It was a springtime hike in every way. Starting out
foggy and cold in Roseburg, the fog lifted as we
traveled south, finally giving us an absolutely
beautiful sparkling spring day. The view of Mt.
McLoughlin was incredible, we could see the snow
sparkle as the view disappeared and reappeared as we
climbed up the 780 feet to the top of the mesa.
The size of the group set a record, thirty-three
hikers in all. The convoy traveled to the trailhead
arriving in several batches, Chris Roe with a friend
had preceded us there. Craig Brumett had started out
at the crack of dawn and fulfilled a resolution to
climb to the top of the hill of the matching table
rock to the north, meeting up with the group on his
triumphant way down. Because of the invigorating
day, the group was hard to corral for group
pictures, and didn’t even wait for Linda before
starting up to the top.
On arrival at the top, some hikers veered off to
the left for the gorgeous views to the south, then
went on to the end of the runway to peer over the
edges and have lunch in the sun. Others disappeared
for a while investigating the edge of the mesa.
Munching a sandwich while watching the turkey
vultures surf the air currents below and McLoughlin
in the vista, provided all the rewards necessary for
hiking the 5.4 miles. The purple fawn lilies ,(Erythronium),
were out but it was a little early in the season for
later blooming spring flowers.
Intrepid Jane led some of the group to the
almost overgrown trail, down the swale and on over
to the other side of the volcanic horseshoe that
forms Table Rock, and then back to go down the way
we came up. Hikers chose just how far each wanted to
travel so the group was scattered all over the top
of the mesa and the trail down, but all were
grateful for their day in the spring sun. Allan and
Carol were expecially grateful to make it home,
even in a tow truck.
