Video of Favorite Spot on the Rogue River - 2016 View

Rogue River 2016

Cheryl's News from Camp Webegone
Friday, June 10, 2016

Rogue River by Natural Bridge

With a rainy winter and a moderate amount of snow (below average though), the Rogue River is very full with lots of ruckus, rushing, turbulent water.

Rogue River by the footbridge 2016

The photo I took last year of this spot, the large rock was not covered with water.

Weather Update: We have had a little bit of everything. A few days of extreme heat, humidity and mosquitoes. I was miserable and began to question why I was volunteering at Natural Bridge Campground. That passed and was followed by a one-and-a-half to two hour thunderstorm that included lightening, rain and hail. No mosquitoes though. Yeah! My bites have bites. Today we are chasing sunny spots to warm up. The high will be about 63 degrees. Tomorrow morning should be in the high 30's. Extreme heat to extreme cold. Think I'll stay in the trailer tomorrow morning. One of the challenges and joys of Camp Webegone is experiencing the weather first hand. A sunny warm day is indeed a great joy.

Video of the Rogue River Near the Origin

Cheryl's News From Camp WeBegone

Rogue River Gorge, near origin of the Rogue River

A photo and video today, both taken at the Rogue River Gorge, near to the Rogue River's origin.

Taking You Along on Rich's Birthday Hike

Weather Update for 26 July – 1 August, 2015

High Temp: 99.3

Low Temp: 44.4

Humidity: 92% - 22%

Rain: Zip

Cheryl's News from Camp Webegone

Rich's birthday.

The day begins with me asking Rich what birthday breakfast he would like. He requests French Toast drizzled with local Huckleberry Syrup. After that, it's time to head out for Rich's Birthday Hike.

As ever, everything takes longer than you plan. So, a bit later than expected (10:27 to be exact) and 60 degrees outside, we drive to the Boundary Springs Trail entrance at Mazama Viewpoint. After the 21 mile drive to get there, the temperature has risen to 68 degrees. With a mild forecast for the day, we energetically begin walking down the Upper Rogue River trail. 

C&R Heading Out

The beginnings of the trail is set atop a ravine that follows a creek that we can hear but not see. The trail on the left side drops off into the ravine - a long tumble if you fall. The trail on the right is a rather

Desolate Woods

desolate forest comprised mostly of lodge poll pine and some mountain hemlock. 

Growing beside the trail is lupine. In May and June when the lupine is in bloom, the trail must look stunning - a half mile trek lined with purple blooms. Perhaps we will visit it again in bloom, to see it in its full splendor.

Noble Fir

Rich and I continue on until we reach a fork in the trail. Nailed to a tree is a very, very faded trail marker. If you look closely and know beforehand what the sign should say, you can make out "Boundary Springs". We follow the left side of the fork to Boundary Springs and see our first glimpses of the Rogue River. At one point the trail is set atop a high ridge with the Rogue River way down on the right, and the creek way down on the left.

The terrain in this area is quite lush. Surrounding us is a dense forest filled with white pine, sub alpine fir, noble fir, mountain hemlock, shasta red cedar, and acres and acres of huckleberries. The noble fir are picture perfect for a holiday tree.

I take special note of the huckleberry. There are two kinds of huckleberry in the area:: mountain huckleberry and huckleberry I am used to seeing in the Pacific Northwest. And I snapped a few pictures of the mountain huckleberry.

Mountain Huckleberry

One of the special things about this is place is that along and within the Rogue River, there are lots of meadows. Meadows of wildflowers.

Wildflower Meadow

Meadows of grass. Meadows of bushes.

Bush Meadow

For lunch we sit beside the Rogue River and marvel at the beauty of the meadows. 

The goal of our hike is the the origin of the Rogue River. It's actually not much farther from where we stopped for lunch. And after wandering down a few unmarked trails, we finally arrive. I find it very beautiful. But what surprises me is the volume of water at the origin is just about the same volume that flows through Natural Bridge.

Rogue River Origin

As of yet, the powers that be have not determined where the water comes from that forms the origin of the Rogue River. At any rate, it is already a mighty underground river before reaching topside. 

Rich and I hang out beside the river enjoying the peace, beauty and quiet. We've met only two other hikers on the entire trail. Of course, occasionally we do smell smoke from the Crescent Ridge fire. Can't ever quite get away from that up here. 

Rich at Boundary Springs

Eventually, it's time to head back to camp.  No sadness today, though - as we pick about two cups of huckleberries along the way. (Huckleberry pancakes for breakfast is in our near future!) We get back to the car at about 5:15, and it's now 81 degrees. Warm, but pleasant. And after dinner at Beckies, we head back to camp.

This was a new hike for both Rich and I. At camp we reflect on the beauty of nature, the quiet, the peace, the power of a river and the abundance of life a mighty river feeds. We marvel at the variety of birds observed: flickers, chickadees, robins, nuthatches, jays and humming birds. A wonderful day to celebrate a wonderful man on his 69^th birthday. 

Cheryl