Hiking in the Opal Creek Wilderness Area
Three days and two nights
May 18 to May 20, 2015

Note: some of the following photos are courtesy of Lee




This hardy group parked
at the trail head
and started hiking
three miles to
to our cabin

This was our destination
Cabin Number 4



Being an adventuresome group,
we decided not to take the nice
marked trail to the cabin,
instead we crossed Opal Creek
to follow a more scenic trail

Unfortunaterly about a mile in,
the bigest thunderstorm anyone
in the area remembers started.

Being in the forest on an
unmarked trail in the middle of
of a big thunderstorm is not fun.

Since we were not certain of
where this alternate trail led,
we decided to retrace our steps
in the pouring rain and loud thunder
and go back to the marked trail.



We got very wet,
but not too too shaken

At breakfast in our cabin
the next morning

We plot where we are going
to hike that day

Lee and Don set off on a fast
adventuresome hike on Battle Ax trail

Joan and I decide to follow behind
at a more modest pace





Joan and Elmer tried to follow
Don and Lee on the Battle Ax trail
however, we came to a ravine that
we judged too dangerous for "Old People".

We decided to take a blocked off side trail
We now know why this side trail was blocked off
About a half mile up this trail
we encountered "Suicide Bridge"







We found a trail around Suicide Bridge"

This shows where we hiked on the second day













Hiking in the Opal Creek Wilderness
one sees many beautiful waterfalls









The real marvels of
the Opal Creek Widerness
are the Old Growth Trees
some are ONE THOUSAND years old

It is difficult to capture
the magistry of these trees
in a photo



















Another intersting sight
along Opal Creek are the pools of
crystal clear water with brightly
colored mineral laden rocks below







This is an old mining area
and there is much left over
mining equipment




Here is the local Walmart















Two of the hikers

Unfortunately after the
third day, we had to say
Goodby



There were not many mushrooms,

BUT, I did see this "yellow slime mold"
Scientific Name: Fuligo septica

Slime molds are amoebas and not fungi.

They can actually move across the surface
of a log as a slimy mass before
eventually stopping when conditions are
right and then they turn into a spore mass.


Map of the area




Directions to the trailhead:
1) Take I-5 south to Salem
2) Take Exit 253 from I-5 - Hwy 22 (Stayton/Detroit).
3) At the end of the ramp turn left/east onto Hwy 22.
4) Continue for approximately 22 miles.
5) You will come to a flashing yellow light (the second flashing light on Hwy 22)
--- on the right hand side of the road you will see the North Fork Crossing Restaurant.
6) Turn left/north at the flashing light onto the North Fork Rd.
--- The Opal Creek trailhead is at the very end of this road, approximately 20 miles.
7) After 14 miles of pavement you will enter the Willamette National Forest
-- where the road turns to gravel. You are now on Forest Road 2209.
8) After approx 1.5 -2 miles you will see a turn-off on the right towards Three Pools.
--- Stay to the left on Forest Road 2209.
9) Continue another 4.5 miles to the Opal Creek parking area and trail head.




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