Visiting the Boundary Springs Burn

Cheryl and Rich at the start of the trail

 Rich and I have been very curious and excited to hike the Boundary Springs Trail and see the area after the big burn last summer.

Start of the trail warning sign.

The trail begins with a warning sign. We were not deterred even a little bit. 

Undamaged pine tree in burn area

 









It is interesting that during the fire, some trees were not damaged. Rich and I wondered what the circumstances were to leave this pine tree undamaged when everything around the tree is totally burned.

Rich in the burn area

Last year hiking the Boundary Springs Trail there were many wildflower meadows.

Rogue River and grass meadows

We wondered how the meadows fared post fire. One thing we learned on this hike, the fire hopped over canyons and ravines

 leaving the meadows near the river unscathed.

In this photo the green trees grow up from a ravine. In the foreground and background are burned trees.

The Boundary Springs Trail has not been maintained since the fire. Other trails, like the PCT, have a higher priority. Rich and I walked a bit of the trail until it was dicey, then walked the Upper Rogue River Trail. We feel confident that it won't take long for the area to recover and we hope that next year we will be able to hike to the headwaters of the Rogue River.

Beating the Summer Heat

Cheryl's News From Camp Webegone
Friday, August 19, 2016

You may wonder how Rich and I are surviving the current heat wave. Today's high prediction is 101 degrees.

Wednesday we headed to Shady Cove where we began our cool off in the air conditioned Fishing Hole for a bit of lunch. Then we headed to the air conditioned Shady Cove library for the afternoon. By the time we returned to camp, the temperature outside was tolerable.

Thursday we floated the Rogue River, the upper stretch where the rapids are rated a great big 1 but just right for me and my gimpy neck and spine. Sitting in the front I was completely soaked on more than one occasion. I had planned on a little photo journal of this float however, my camera refused to work while on the river. Worked just fine before and after the float! Anyway, here is the one photo when my camera was cooperating.

Rich getting ready to kayak

Today, Friday, Rich and I are sitting in the air conditioned Prospect Library. After our cool time at the library we will head to an air conditioned restaurant for dinner.

Saturday and Sunday's cooling plan are undetermined as of yet. Sit with our feet in the very cold Rogue River is one option. Back to the Shady Cove library is another. Or maybe you will find us sitting near National Creek Falls where the cooling  mist off the  falls is absolutely blissful on a hot day. Monday temperatures here will drop to the mid 80's. A temperature range where Rich and I can sit in our camp enjoying an afternoon of reading.

PS. We had a great float. The stretch of the Rogue River we floated is a nice combination of riffles, rapids and just plain floating. The afternoon float was enhanced by the sighting of three osprey, a kingfisher and a bunch of mallards.

National Creek Falls Hike

Cheryl's News From Camp Webegone
August 11, 2016

Rich and I do have many adventures as we navigate national forest roads, getting misplaced, not seeing partially or mostly damaged road signs and using maps that are less than helpful. That sentence is a lead up to our most recent hike where our map was less than helpful and a critical road sign was badly damaged and we drove right past it and the turn off to National Creek Falls. After wandering around then realizing we were slightly misplaced we back tracked until locating the turn off to the falls. The hike to the falls is short, one half mile with a mostly gentle grade. I hike behind Rich, following behind enough that I am not eating all the dust he kicks up. As I am bending and crawling under a large fallen tree, I hear Rich exclaim, OH MY. When I stand up I am facing National Creek Falls which is breath taking. The falls remind me of Ramona Falls in the Mount Hood National Forest. Rich said the falls is like Pearsoney Falls on steroids. Besides being gorgeous, the mist off the falls cooled our rather over heated bodies.

National Creek Falls

 After climbing back up the trail of many switchbacks to our vehicle we decide to visit Hamaker Campground which was closed last year. It is a beautiful campground consisting of ten sites that are now labeled dispersed sites. No fee, no water, no pit toilet, no campfires allowed and camp at your own risk. There were two campsites occupied.

So this is our third year hosting at Natural Bridge Campground and the first time visiting this falls. What is with that? Well, we had planned on hiking to the falls last August but the area was closed off due to the fire in the area. I was really excited to finally visit this stunning falls.