Taking advantage of beautiful and not too hot weather, Ann and I headed back out to the Oregon Badlands just east of town to hike one of the few trails out there that we have not already hiked, the Ancient Juniper Trail. From the trailhead, we looped left on the Ancient Juniper Trail to the Flatiron Trail and then north to Flatiron Rock, before taking the Flatiron Trail all the way back to the truck. It was a brief walk of just about 7 to 7.5 miles.
This was our second visit to Flatiron Rock, one of the higher spots in the wilderness area. Sadly, it was too cloudy for us to see the Cascades; the views from here are excellent on a sunny day. On the other hand, it was not scorching hot as it can get on a sunny day. The Badlands are best visited fall through spring.
This early in April, even though spring is 10 to 14 days early, is still too early to hope for any real wildflowers out in the desert. The Sand Lilies were coming up in big clumps, but we were at least a week if not more too early to see their stunning white blossoms. The Yellow Rabbitbrush has already started to leaf out, but the Rubber Rabbitbrush is still bare.
But wildflowers are not why we go out to the Badlands. We go out there to marvel at the austere landscape, the tormented shapes of the lava and the ancient Western Juniper. And better to go now while the sand is still somewhat packed down from winter rains and snows than after it dries out and makes walking a slog.
 |
| Love the Interplay of the Chartreuse Wolf Lichen and the Dead Juniper |
 |
| In a Land of A'a Lava, Pahoehoe Formations are Unusual |
 |
| Love the Textural Contrast of Rabbitbrush and Lava |
 |
| Bark Detail on 4-Foot Diameter Western Juniper |
 |
| More Pahoehoe |
 |
| Climbing Flatiron Rock |
 |
| Wax Currant Growing in Basalt |
 |
| Surveying the Wilderness on Top of Flatiron Rock |
 |
| Lichen Resembles a Petroglyph |
 |
| Rare Spot of Green: a Buckwheat Coming to Life |
 |
| One of a Flock of Mountain Chickadees |
 |
| I'm Struck by the Frozen Motion in Pahoehoe |
 |
Clark's Nutcracker
|
 |
| Good Nesting Spot for an Owl |
No comments:
Post a Comment