Hiking The Pnw

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tobh

tobh

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Well, as some of you know I recently moved back to Oregon in a fairly big life changing moment. I've settled in a little and have been making it a point to get out and check out some of the less frequented trails around the Willamette Valley. I'll try and keep updating this as I hit more (have 20 planned for exploration before the summer's end) but for now I've got four to show off right now.

First up we have Abiqua Falls and Butte Creek Falls. Both are about 10 miles outside of Scotts Mills, OR hidden among a maze of logging roads. Pretty awesome feats of nature.

Abiqua Falls
Hiking the pnw

If someone could identify ^ for me, I would be very grateful!
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Crazy moss growth
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Dunno if you can see it but there's a bird bathing on a rock there
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The waterfall in all its glory. This place is incredible.
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Basalt rock formations.
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Opposite side of the amphitheater
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Hard to capture this in a full shot
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Headed back up the creek
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Pretty sure these are Hemlocks. Might be Douglas Fir, I'm still learning to identify the different varieties.

Butte Creek Falls
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Behind the Upper Falls. Another spot that is incredibly serene.
 
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tobh

tobh

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Butte Creek Falls cont.
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Butte Creek Falls, Lower Falls
I could've gotten down to the base where the pool is but it required a pretty steep scramble around a corner on the ridge I was on and I didn't feel safe attempting it alone. On that note, if you're in the reasonable vicinity of the Capital and are looking (or willing to) partner up for some hiking, drop me a PM.
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The drop down the side of the ridge. This was why I felt unsafe with scramble.
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tobh

tobh

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Shellburg Falls
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Another one with the trail wrapping behind the waterfall.
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There were a couple little girls and their mother down in the pool, glad they didn't show up in the shots (I don't think). Learning all about these angles. Shit, I may become an outdoors blogger instead of my current profession lol I love this stuff and taking pics of it is just a bonus.
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Look how clear that water is. It's not uncommon to see creeks run this clean here. Big difference from the Southwest where most water ways are murky.
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Pretty sure these are bleeding hearts. I didn't think they grew up here naturally. Can anyone confirm?
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Common yellow flower (I think that's the actual name). Seriously need to acquire an identification book/field guide for both plants and fungi.
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Smallest evergreen tree I've ever seen. This guy was less than 3" tall.
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I believe this is a Bolete. It may be an Amanita but I'm almost positive its a Bolete.
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Ink caps!
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tobh

tobh

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Shellburg Falls cont.
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Not sure how long that had been there, nor what brought it there, but thought it was interesting. Atop a pretty steep incline lies a shell, most like from a snail.
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Now these, these had me curious. They're either Galerinas (a type of poisonous mushroom) or a hardwood variety carrying psilocybin. Need to research further, but if anyone is a well versed mycologist, please offer input. Gilled cap, hollow stem, flesh colored gills (which is why I lean toward Galerina, most psylocybes have purple gills). Didn't take prints as I was unprepared for these finds but they were definitely pleasant to see. I tried to capture the taxonomy as best as I could with what I had available (my cell phone).
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This is turkey tail. If you're ever lost and need food in the woods, this guy may be of some good nourishment.
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Stassel Falls
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And another epic drop I was too chickenshit to even try to scramble down.
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Event horizon. These kind of views make one realize that roofing a house and standing on top of a 120 ft ledge are two completely different beasts.
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Red Striped Garter snake. Cool little guy, he was warming up and just chilled there as I walked by.
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Lower Shellburg Falls
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The view from the trailhead.
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tobh

tobh

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Looks like some type of spanish moss or a close cousin
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_moss

I was actually referring to the flower. There's a few different varieties of hanging moss here, and albeit cool to look at, is rather unexciting in comparison to the other stuff to look at lol. I would like to know what that flower is though, there's fields of them. Three leafs with a single bloom in the middle. They stand about 12"-16" tall, soft stalk about the width of a pencil.

The weirdest thing yet is you can go from one trail to the next and see a completely different variety of plants around you. It's really interesting. Can also check out ferns that have grown here since the prehistoric eras. Feels like walking into Jurassic Park minus the crazy creatures trying to kill you.
 
3N1GM4

3N1GM4

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I think those might be trillium flowers that grow near morel mushroom patches. If it is a public trail any patches are more than likely quickly raided every year.

Edit: Trillium ovatum better know as Wake Robin or the western trillium
 
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3N1GM4

3N1GM4

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Shellburg Falls
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Another one with the trail wrapping behind the waterfall.
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There were a couple little girls and their mother down in the pool, glad they didn't show up in the shots (I don't think). Learning all about these angles. Shit, I may become an outdoors blogger instead of my current profession lol I love this stuff and taking pics of it is just a bonus.
View attachment 592414 View attachment 592416
Look how clear that water is. It's not uncommon to see creeks run this clean here. Big difference from the Southwest where most water ways are murky. View attachment 592417 View attachment 592418
Pretty sure these are bleeding hearts. I didn't think they grew up here naturally. Can anyone confirm?
View attachment 592419 View attachment 592420
Common yellow flower (I think that's the actual name). Seriously need to acquire an identification book/field guide for both plants and fungi.
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Smallest evergreen tree I've ever seen. This guy was less than 3" tall. View attachment 592422
I believe this is a Bolete. It may be an Amanita but I'm almost positive its a Bolete.
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Ink caps!
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the last pic on this post and the first pic of the next look like some type of oyster mushrooms
 
fishwhistle

fishwhistle

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@ShroomKing might be able to identify those fungi.What i always liked about oregon was all the water,its also what scares me about it,lol.
 
blazer

blazer

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Beatiful pics so Green and so much beautiful water, probably be another Dry one here in the 505!
 
jammie

jammie

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wow datsun, that area and especially the waterfalls look beautiful. is the water ever warm enough to go swimming in.
 
LocalGrowGuy

LocalGrowGuy

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I think those might be trillium flowers that grow near morel mushroom patches. If it is a public trail any patches are more than likely quickly raided every year.

Edit: Trillium ovatum better know as Wake Robin or the western trillium
Good call.

Tobh, thanks for sharing all of the photos
 
Og Gong

Og Gong

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I never been to Oregon. Now I wanna go after seeing these pics. Thanks for sharing Tobh!
 
Welshwizzard

Welshwizzard

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Wow, actually thinking there are parts of the US I MUST see.
Beautiful content on this thread
 
Smokeyboi741

Smokeyboi741

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glad to see you are still doing fine after seeing this post from many years ago
 
the rrock

the rrock

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love this sh--, spent alot of time on williamette,umpqua,upper rogue years ago brings back memories
 
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