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November 2, 2025October 30, 2025

Another Nice Fall Day

The fall storms this week moved in and on rather quickly.

That is typical of high desert weather. If you wake to dark clouds on the west of the Cascades, there is a good chance it will rain for a couple of days.

On the eastern side of the mountains, a storm front can sweep through in a matter of hours, leaving the remainder of the day clear. We generally try to take advantage of that pattern.

Late fall storms interrupted our week, but there were breaks that offered perfect days to sit by a river.

The day starts with rigging a fly rod or two.

Fall means I shift my fishing rig set up.

I’ve not tied on a dry fly in the last two weeks.

Tiny nymph patterns, doubled up on sinking strands of mono get fished near the bottom. This is the method employed until the end of Feburary.

The bird population has thinned as well. Migration patterns mean majority of birds have . . . well . . . moved on.

There are some resident ducks and the osprey did a brief fly-by. However, we’re not pestered by the Magpie gang and the amount of bird song is definitely diminished.

The day was sunny and warm, for late October.

One other thing, there are fewer people, which is much appreciated.

The river is at winter levels, exposing a lot of rocks

We can set up our chairs and enjoy the river sounds without distractions. Which is pretty much what we’ll keep doing until the snows come . . . and even after that.

October 26, 2025October 24, 2025

Winter has started it’s slow walk down the mountains. The Cascade range to our east wears a fresh cap of snow and more is in the forecast. From our vantage point on the valley floor it’s still a spectacular fall.

Before the gates close off the Cascade Lakes highway we thought it would be nice to make the loop.

The recent snow has Mt. Bachelor dressed in its winter cover. It also left a skiff on the road, at its base, and dusted the trees near Sparks Lake.

Cascade Lakes Hwy, east of Mt. Bachelor resort

Meadow grasses on the lakes edge are an array of reds, browns and gold colors.

There are a few aspen and maple at this elevation flashing fall colors. it was a perfect day for landscape images.

We’ve been taking advantage of these clear fall days, bracing for the rains coming next week . . . snow is predicted . . . a foot on the passes.

Mt. Bachelor as backdrop to meadow and Sparks Lake

This only dampens the roads, not our plans. We’re used to late fall weather on the high desert. The Cascade Mountains become a backdrop, rather than destination as fall shifts into winter.

October 19, 2025October 19, 2025

The Orchard Loop

Floating maple leaves sail by on the breeze

This week mornings got markedly colder. First frost signals a trip to the orchards.

A series of fruit orchards line the foothills under the northern slopes of Mt. Hood. In all, there are some 14,500 acres of fruit trees on the hills above the city of Hood River.

Just a couple of pears left on this tree

The first trees were planted in 1855 and now you’ll find 30 plus farm stands on a 35 mile loop road . . . the Fruit Loop.

The Farm we visit regularly is Kiyokawa Orchards. By mid-October they have around a 100 varieties of apples and pears set out in boxes, many featuring free samples. There’s also jugs of freshly pressed cider.

We make the drive to this orchard at least twice a year. We were here early in the season to get peaches, plums, and early apples.

Deschutes River at Warm Springs, a frequent stopover to stretch our legs

We return in mid-October to pick over the abundant variety of apples and pears. Most of these you’ll not find in you local mega mart, nor even in that nearby organic co-op.

The cloud cover lifts as we approach Mt Hood

It’s a bit of a drive, but we pack a lunch and make a day of it.

The morning starts with a trip out of the high desert on Hwy 26, and then down the east side of Mt Hood on Hwy 35 . . . turning west before we get to Hood River.

Looking south from Hwy 197 you see the Cascade Range and it’s foothills

After filling a few bags with a selection of fresh fruit, it’s back up Hwy 35, turning left on USFS 44 to Dufur, the Tygh Valley and Maupin.

Freight trains regularly run North/South along the Deschutes River

There is a mandatory stop on the Lower Deschutes where a couple of hours are spent attempting to catch a fish.

Enjoying a relaxing drive along the river

Then we take state route 197 to The Dalles-California Hwy (97) and back home. The whole loop passes through a myriad of different environments, which makes the drive not seem so long.

Plus, we have a box full of apples and a couple of gallons of fresh pressed cider. A good time was had by all.

October 12, 2025October 10, 2025

A High Desert Fall Day

The mornings are getting frosty with a chill that warms up about noon. We’re enjoying these fall days.

In July and August we have to work hard to avoid the heat of the day by seeking out shaded spaces.

After what seemed like a solid week of rain . . . actually it was just a couple of afternoons . . . we’re enjoying a string of cloudless days. Good time to get back on the river.

“… we’ll see if they like that pattern.”

The Crooked River has way fewer people as the season shifts. The fishing is still good. We’re on the stream a bit later in the morning mostly to avoid the frost.

By noon the sun requires we push our chairs into the shade. However, it’s still a pleasant temperature.

Fall sees a shift in bird activity . Some days are filled with flocks on migration and other’s near void of any wildlife activity.

This day we encountered a unique species . . . a Praying Mantis. It landed on JQ’s arm as if asking for its picture to be taken.

Don’t remember ever seeing one of those on the river.

Typical with fall in the high desert, this clear weather will be interrupted by another few days of rain before the skies clear again.

This week that storm front will move in on the weekend leaving mid-week open for us to wander about. It’s hard to beat fall in Central Oregon.

October 5, 2025October 5, 2025

A Short Trip

Lava Butte on the far side of a lava field

Sometimes there are things in your own backyard that should be explored.

Our intent has been to eventually visit all points of interest in the immediate vicinity. This week, one of the last unseen spots was our destination.

Lava Lands Visitor Center is just 20 minutes from our house. We pass it every time we take OR 97 north.

It’s been on the list for years, but there are some small obstacles. The center’s main attraction, a trip to the top of the cone, is closed from November to June.

There is also the added issue that to get to the top of Lava Butte you have to take a bus and we’re not ‘ride the tour bus’ people.

In 1990 a 50,000 acre area around the Newberry Crater was designated a national monument. Newberry is a Shield crater . . . a massive mound rather than the conical spires that are typical of Cascade Range Volcanoes.

The Lava Lands center sits at the north end of a series of volcano centric sites. This is perfect location for geology enthusiasts.

We’ve wandered all but the Lava River Cave (don’t care for caves) and of course Lava Butte.

There are a few weeks on either end of the season when you can get a free pass and drive your own car to the top. This was one of the last weeks you can do that, or so we thought. Government shut-down foiled our plans.