This
hike is just a bit south of Josephine County, but in the early days, no
one knew if they were in California, or Oregon anyway. When the
California tax assessors came around the miners swore they were in
Oregon, and the Oregon assessors were welcomed by " California" miners.
Today, we took one of the trails on our National Register.
Our
trail wound alongside one of the Applegate branches, and we followed it
deep into the wild country on the Middle Fork. Although the sun was
hot, it seemed as though this inner world of "old growth" forest
controlled it's own temperature. A constant breeze accompanied us as our
trail went from the side of the gorge, to drop down to the very water's
edge. At times we were along the edge of fabulous pools, and lagoons
that were so breathtaking, it was hard to believe this much wild country
can exist.
We
have been in some of our United States where areas such as this would
be State Parks, but Oregon is so rich in abundant beauty that we take
such beauty for granted.
Having
lived in Minnesota, and Wisconsin, I became suddenly aware that there
was something drastically wrong! My alarm bells were screaming
"Danger!" Then I realized what was wrong-- We were sitting on this
massive rock with NO MOSQUITOES! In Minnesota, the evil critters would
have gnawed down trees to get at us!
If
you have never had the chance to walk alongside a waterway with only an
occasional butterfly for a companion, then welcome home!
The
clear, cold mountain waters flow rapidly, as if they know that the
Pacific Ocean is still a hundred miles away before they can rest.
Nature
rules out here. We chose to go under this one, as a slip climbing over
the top would have meant a rough slide down to the top of this tree
lying about seventy feet down the cliff.
Everywhere,
it was apparent that nature only tolerates our presence, and you wonder
how our early miners could possibly have dug in these boulder-strewn
streams to get down to "bedrock" where the finer gold was waiting.
Trees reach so high that you can't begin to see the tops.
This
"Green Pool" is well documented in historical journals, and many hikers
have used it for a point of reckoning. Deep, clear, and cold.
I could not resist just trying a variety of shots--Amateurs do this.
The small fish came out in the sun, but the big guys stayed about ten feet down in the darkened areas.
Another log but easier this time.
The fun thing about this hike is that there was not another human anywhere.
They say that Sasquatch lives in this area, but I'm sure they heard us coming for miles!
We
hiked on until we met the stream and the trail continues on the other side if you choose to wade across.
This was a mining claim, and it is okay to cross it but no gold hunting is allowed.
Instead
of continuing, and then having to walk all those miles back with wet
boots, we chose to go back and take a short detour back down the
mountain.
We
found what we were looking for at our detour: You can see the concrete
footing on the other side at the waters edge; at one time this was
support for a single log bridge that spanned this crossing. The log was
eighty feet long!
From
the bridge location, the water plunges down a steep gully to a pond
waiting below. The footbridge led to a mining cabin on the other side.
Everywhere along the water you will find signs posted about everywhere
you go, someone claims the mining rights, so enjoy, just don't plan to
pick up any souvenirs.
With such a beautiful, and scenic trail, we end it here, and make our way back to the point of embarkation.
