Miller Lake Oregon – BOOTS on the TRAIL

Madrones in the Abstract IV (April 2019)

2019-04-012019-04-01Posted in Montage, Southern OregonTagged Cathedral Hills Park Oregon, Cook and Green Trail (#959), Jacksonville Forest Park, Jacksonville Woodlands Trails, Miller Lake Oregon, Pacific madrone, Roxy Ann Peak Oregon, Southern Oregon, Stein Butte Oregon2 Comments

Natural processes create a seemingly infinite variety of abstract patterns in and on the bark of the Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Southern Oregon’s signature tree. So, as winter starts being pushed aside by the warm caresses of Spring, here are more images selected from the bark of these endlessly fascinating trees.

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Madrones in the Abstract II (November 2018)

2018-11-142018-12-01Posted in Montage, Southern OregonTagged Jacksonville Forest Park, Jacksonville Woodlands Trails, Miller Lake Oregon, Mule Mountain Oregon, Oregon, Pacific madrone, Roxy Ann Peak Oregon, Southern Oregon, Stein Butte Oregon4 Comments

More of the abstract artistry of the Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Southern Oregon’s signature tree. Natural processes create a seemingly infinite variety of abstract images in and on their bark. Hence one more set of images from the bark of these endlessly fascinating trees. Continue reading “Madrones in the Abstract II (November 2018)” →

Miller Lake (Siskiyou Crest, Oregon) 08-Nov-2018

2018-11-082019-02-09Posted in Hiking, Southern OregonTagged Day Hiking, Hiking, Miller Lake Oregon, Rogue River - Siskiyou National Forest, Siskiyou Crest, Southern Oregon, Steve Fork, Sturgis Fork Oregon

Miller Lake is a charming little three acre lake perched on the side of a ridge above Sturgis Fork to the east of Oregon Caves National Monument. It’s a natural lake that was deepened with an earthen dam years ago by the Thompson Creek Irrigation District. The dam remains but the old service road to it has been closed. There is now a good single-track trail that goes to the lake and then circles around it for views from the ridge above. The trailhead is at the end of Forest Road (FR) 1020-400 and the circuit up and around the lake is only 3.4 miles if you can drive to the trailhead. Unfortunately, the bridge that got FR 1020-400 across Sturgis Fork was removed in 2006. Motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and high-clearance cars and trucks can cross the Fork at low water (good luck with that during Spring runoff). Otherwise you have to walk up the road, which adds 6.6 miles round-trip to the journey. Although getting across the creek in my 4×4 truck wouldn’t have been a problem, I decided to walk for the exercise (The LovedOne had meetings at the library). Continue reading “Miller Lake (Siskiyou Crest, Oregon) 08-Nov-2018” →

West of Miller Lake (Mt. Thielsen Wilderness) 19-Sep-2015

2015-09-192018-10-22Posted in Hiking, Oregon Wilderness Areas, Southern OregonTagged Day Hiking, Hiking, Miller Lake Oregon, Mount Thielsen, Mount Thielsen Wilderness, North Umpqua Trail, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), PCT, Southern Oregon

Miller Lake Mount Thielsen Wilderness Oregon

After hiking the classic Thielsen Creek Loop and scrambling up Howlock Mountain earlier this summer, I got intrigued by the lack of trails on the southeast side of the Mount Thielsen Wilderness. This is the part of this wilderness considered by the Forest Service to be “pristine” as opposed to merely “primitive.” I couldn’t discern any enthusiasm on The LovedOne’s part for a hike that might involve lots of brush thrashing, so I was left to experience pristine by myself. Sigh. 😥

Continue reading “West of Miller Lake (Mt. Thielsen Wilderness) 19-Sep-2015” →