An early morning wander near my camp this last week, in SW Oregon.
I was at ~4600' in the Siskiyou Mountains, actually not far from Oregon Caves National Monument.
I made some tea and then hiked up to the top of the hill above camp.
Very misty on a somewhat bare rocky knoll, with Jeffrey Pine and Incense cedar.
IMG_3111 by ursidae8, on Flickr
Remains of my tea, Spearmint harvested from my garden and green Douglas fir tips. In the background a native succulent, growing amongst rocks, typical habitat for it.
IMG_3112 by ursidae8, on Flickr
Phlox, not uncommon on dry, rocky soils.
IMG_3114 by ursidae8, on Flickr
Yarrow, introduced from Europe. A plant I often use as a topical, crushed, for insect bites, small cuts and abrasions, etc. Usually not hard to find in areas of disturbed soil (road shoulders, etc).
IMG_3120 by ursidae8, on Flickr
Love the twisted wood of this old Pine log. My understanding is no one has determined exactly why the larger, older trees do this, but it may offer more strength to the tree.
I have heard some think the wind blowing around the tree twists it; I doubt that...
IMG_3122 by ursidae8, on Flickr
I thought the top of this Pine snag looked a lot like a dragon (looking to the right)...
IMG_3124 by ursidae8, on Flickr
The beautiful yellow flowers of Arrowleaf Balsamroot have not quite come out yet at this elevation (it is all in full bloom down 3000' below in the open valleys. They look much like stumpy sunflowers.
The tuberous starchy roots were steamed and eaten, but I have not tried them myself; need to rectify that.
IMG_3129 by ursidae8, on Flickr
Finally got around to grinding one of the several Ontario butcher knives seem to have built up on my bench, into a Kephartesqe knife, for fun. It is still a bit rough, but I will finish it this fall, when I have more shop-time, and get some use of it.
IMG_3130 by ursidae8, on Flickr
The two knives are resting on serpentine rock, somewhat common throughout this region of Oregon.
This metamorphic rock has an almost greasy feel to it, and can be quite green (as I am told; given my red/green colorblindness, I don't get the privilege of the intense colors, but I have other superpowers).
Soapstone and asbestos are associated with this rock and its high water content gives it its soft, slick look and feel.
Serpentine rocks are found where sub-ducting plate geology has occurred, and the resulted compressed and heated rock comes into contact with water and then is later pushed up, and then eroded for us to see today. These rock have their origin in the deep crust of the planet, 5-20 miles below the surface.
Jeffrey pine is one of the few trees that can tolerate growing on serpentine rock with its lack of nutrients and abundance of heavy metals.
One of the things I love about this rock is how it glistens when sun hits it. Looks like it is covered with flowing water.
IMG_3133 by ursidae8, on Flickr
Closeup of serpentine.
IMG_3134 by ursidae8, on Flickr
A draw I walked down through. Serpentine is quite crumbly and it looks like seasonal water flow has eroded this deposit away into a drainage V.
IMG_3135 by ursidae8, on Flickr
Well, until next time,
Be safe.
I was at ~4600' in the Siskiyou Mountains, actually not far from Oregon Caves National Monument.
I made some tea and then hiked up to the top of the hill above camp.
Very misty on a somewhat bare rocky knoll, with Jeffrey Pine and Incense cedar.
IMG_3111 by ursidae8, on FlickrRemains of my tea, Spearmint harvested from my garden and green Douglas fir tips. In the background a native succulent, growing amongst rocks, typical habitat for it.
IMG_3112 by ursidae8, on FlickrPhlox, not uncommon on dry, rocky soils.
IMG_3114 by ursidae8, on FlickrYarrow, introduced from Europe. A plant I often use as a topical, crushed, for insect bites, small cuts and abrasions, etc. Usually not hard to find in areas of disturbed soil (road shoulders, etc).
IMG_3120 by ursidae8, on FlickrLove the twisted wood of this old Pine log. My understanding is no one has determined exactly why the larger, older trees do this, but it may offer more strength to the tree.
I have heard some think the wind blowing around the tree twists it; I doubt that...
IMG_3122 by ursidae8, on FlickrI thought the top of this Pine snag looked a lot like a dragon (looking to the right)...
IMG_3124 by ursidae8, on FlickrThe beautiful yellow flowers of Arrowleaf Balsamroot have not quite come out yet at this elevation (it is all in full bloom down 3000' below in the open valleys. They look much like stumpy sunflowers.
The tuberous starchy roots were steamed and eaten, but I have not tried them myself; need to rectify that.
IMG_3129 by ursidae8, on FlickrFinally got around to grinding one of the several Ontario butcher knives seem to have built up on my bench, into a Kephartesqe knife, for fun. It is still a bit rough, but I will finish it this fall, when I have more shop-time, and get some use of it.
IMG_3130 by ursidae8, on FlickrThe two knives are resting on serpentine rock, somewhat common throughout this region of Oregon.
This metamorphic rock has an almost greasy feel to it, and can be quite green (as I am told; given my red/green colorblindness, I don't get the privilege of the intense colors, but I have other superpowers).
Soapstone and asbestos are associated with this rock and its high water content gives it its soft, slick look and feel.
Serpentine rocks are found where sub-ducting plate geology has occurred, and the resulted compressed and heated rock comes into contact with water and then is later pushed up, and then eroded for us to see today. These rock have their origin in the deep crust of the planet, 5-20 miles below the surface.
Jeffrey pine is one of the few trees that can tolerate growing on serpentine rock with its lack of nutrients and abundance of heavy metals.
One of the things I love about this rock is how it glistens when sun hits it. Looks like it is covered with flowing water.
IMG_3133 by ursidae8, on FlickrCloseup of serpentine.
IMG_3134 by ursidae8, on FlickrA draw I walked down through. Serpentine is quite crumbly and it looks like seasonal water flow has eroded this deposit away into a drainage V.
IMG_3135 by ursidae8, on FlickrWell, until next time,
Be safe.
