Peggy and I weren’t expecting to find beautiful waterfalls along the trail, but there were several. This is Flora Dell Falls. The pool of water really looked inviting. Peggy took off her shoes and soaked her feet.
It’s countdown time! My thousand mile backpack trek starts in two weeks. Our guest room is filled with gear. Peggy’s office is buried in food. Maps have taken over the library. Miscellaneous other stuff is found in every other room of our house! I have a to-do list that would send Superman flying off-planet. Theoretically, it is getting shorter. One way or the other, on June 17th, I am out of here…
Needless to say, there isn’t much time for blogging or reading blogs. My apologies. I do want to conclude the Rogue River series and put up one more post in the MisAdventure series. After that, I will try to get up one more post before hitting the trail. Then there will be a break until my first posts from along the route start arriving.
Given my time constraints, I am turning today’s post into a photo essay. Enjoy!
The Wild Rogue Wilderness started a few miles after we left the Rogue River Ranch featured in my last post. The trail snaked along the edge of the river providing great views. The narrow canyon here provides some exciting rides for rafters! There is even a whirlpool.
This gives you an idea of what the trail looks like. We hit this section in the afternoon and it was hot. The rocky cliffs sucked in the heat and threw it back at us.
We were looking forward to Inspiration Point, and we weren’t disappointed. Stair Creek Falls was just across the river. More inviting pools!
A close up of the falls.
We called it a day at Blossom Bar. (That’s a river bar, not one where you can find a cold beer. Darn! I really could have used one.) We didn’t find any blossoms but Peggy found this pool above the rocks. When I came over, she had waded in with her clothes on and the water was up to her waist. She was taking her soapless bath and washing her clothes at the same time. Of course, I had to join her. The water was icy!
The next day we hiked by the Brushy Bar Forest Service Station that is now run by volunteers in the summer. James and Cammie, a couple out of Southern California, had done a search for opportunities to volunteer on the Forest Service site and found this. (The PCT runs right by their house but it is in the desert section that I won’t be hiking.)
We took advantage of Cammie to have our photo taken! I’d say we were looking quite chipper. My beard caught the sun!
Tate Creek had another spectacular waterfall. We decided to photograph down it since getting to the base involved scrambling though poison oak!
In case you are wondering what poison oak looks like, Peggy is pointing some out. The three leaves are distinctive. As careful as we were, Peggy brought some home. Adding insult to injury, she spread her poison oak from her hands to some bug bites she was scratching.
The flowers along the trail continued to impress us. This is yet another variety of Iris.
And another. This time a Douglas Iris.
And more of another variety.
Another wild, white rose…
And wild lilacs. While they couldn’t match the roses in the heavenly smell category, the had a subtle, pleasant smell.
Finally. these cheerful members of the sunflower family.
Old mining equipment had been left beside the trail in a number of places to remind hikers of the area’s history.
The Flora Dell camp site, located down stream from the Flora Dell falls featured at the beginning of the post, provided us with another attractive river side location.
I really enjoyed the large rocks beside the river.
The next day had some challenges. (Grin) This is always fun with a loaded pack! My knees were having a discussion with me.
I had little difficulty picturing myself out on the deck of this lodge with a good book and a cold brew… but you had to have reservations. Sigh.
There weren’t a lot of big trees along the trail, so I had to take a photo when we found these.
And use Peggy as a model.
She also volunteered for this shot. No, she isn’t practicing her skiing technique. She is showing a switch back trail. The map showed our last few miles running along the river. Instead it headed up the mountain, not once but twice!
Somehow, at the very end, we managed to get off the trail and hike through a cow pasture that included this rather unusual cattle guard. Normally they are flat and don’t squish down as you walk across them!
The end. I hope you enjoyed our backpack trip down the Rogue River. The next adventure: My thousand mile backpack trek down the PCT. I’ll be posting as I go!
Wandering through Time and Place 
Great photos. Hope the preparations continue to go well.
Thanks, Peggy!
My to-do list is actually getting shorter. –Curt
Thanks, Peggy!
I really am shortening my to-do list. Now, if I could just avoid adding things! 🙂 –Curt
Loved this peek at the Rogue River Trail. Did you show the trail with the vertical cliffs down to the river for my benefit? Hard to tell from that angle, but I could MAYBE do it, but I’d sure be hugging those cliffs away from the steep drop. I can sure imagine what your knees were saying when you had to get under that tree. Probably not fit for a family rated blog.
I’m all excited to start following your next adventure.
The trail was wide enough for a good margin of safety, Gunta. I didn’t show them to worry you. (grin) Slides were more worrisome. Hopefully, trail crews cut better trails across them, but I don’t know.
Peggy and I really enjoyed the hike for it’s beauty and variety as well as history.
The next adventure is coming soon! (Picture me nervous.) 🙂 –Curt
With so many folks sending spiritual support for you on your adventure, what could possibly go wrong? I suspect I won’t push my limits by doing a wilderness hike. I’ll settle for the more sedate stuff right here in my neighborhood. That’s quite enough adventure for me… a comfortable bed to sleep in is likely as much of an incentive as the fear of heights…
Such a beautiful hike and pictures! That waterfall is calling my name!
