Draft Horse pull at JaCo Expo September 25

There seems little that's more rewarding than to watch well trained animals doing what they know best.  Such is the case when the folks get together and have a pull, Draft Horse pull, that is.  They have fun, it's true, but they work their collective butts off during the event.  The  neat thing about this particular event is that young people participated--and did well.  So often it's just the old folks, hoping to re-live the old days and old ways.  Here are a couple of videos, one stills, the other live action of the same event on Sept. 25 in Central Point, Oregon.

Same horses, but they move in this one.

Oregon the Beautiful-1

The spectacular North Umpqua River Waterfalls

Toketee Falls

Perhaps no other stretch of highway in southern Oregon can boast so many waterfalls as route 138 east from Roseburg Oregon to Diamond Lake at the top of the Cascade Mountains.  while there are many waterfalls off the main route, many still lie within a short distance from 138.

As you drive east from Roseburg, you'll first encounter rolling hills and farmlands.  about 20 miles from Roseburg, you'll cross the Little River.  This confluence of the Little River and the North Umpqua is known as Colliding Rivers, the only place in the world where two rivers meet head-on.  There is a good deal of interesting information at the Forest Service station here, revealing some startling facts about flood events during the past century.  The kiosks also serve up lots of information about the native peoples that lived in the area.
But our interest today is in the waterfalls east of Glide.  The first encounter is Susan Creek Falls.  The trail to the falls is on the north side of the highway and a turnout to a small parking area is convenient if you happen to be amenable to hiking the 1-mile trail to the falls.  The path is gentle and is ADA accessible.

Susan Creek Falls

The falls drops some 50 feet into a cool, clear pool below.  Best viewing times are early or later in the afternoon, for some special lighting effects on the falling water.

Trail to Fall Creek Falls

Not far east of Susan Creek is Fall Creek Falls, a double-tiered falls of approximately the same height.  One interesting feature of this trail, which is slightly more difficult than Susan Creek, is the huge rocks  near the bottom of the trail.  There is also a small parking area here, and during busy times, it may be difficult to find parking.

Fall Creek Falls

At the beginning of the trail is a small footbridge across Fall Creek and the hiker can find restroom facilities here.  Two other features of this area are the Devil's Post Pile, a lava formation on the right side of the trail about 2/3 of the way to the top, and an archeological site above Susan Creek Falls.  The trail continues beyond the falls and on up the mountainside to an area where Earlier Americans paid tribute to their fallen.

Watson Falls

Between Fall Creek and the top of the Cascades ore several more waterfalls.  The more spectacular is Toketee, but Watson Falls is the highest in Southern Oregon.  The trail is a short 1/4 mile from the parking area and follows both sides of the stream.  When the hiker is nearly at the top, a footbridge connects the two sides and continues on to the base of the 276-ft falls. 
Approximately 66 miles from Roseburg is Whitehorse Falls, the shortest of the group along this stretch.  It is not far off the highway, and there is parking within a short distance from the falls. A word of caution here.  Take and use insect repellent here, you're going to need it.

Whitehorse Falls

Further on up the highway, you'll encounter Clearwater Falls, which is the purest water cascading over lava boulders into a crystal clear stream.  Here there is camping and restroom facilities.  The falls is visible from the parking area.
Two more falls are located off the highway near Lemolo Lake but the hike is further and we'll cover those on another day.
Hope you enjoyed this adventure and I appreciate you letting me do the driving.
For more adventures into the wilds of Oregon, check out my website at http://www.rmkproductions.org/ and follow some of the hiking trails around the State of Oregon at http://oregonstrails.blogspot.com/

Columbia Gorge waterfalls

Multnomah Falls

Oregon's Coilumbia Gorge has some 90 waterfalls within a short distance along the Columbia River Scenic Highway, extending from the Deschutes River in the east to the City of Portland in the west.  This area is like no other.

Hiking trails abound throughout the area, including one from the valley floor to the very top of Multnomah Falls.  This falls is 620 feet, the tallest in Oregon and the second highest in the United States.  It is two tiered and a bridge spans the creek just above the lower falls.  the trail continues to the top and even further for the adventurous hiker.

At the base of the falls is a gift shop/restaurant with souvenirs to send home as a memento of the spectacular view.

Vista House

Near the western end of the gorge is the famous Vista House, shown here during a period of reconstruction.  built during the period of 1916-1918, it is as the name implies, a great place to stop for a photo of the Gorge.

Oneonta Gorge

As mentioned, there are at least 90 waterfalls along the route and they are all worth the time to stop for photos.   There are also many other features, such as the beautiful Oneonta Gorge, where a creek runs between sheer rock walls, perhaps hundreds of feet high.

