What was meant to be an Eagle-Tanner Loop in the gorge turned out to be a great first trip up to Coyote Wall. It wont be long until the Balsamroot is in full swing
Driving east out 84 this morning I quickly gave up on my original idea of the Eagle-Tanner loop due to the heavy rains. Call me a wuss My backup plan was to do what Karl Peder-Marmot does and drive until the wipers start squeaking. I was going to make the drive all the way out to Swale Creek and the Harms Road TH to hike the Klickitat Trail but a raging pickup hugging my tail had me pull into to what I thought was just a random road off 14. It turned out to be an empty Coyote Wall TH
The wipers weren't squeaking yet but I was ready to hike and excited to explore something I hadn't explored before. I was shocked to see they were actually checking those toilet passes mentioned in another thread. These are done in the bathroom apparently
I just thought it was funny that someone mentioned toilet passes recently and when I show up to drop a duece there is no teepee, even tho I had my handy honeybucket support pass on my person Was almost forced to use this guy instead
Its always good to have some in the car or you might get stuck going up/down ruckel ridge... never mind. Ok on to the flowers and the less gross reasons why you clicked on the TR. I will do my best to properly identify things but if you are reading this(bobcat, payslee etc) and you see a mistake PLEASE please let me know. The highlight of the day was the Balsamroot coming into form:
These were the best examples I saw this morning and they were beautiful:
There was Grays Desert Parsley or Pungent Desert Parsley in bloom all over the place at the TH and on the approach to the wall:
A closer look:
There were Prairie Stars:
Shooting Stars:
I really like these little Popcorn Flowers:
I think this is Brittle Leaved Saxifrage:
It was a drippy day for the Lupine:
Not sure what these are but they were pretty too:
Yellow Bells were in bloom as I climbed higher:
Another one I'm not sure on is this one, im thinking maybe Woolly-pod Milk-vetch?
The Pine-Oak Woodlands of this area are really something and make for some of the best hiking in Oregon or Washington IMO:
This gall on an Oak tree near the trail looked pretty massive!
Despite the thick clouds and fog, I could see Oregon right in front of me:
On the way up to the wall there was a nice look back to my cars gas tank
On the way down I took a break and watched this old girl make her way upriver:
Lots of beautiful Lichen covered rocks to admire:
I will have to come back on a clear day to enjoy some of the views. This area really is a gem and makes for lots of great hiking options for all ages and abilities!
Accidental first trip to Coyote Wall: 3-28-14
- Sean Thomas
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- BrianEdwards
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Re: Accidental first trip to Coyote Wall: 3-28-14
Predicting where Sean Thomas is gonna hike next is akin to picking a perfect March Madness bracket
Love when a sudden detour turns into something genial
Love when a sudden detour turns into something genial
Clackamas River Waterfall Project - 95 Documented, 18 to go.
Re: Accidental first trip to Coyote Wall: 3-28-14
Great, and funny, TR - thank you! I was wondering if anyone would be nuts enough to go hiking today. I walked about 9 miles around PDX this afternoon and it was wet!!!! It looks like you faired better at Coyote Wall.
- Eric Peterson
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Re: Accidental first trip to Coyote Wall: 3-28-14
Gave me a great idea for my poop pass!
Nice TR too, never been there myself...
Nice TR too, never been there myself...
- adamschneider
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Re: Accidental first trip to Coyote Wall: 3-28-14
Yup, the purple one is woolly-pod milkvetch (Astragalus purshii).
"Not sure what these are but they were pretty too" is Orobanche uniflora, which has a truly charming common name: naked broomrape. (No one believes me when I tell them that's really what it's called.)
"Not sure what these are but they were pretty too" is Orobanche uniflora, which has a truly charming common name: naked broomrape. (No one believes me when I tell them that's really what it's called.)
Re: Accidental first trip to Coyote Wall: 3-28-14
As usual, great report Sean.
Sean Thomas wrote:handy honeybucket support pass
Re: Accidental first trip to Coyote Wall: 3-28-14
Nice unexpected hike Sean. Thanks for the TR and the potty humor!
Re: Accidental first trip to Coyote Wall: 3-28-14
Excellent TR - I need to get up there myself...
Re: Accidental first trip to Coyote Wall: 3-28-14
Wow, they fancied-up that trailhead since the last time I was there! Just last spring it was just parking along the gravel shoulder of the road going up the hill.Sean Thomas wrote:
On the way up to the wall there was a nice look back to my cars gas tank
Congrats on accidentally winding up in an awesome place like coyote/catherine.
-payslee
Re: Accidental first trip to Coyote Wall: 3-28-14
Sombody isn't paying attention to trip report!payslee wrote:Wow, they fancied-up that trailhead since the last time I was there! Just last spring it was just parking along the gravel shoulder of the road going up the hill.
-payslee
Construction on New Parking area at Coyote Wall Begins
http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/vie ... 14&t=16929
New trailhead for Coyote Wall
http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/vie ... =7&t=17259
http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/vie ... =8&t=18144