Good luck on your upcoming adventure. 😊
And possibly the pool beneath it Alexis? 🙂 Thanks for you comment and good wishes. I will be hiking through a lot of beautiful country. –Curt
Oh man, don’t talk about the pool, haha. I’m an island girl and really miss our rivers and seas!
I’ve spent enough time in the Hawaiian Islands to appreciate that. 🙂 And I love the beautiful pools along the trail on hot days, Alexis. Very hard to resist. –Curt
I’ve never been to Hawaii, but it’s definitely on my list. 😊
Worth a visit Alexis! But I would avoid the Big Island with its volcanic activity for now. 🙂 –Curt
Beautiful location and great photos! I particularly like the ones with the flowers!
All the best for the upcoming hikes
We have a fondness for flowers as well… Thanks, on the hike. Much of it is through gorgeous country. I think you will like it. –Curt
BTW… The South Pindos – Lakmos Mountains you posted on are gorgeous. It makes me excited for the Southern Sierras I will be hiking through in August and September! –Curt
The photo of the cattle-grid bought back memories. We used to have to dig/clean them out as they would fill up after heavy rain.
Memories to me as well, Gerard, but not from digging them out, which must have been a substantial chore. It reminded me of bicycling and how dangerous they are to bicyclists. Unless you hit them straight on, you are almost guaranteed to crash! –Curt
Once again, I wish you your best hike yet, but please be careful – you have a lot of people here waiting on some more great photos!! Enjoy, big fella!!
One thousand miles and one thousand photos, G. 🙂 Not that all of them will make it into my posts. Thanks for your continuing support and wishes. I promise to be paranoid about safety out on the trail, especially when I am backpacking alone. –Curt
Indeed!!
Wow it’s coming up fast! I can’t wait to see some of your first posts 🙂 Looks like you’re off to a good start!
The Rogue River was a taste of what’s to come! And I am counting those miles as part of my trip. 🙂 Fast is hardly the word for it! One week. First posts should start appearing around June 23. Looking forward to having you along on my adventure, MB. –Curt
That photo of you and Peggy at the Brushy Bar cabin really caught my eye. Did you ever meet Gerald Currens, who lived with his wife Ginnie in Totota? He was raised in Liberia, and spent the bulk of his life there doing translation work. Anyway — when I first saw your photo, I thought Gerry’d come back to life. I can’t believe how much like him you look.
Glad prep’s going well. Got those poles checked or replaced yet?
Never met the man, but interesting, Linda. I am always struck by just how much you got around in Liberia.
Poles have been tightened. They are ready to go. But I am sort of thinking about pulling a John Muir and using an old-fashioned walking stick! –Curt
Very lovely hike. The wild flowers impressive — thanks for showing us what poison ivy looks like 😉
Thanks, AC. Good to know your poisonous plants. 🙂 Now… for the thousand mile hike! –Curt
Good luck!
Thanks AC!
Curt a million good wishes for your adventure! As I have said many times you are a true inspiration. I shall do my best to keep up with you as you post along the way. Safe travels as you go after your dream.
Hopefully, I can inspire myself as I hike down the trail, Sue. I’ll depend on curiosity to see what’s around the next bend, nature, beauty— an occasionally pure grit— to pull/push me along. And certainly the support I have received from Peggy, friends, family and followers is all important. Thank you! –Curt
Curt, a feast of photos and I savoured each and every one. I had difficulty getting past the sheer beauty of the first and Flora Dell Falls! The trail looks stunning and the pools all so inviting. Ahh…lovely to see a photo of you both, looking very relaxed and happy!
Good luck with all preparations for the 17th!! Be careful and have fun! 😀 Can’t wait to your posts about this adventure!
One week from now, Annika. A bit nervous. But that will end as soon as I hit the trail. After that it will be a step at a time with frequent stops for photographs. Should begin posting by the 23rd. Glad you enjoyed the Rogue River Trail. Thanks. –Curt
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waw, Beautiful location and great photos
Thanks. Beautiful locations help with the photos. 🙂 Thanks. –Curt
Those big riverside rocks would draw me right onto them! What a great overall hike this was. Good luck with final trek prep and on the trip itself!
Thanks, Lexi. It’s here! I’m off the net tomorrow and will be on the trail Sunday. My first post should be up around the 23rd. –Curt
So fun to go back and reread this blog! The Douglas Iris is beautiful. I think its an all time favorite of mine now. Your grandson is so excited to be joining you on part of your 1000-mile trek. I can’t wait for the stories!
Thanks, Tash! Those flowers along the trail were gorgeous. And I am excited about Ethan joining me. There will be stories. 🙂 –Curt
Those wildflowers are simply stunning. Thanks for the photos. I know what you mean about squeaky knees talking to you (a comment from this post and today’s post). Some things our knees say to us is not fit to print.
“Some things our knees say to us is not fit to print.” Laughing. It can be quite the chorus when the ankles join the knees join the hips join the shoulders. Definitely not a discussion for polite company, Crystal. And thanks. –Curt