New Year's Day along the Willamette

W

Wapiti

Joined
Sep 25, 1999
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Squeezed in a little New Year's day hike.
Pretty muddy, damp and grey, but always nice to be out, regardless.
This trail runs along the Willamette River floodplain.
It is always interesting to see the grass stems and other vegetation wrapped around trees and brush several feet above your head, deposited from the last heavy flow.
Today the river is pretty low, but may come up later in January or February.
We shall hope.

Oregon Grape on the right foreground, young Ponderosa Pine on the left background; much ocean spray, young cottonwoods, willows and maples.

IMG_4739 by ursidae8, on Flickr

Stopped for a little hot cocoa, when the drizzle paused.
First burn breaking in a new Esbit stove, destined for the truck e-kit. They are fun little stoves.
I wanted to try something I have not in the past; to blow out the fuel block mid burn (I usually only need half of a fuel block to get my cup of water boiling, might as well save the rest of it).
It took some strong puffs, but I got it to go out. They are very wind resistant.

IMG_4720 by ursidae8, on Flickr

IMG_4722 by ursidae8, on Flickr

The view at the end of the trail.
Looking downstream on the Willamette.

IMG_4725 by ursidae8, on Flickr

A few findings from the gravel bar: Native freshwater muscle shell (probably from a River Otter); vesicular basalt with tiny white agates in the voids; some jasper; a small cream agate.

IMG_4726 by ursidae8, on Flickr

Dense colonies of Licorice fern cover most of Bigleaf maple trunks here.

IMG_4730 by ursidae8, on Flickr

As does a thick carpet of moss and liverworts (bryophytes); I am pretty sure this is Scissor Leaf liverwort, but I am not 100% on my bryophytes, or ferns for that matter.

IMG_4728 by ursidae8, on Flickr

This area is partly known for its very large old Back Cottonwood trees. Some reach over 6' diameter (DBH) at the base.

IMG_4731 by ursidae8, on Flickr

Here is a leaf from one of these big boys, BK 62 for size; pretty hefty.

IMG_4732 by ursidae8, on Flickr

Rose hips from one of our native roses; a great source of Vit C when out. These are a bit past their prime so I passed today.

IMG_4733 by ursidae8, on Flickr

A very common winter berry, Snowberry.
Although most folks consider these poisonous (due to saponins), my understanding is they where used as a famine food, or in small quantities. I have not tried them myself.
Pretty though.

IMG_4738 by ursidae8, on Flickr

Happy New Year!
(And post up any hikes you did to launch this new year.)

Brome
 
You all are very welcome.

Ethan Becker said:
Thank you for the chance to come along.... Neat pics.... I was not aware of Snowberries.... So thank you for that.... I am glad you are enjoying your Kephart.... Happy NewYear!.....e
Click to expand...
Happy New Year to you, too, sir!
Happy to share what little I know, Ethan.
Yes, I enjoy all of the Beckers I have; they all seem to have their place, but that Kephart just always seems to jump into my bag when I head out. Just a very handy/versatile size and shape-works for me!

FAL'ER said:
Hey, thanks again for those rocks and petrified wood from Beckerwest. My boy really enjoys those.

Nate
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I am glad to hear that, Nate! The news that he enjoys them is thanks enough, but you are welcome. I will try and remember to bring more in the future.

Brome
 
Great thread, thanks for the pics! I hope one day I am better with plant and tree identification. I made an honest attempt but very little stuck unfortunately.
 
Looks pretty Squatchy out there, love it! Reminds me of home.
I'm originally from Seattle, and spent time in Issaquah, and the Port Orchard area.
Did a large Family camping trip 4 years ago up by Mt Baker. Spent a week out in the woods, and we all had a blast.
It was the 1st time the kids were old enough to appreciate just how wild the Pacific Northwest is.
Brother is living on a sailboat in Tacoma these days. Gotta get back up there. Miss the woods and Mountains, but not the crowds of population jammed into the area between the Olympics, and Cascades.
My 27yr old wants to buy land and go primitive up around the Northeast Mt Baker area.
 
I've seen grouse eating snowberries, very pithy berry w/large seeds. Never tried one myself though and doubt I ever will :)

With the rain the last few days and continuing throughout the week the river will come up some. Hope we don't get a warm spell, been lots of mt snow lately, that would definitely bring up the water levels. The Nehalem is filling it's banks pretty well today, I drive along it everyday that I go in to work.
 
glwanabe said:
Looks pretty Squatchy out there, love it! Reminds me of home.
I'm originally from Seattle, and spent time in Issaquah, and the Port Orchard area.
Did a large Family camping trip 4 years ago up by Mt Baker. Spent a week out in the woods, and we all had a blast.
It was the 1st time the kids were old enough to appreciate just how wild the Pacific Northwest is.
Brother is living on a sailboat in Tacoma these days. Gotta get back up there. Miss the woods and Mountains, but not the crowds of population jammed into the area between the Olympics, and Cascades.
My 27yr old wants to buy land and go primitive up around the Northeast Mt Baker area.
Click to expand...

Has been a long while since I have been to the Mt Baker area; need to get back! I lived in Trout Lake, WA for about 4 years, base of Mt Adams, and worked on the Gifford Pinchot NF. Sort of close to Baker, but not quite!

Mistman68 said:
I've seen grouse eating snowberries, very pithy berry w/large seeds. Never tried one myself though and doubt I ever will :)

With the rain the last few days and continuing throughout the week the river will come up some. Hope we don't get a warm spell, been lots of mt snow lately, that would definitely bring up the water levels. The Nehalem is filling it's banks pretty well today, I drive along it everyday that I go in to work.
Click to expand...

That is true, some birds seem to be able to eat them, with no apparent problems. I have seen Cedar Waxwings eating them, as well.

Curious; are you up near Mist Mountain? (I ask, based on your name, and your mention of the Nehalem...)

Brome
 
Yes, the locals used to call it Clatskanie Mt then one day a sign went up that said Mist Mt.

From Travel Oregon:
After winding along a scenic stretch of the Nehalem River from Vernonia to the hamlet of Mist, Hwy 47 climbs north over the east flank of Clatskanie Mountain.

I live in Mist up on a hill overlooking the hwy and the Nehalem river :)

I like your name, I see those guys almost daily this time of year in the fields.
 
Wow, small world.

My in-laws live up on the north side of Mist Mt, on Conyers Crk rd. I spend a lot of bush time up there. And of course visiting them; I love my in-laws.
I see elk sometimes up there; lots of sign, but more often on the Mist side.
But I image you have a lot more data than I do.

I have seen the Nehalem get a little big for its banks on a number of occasions.

Brome
 
Not many folks on the upper end of Conyers Ck. Tis a small world at times but that makes it kinda neato :)

I've seen the Nehalem fill the valley from one foothill to the other, even the hwy was under a few feet of water. Mike Phil was logging my place that year, it was the 1st year of the Axe Men TV show. There's one episode that shows the flooding on my property while he was working there. I have video of the Mist store burning down in '04, that was scary. I've seen a lot since I've been out here, it's one of the things I love about it, I get to live life and not watch it. Sometimes it isn't fun but it's always an experience.

Have fun in the bush, it's a great place to be!
 
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