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Rogue River September 21-26 2008
This was Al's annual Rogue River trip in southern Oregon. We floated 38.3 miles in 6 days from Almeda Bar to Foster Bar.
Weather was warm and dry all week, typically in the 70's during the day. Shorts and Tee Shirts were the uniform of the day all week.
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Looking down the ramp to the beach we launched from at Almeda bar.
We launched at about 11:15 on Sunday. The first segment of the trip is relatively flat, including just a few minor rapids.
Approaching the bridge at Grave Creek.
Jolene and her dog Gracie (in the red boat) accompanied us the first day as far as Grave Creek.
Norm drops over Grave Creek Falls (about a five foot drop).
Al comes through the falls.
Rainie Falls viewed from upstream on the left.
Rainie Falls
Few boats run the falls; some run the middle chute seen here in a patch of sun.
Floating down a placid stretch, we saw deer working their way up the bank.
Closer shot of the deer. Throughout the trip, we saw eagles, osprey, otters, and other wildlife.
The preferred site for our first camp was taken (Tyee Bar). We ran the next rapid and camped at Wildcat instead; an excellent alternative.
Wildcat campsite
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The sun sets as we sit around camp and socialize.
Leaving camp the next day.
Montgomery Rapids
Dulog Riffle
Dulog Riffle
Landing at our second camp; Horseshoe Bend.
Walking up the hill and across the bar, we see the entrance to Horseshoe Rapids, above where we landed our boats for camp.
Norm paused here above the rapid, making us wonder where he was.
Horseshoe rapids
Horseshoe rapids
Al cools off in a pool.
Afternoon view down river from camp.
We had the kitchen set up on the beach where we landed, although most camped on the open ground above.
The morning view down river from the top of the hill where we camped.
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The plaque on Zane Grey's cabin. Zane Grey wrote many of his Western novels here.
Zane Grey's cabin. It is a short hike up from the river to this historic site.
Zane Grey's cabin.
Al and Norm elected to wait on the beach below the cabin rather than hike up to it.
View from my camp at Missouri Bar.
View from my camp at Missouri Bar.
View from my camp at Missouri Bar.
View from my camp at Missouri Bar.
The kitchen was set up on a bench near the beach.
Another historic marker is at the top of the bluff above the beach.
A shelter is built at the site of Gerald Frye's cabin.
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A small snake was swimming through the rocks on the beach.
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We stayed an extra day at this camp, taking time to set up a shower.
I set up my cot camp on a high bench above the main camp.
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Norm baked a cherry upside down cake that night for desert.
YUM!
The boats are on the beach at the Rogue River Ranch for lunch. I was one of those who elected to stay with the boats.
This was a fortuitous stop as it turned out; the ranch had harvested their crops and was giving out free fruit and vegetables to visitors.
About a mile below the ranch, we enter Mule Creek Canyon.
The canyon is narrow, with strong boils and currents that make control difficult.
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Randy and Bill wait in a small eddy at the confluence of Stair Creek.
Stair Creek is about a mile into the canyon.
Some of us climbed the steep canyon side to scout Blossom Bar Rapids. Blossom Bar is the highest in the river that jet boats can travel.
Zoom on Blossom Bar. You can just make out the oarsman of a raft eddied out behind the entrance to the rapid (center of photo).
Eddied out above Blossom.
The approach to Blossom.
Randy threads the entrance to Blossom.
Randy rides past where Bill is set up to take pictures.
Paradise Lodge seen from the river. We often stop here for ice cream, beer, post cards or tee shirts.
Next morning at our final camp on Half Moon Bar.
I took a walk before breakfast to get some pictures.
The sun hasn't hit the main camp area yet.
Floating down the river, I got this picture of a heron perched on the rocks above the river.
Huggins Canyonis about a half mile below Half Moon.
Wildflowers grow on the canyon wall.
There is very little current in the canyon; we alternately drifted where there was a detectable current, and rowed when not.
The last several miles the river is deep and quiet, requiring rowing to make any progress.
An Osprey nest high above the river.
Finally landed at Foster Bar, ending the trip. Now begins the tedious task of derigging and packing for the drive back.
From Foster bar, I drove out to Gold Beach and north along the Oregon coast on highway 101.
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Credits:
- Olympus Stylus 725sw Digital Photography by Jim McCool
Last Update 28-September-08
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