Marys Peak

Ben and I finally made it up Marys Peak! It's a mountain not too far from Corvallis, but last year the road was closed each time we tried to go up. At 4,097 feet it's sort of a West Coast parallel of Camel's Hump (4,083), so I was expecting a similar peak. Sadly, the top is nothing like Camel's Hump; it's quite developed, with a huge fence and cell towers and right now the top essentially looks like a grassy field, complete with picnic table. The hike was nice, but the peak cannot compare. I'm hoping that the "real" mountains out in the Cascades will look a bit more dramatic!

The hike itself was lovely. The trillium are blooming, the morels are out but hiding, and I found a pair of gigantic sunglasses on the trail:

Afterwards, we headed to the Woodsman, a Thai restaurant/American bar with logging decor (think lots of saws). They have the most generous plates of fried tofu I've ever seen. An excellent day, but Ben can keep the sunglasses. Maybe elsewhere I will find some morels...

Good Day for Birds!

Today Ben and I hiked up Dan's Trail in Corvallis. We didn't see many other hikers, but we did see a grey jay and a northern flicker. The grey jay looked a bit like an overgrown chickadee; at first I thought it was a shrike. It didn't look much like the grey jays out East!

I'm still only about 80% certain this is a grey jay.

Hmm.

A Quiet Day in the Wetlands

I didn't bring my camera, but today Ben and I hiked the Jackson-Frazier Wetland in Corvallis and it was amazing. We've had tons of rain and flooding lately, so we weren't sure we'd be able to get in. However, after the flooded entrance, the boardwalk itself was clear of water. The water level almost reached the top of the boards, and slopped up onto them under the weight of our feet. Red-winged blackbirds staked out the highest trees and called to each other across the wetlands, which were unnaturally quiet due to the floods. A lovely hike!

Witham Hill Natural Area

Witham Hill Natural Area: 1 mile, easy
Is it Wit-ham or With-am? I'll go with the former on this gem of a trail, hidden at the dead-end of busy Circle Boulevard in Corvallis. My first attempt to reach this trail by bike failed when I realized that the one-mile ride to the trailhead was entirely uphill. Today, Ben and I drove to Witham Hill on this perfect, sunny Friday afternoon. Since it's right in town, I was expecting a busy, dog-filled, picnic and Frisbee experience. Instead, we found a quiet (one other hiker) trail winding through woods and small grassy areas, with a warning sign about bears and cougars. Coming from New England, where cougars are legendary creatures who may exist but who you will never, ever see, it came as a surprise to find a sign indicating that you may find one following you like a puppy just a mile from Staples and Safeway. A puppy who thinks you're delicious.
The sign read: "[Cougars] are curious and may, as house cats do, observe people and activities from nearby cover. They have also been known to follow people."

Peavy Arboretum

Section 36 Loop/Powder House Trail: 4 miles, moderate
Rated "moderate" in a few trail guides, I would have been tempted to call this a difficult hike the first time I hiked it (Connecticut is flat and I'm out of shape!). Heading left at the first trail junction starts you on a steady climb that eventually enters a clear cut area with a view looking down over the valley. From there, a descent through old growth woods leads to a lake where rough-skinned newts swim in the shallows.
Those who stay right at the beginning bridge enjoy a milder hike. Regardless of which direction you choose, you will encounter a banana slug approximately halfway through your hike.

A fixture of the 36 Loop Trail at Peavy Arboretum

William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge

Woodpecker Loop Trail: 1 mile, easy
This pleasant loop trail winds through a variety of different types of terrain. Highlights include a wooden viewing station overlooking meadows and mountains, a pond filled with rough-skinned newts, and a chance to see five species of woodpeckers. Grab a brochure by the trailhead for more about the terrain and the creatures you might see.
Tragically, I did not see any woodpeckers, but that just gives me a reason to go back.

Viewing station at Finley Wildlife Refuge