The original highway had tunnels, but since the Interstate has replaced the scenic road, those have been abandoned.  The old highway is still maintained, and is a pleasure to drive.  Please drive slowly, especially in areas where the road is narrow.
To get to the Columbia River Highway, enter in the west near Troutdale and in the east near The Dalles.
While in the area, from near Corbett and the Vista House, take the Larch Mountain Road to the top of Larch Mountain for a view of the Columbia that is simply breathtaking.  From the parking area walk the trail out to the viewing area, cross over a short bridge to a lava outcropping and the world is literally at your feet. 
Thanks for joining me on this adventure and for letting me do the driving.
RMK

Wild as the wind in Oregon

With 8,000 miles of ocean to the west, there is little to slow the winds that buffet the Oregon Coast.  Strong surges create dramatic waves that slam into the coastline. Funny how nasty weather brings out people.

Streets of Gold

California Gold was not the only treasure fueling the rush to the west during the 1800s.  Oregon had a gold rush of her own with strikes in Southern Oregon (Jacksonville), near the Willamette Valley (Quartzville, twice) and many areas of the north eastern part of the state.  One of those areas was in the Elkhorn Mountains at the boom town of Sumpter

This huge dredge worked in the creeks throughout the area, drawing water as it made its own pond and tapping electrical power from a dam several miles upstream.

These huge buckets literally ripped up land by the ton and worked it through the sluice boxes and deposited the tailings out the back end.  The process went on for many years--until it no longer was profitable to mine gold this way. 

 

For years, the dredge lay half submerged in a lake of its own making.  A pile of stones it's legacy, it lay in disrepair until a group of dedicated folks raised her and restored what they could of the aging hulk.  If you look closely, you'll note the waterline from where she had sunk to the bottom.  

The Sumpter Dredge is now an Oregon State Park and tours are given each day during summer months.  The town of Sumpter, isn't much of its former self either, but there are a few shops and lodging is available.  Some of the older homes remain, but fire has destroyed many of the early structures.

Dispite her age, the Dredge--and Sumpter--are worth the trip.  Sumpter is located not far off State Highway 7 on the Sumpter Valley Highway (state highway 220) at the southern edge of the Elkhorn Mountains.  An interesting view is the satellite view of Sumpter on Google Maps.  From there you get a bird's-eye view of the dredging scars that remain on the valley to this day.

Check this out to see what an 80.4 OZ nugget looks like.

Thanks  for letting me do the driving.

Golden and Silver Falls State Park

Clean Green Future

Clean Green Future

Helping the planet with clean renewable energy is a first step in being able to walk in the woods and enjoy what nature has to offer.  I believe in helping to keep the world clean and the air pure.  Those who enjoy the out of doors would hate to see it become like a city slum.  Do your part, it may be easier than you think and can put money in your pocket.

Check out the  link for information on clean renewable energy

RMK

Oregon's Other Crater Lake--Newberry Crater

While Crater Lake National Park gets the lion's share of attention, Newberry Crater National Monument Is spectacular Oregon wonder, boasting of things even the great one doesn't have.

Newberry Crater National Monument is found near Highway 97 between the cities of Bend and La Pine, Oregon.  A very informative visitor's center is located right off the highway just south of Lava Butte.  You'll recognize Lava Butte, even if you miss the signs pointing to Lavalands Visitor Center  just off the highway.

From the visitor center you can hike through the lava fields at the base of the butte, or take a shuttle to the top and walk down into the crater of the cinder cone.

Though the volcano covers a huge area, 500 square miles, the most often viewed portion of the monument is the caldera itself.  A paved two-lane road takes you right inside the crater and throughout that portion of the monument.  More daring motorists can continue on through the crater and exit the east side into even more 4-wheel drive roads.  A partially paved road goes to the highest point in the monument, Paulina Peak, a respectable 7984 Ft. above sea level.  According to Forest Service officials, this point is about 3500 ft. above the surrounding plain.

Two lakes, Paulina and East Lake are, are inside the caldera.  Both are fairly large and fishermen find them productive at certain times of the year.  On the south of the lakes is the huge obsidian flow where 7 million cubic yards of the molten material flowed and cooled into glass.

This big flow is just one of several within the crater.  Next to the Obsidian and right under Paulina Peak is a flow of ash that created Pumice.

There is a lodge at the lake with boat rentals and food and drink.  Nearby is Paulina Creek which forms a side-by-side waterfall just about 1/4 mile below the lodge.  From the highway, the falls is a short, easy hike where visitors can get a close-up view.

The High Desert Museum is another attraction in this land of rock and Ponderosa Pine.  Situated north of Lava Butte and right on Highway 97, the center draws thousands of visitors every year.  Lava River Cave is yet another interesting stop in this land with so many outstanding physical features.  The cave is approximately 1 mile long.  It was formed by a lava flow.  The outside cooled and left a pipe-line.  The inside, still molten, continued to flow and emptied the now hollow tube.

Lodging is available in both Bend and La Pine and restaurants abound in Bend.

Hidden Treasures of the Oregon Coast Range

The Oregon Coast has its share of stories about buried treasure and ships going down loaded with pirates plunder.  One of the more often told stories takes place at Neahkanie Mountain, just north of Manzanita.  It's been told so many times that no one is sure if there really were any "Pirates Plunder."

