on the south side of the river.
Despite
hiking along the same river but different banks, there were
some notable differences. For one thing, the Rainie Falls
Trail was rockier and ruggeder ("ruggeder" probably isn't a
real word). It also was closer to the river, making for a
more rivery (don't think "rivery" is legit, either) hike.
Because the south side is shadier, moss rules. The
similarities include the same wonderful cliffy ambience the
north side offers.
I had hiked
on the Rogue at the end of last January and the difference
was notable. There were a lot more flowers. Toothwort,
shooting stars, snow queen, saxifrage, goldfield, and sea
blush were the main culprits. I also saw some scarlet
fritillary buds, theyll be putting on their showy display in
about a week.
Rainie Falls
had always been a source of frustration as the falls can
only be heard and not seen from the north side. One year,
Dollie and I bushwhacked down to the river to see the falls
and we still couldn't really see them from the river bank on
the north. Ah, but the south side is different and we oohed
and aahed at the falls when we arrived there.
The falls
aren't very tall, only about 10 feet, if that. Actually,
they are more a rapid on steroids than a waterfall. But the
whole Rogue River pours over them, boiling, churning and
seething noisily. It's quite the show.
On the way
back, Lane and I observed some geese squabbling over
territory and other members got to see a bald eagle.
Western fence lizards (bluebellies) were everywhere.
After lunch,
a sizable group continued on to Whiskey Creek Cabin for an
11 mile day. When we got to the cabin there was another
hiking group there. Exchanging pleasantries, we identified
our respective organizations. When I mentioned the Friends
of the Umpqua, the hike leader said "oh, we saw a nice
article in the paper about this hike" .
For more
pictures, see:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/576957217ZPPiOV?vhost=outdoors