Not all of the treasures along this beautiful coastline are golden, but all are jewels.  One such treasure is found hidden in a small valley some 25 or so miles from the beach near the almost deserted town of Mapleton.  The name Sweet Creek Falls is misleading in that there are 11 waterfalls found within a mile of each other along Sweet Creek, a small tributary of the Siuslaw River.

Take the camera out of the bag, because this tiny area is full of scenics that would make any photographer worth his salt drool with anticipation.  Here the water drops over lava rock shelves and between huge boulders, much like James Bond's Martini, "shaken, not stirred."

None of the falls are gigantic, some just a few feet tall.  Sweet Creek Falls, itself, is the largest, but it surely isn't much more than 35 feet.  This area does boast a feature that is found nowhere else in the State.  Beaver Creek, a smaller tributary, drops into Sweet Creek about halfway through the hike, the only spot in Oregon where two streams come together, both in waterfalls.

To get to Sweet Creek Falls from Florence, take Hwy 126 east to the town of Mapleton.  Turn toward Eugene and immediately after crossing the Siuslaw River (It runs through town) turn right and follow the road about 10 miles to the parking area.  From Eugene, take Hwy 126 west toward Mapleton and turn left just before crossing the Siuslaw.

The Parking area for Sweet Creek Falls is easy to miss, so be watching your odometer.  It will be on the right side of the road.

For suggestions on cameras, hiking and camping gear, go to RMKunlimited.com.

10 Reasons to Own and Use a Digitial Camera

OK, there are more than 10, but there are at least 10 good reasons to own and use a digital camera.  Let's get right to it.
1) The obvious reason is to record vacations in both video and stills.  I often look over those I have taken and relive the moments that have become special.
2) Portraits-of loved ones.  Lives are worth recording, photos taken  at the beginning of each school year show graphic examples of how the kids have grown, how we have changed or how much we have stayed the same.
3) If you have a passion for photography, photos and videos can make you a few dollars on stock photo and video sites.
4) Home Inventory.  a forest fire burned out of control near my house several years ago. It would have been a real chore to evacuate, but using a video camera I made an inventory in case of loss.  It's a good idea to help police in the case of burglary.  This would go double for business owners.
5)Well, there is just plain sharing too.  On sites like Picasa, Twitter, and others.  The relatives and all the world can see how junior has grown without the expense of making prints and mailing costs.
6) Speaking of blogs, people nowadays are into instant gratification and would rather see than be told with text.  Remember the old Chinese roverb about a picture being worth a thousand words?
7) A nephew recently had a heart transplant.  at the speed of light, the word went out in pictures that he survived and was doing well, all because of the technology built into a cell phone.
8) You Tube.  It has become my number one source of news.  Those small handheld cameras make everyone in the world a news anchor.
9) Valuable tool.  Years ago an attorney friend made a huge enlargement of an auto accident in which his client had been injured.  Showing that photo to a jury quieted the defense and brought a quick settlement.

10) To preserve the past/history.  My wife and I are in the process of recording the memories of her father (age 89) so that all the grandchildren and on down the line will have an idea of what their grandfather looked like and what events in his life were worth remembering.
Digital photos are easy to store and the bad ones can be thrown away with a mouse click, making it easy to keep just the best ones.  Literally hundreds or perhaps even thousands of cameras are available that will do the job.  The newer models will handle both stills and video, making them much more versatile than in the past.  I personally use and carry a couple of Camcorders because of the small size and relatively small cost.  The DSLR stays home except for photo assignments. Check out some of the models on this site rmkunlimited.com/

Haceta Head Lighthouse

Haceta Head lighthouse, located approximately 11 miles north of Florence Oregon on Highway 101, is one of the most photographed buildings on the entire Oregon Coast.  The Fresnel lens on this lighthouse is so powerful, the beam can be seen 22 miles out to sea.

Heceta Head is named after the Spanish explorer Bruno de Heceta, who explored the Pacific Northwest during the late 18th century. Before him, Heceta Head was a spot of frequent fishing and hunting by the Native American tribes.

The 56-foot tower sits atop a 205-ft. bluff blasted from the surrounding hillside.  The 56-man crew built the tower in 1893 with materials brought in by sea (during calm weather) or by wagon from Florence.  because the area is so rugged, the light keeper needed a house for himself and his family.  just a short distance from the lighthouse is the keeper's house, which is now a bed an breakfast operated by the Oregon State Parks commission through a concessionaire. 

The Keeper's house is reported to be inhabited by a ghost going by the name of Rue.  She never seems to bother anyone, she rather prefers to clean house--often during the night.  

The automated beacon is still in use today, but the lighthouse tours have been suspended due to structural problems.  the lighthouse and keeper's house are best seen from highway 101 about two miles south.  It is from this point that countless calendar photos have been taken and published around the country and world.

Pictures of the inside of the lighthouse are on the Central Coast Video found at www.rmkproductions.org

Haceta Head Lighthouse