Tag: Crooked River

Posted on

River Fishers

Osprey with freshly caught Redband Trout

We make regular trips to the Crooked River, so as a reader of this blog you get to hear about this spot frequently. There’s repetition to these visits, but we attempt to post about the parts that are different.

This week we shared our picnic spot with an Osprey. Well to be clear, he was on the opposite side of the stream but that is still very close. The  old juniper snag he perched in stood on the river’s bank maybe 60 or 70 feet away … close.

On a couple of occasions he would swoop off down river and eventually return with a fish tucked up to his breast, land neatly on an exposed branch and calmly tear flesh from the carcass.  On this day he was having much better luck finding fish than I was.

 

And then there were two …
They are very capable fishers, being successful in 4 of 5 attempts. The Osprey is particularly well adapted for catching fish. They have reversible outer toes, sharp spicules on the underside of the toes, closable nostrils to keep out water during dives, and backwards-facing scales on the talons which act as barbs to help hold its catch.

 

Basically the odds are against the fish. William Shakespeare, in Croriolanus refers to a medieval belief that fish were mesmerized by the bird and turn their bellies up.

I think he’ll be to Rome
As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it
By sovereignty of nature.

Eagles, a larger bird, are known to attack Osprey hoping to get them to drop the catch.

We witnessed an eagle osprey encounter but it didn’t seem to  result in the eagle getting anything more than the run around. Osprey are very agile fliers.

Canada Geese with goslings still covered in down
Bufflehead ducks

Stream banks, the riparian, host a wide variety of creatures and it just takes quiet moments of observation to open a trove of plant, animal and insect life.

The water feeds more than hay fields miles down river or the aquatic life contained in the flow. Every trip to the river is a unique experience … and we love it.

Posted on

This way or that way

Every road trip starts pretty much the same way.

A lunch gets packed, extra clothing layers are added to a tote, water bottles along with coffee/tea tumblers are filled. Then gear and dog get loaded into the Subaru and we’re off. In winter this is often right at first light giving us the whole day to explore.

Sometimes you have a specific destination in mind, but even when that is the case, the route taken can be altered. The longer you travel an area the more often you find yourself on the back roads. Two lane county roads pass through better landscapes with a lot less hassle from other traffic.

Morning skies are a stunning mix of clouds and azure blue. We head north, then veer east towards Smith Rock. As luck would have it we arrive in time to see the sun light up the rock face.
We have a rule we hold to on nearly every road trip.

Don’t return on the same route. This is a bit more difficult, though not impossible in the mountains. When you’re traveling the high desert there are almost too many routes to choose from.

This road looks promising. Loaded with supplies of coffee, donuts, and gas, we follow this route for awhile, then eventually pull out the map to get our bearings.

This post initially started as a conversation about how it seemed all roads lead to the Crooked River. This is only partially true.

What is true … with the aid of good maps you can find alternate routes to treasured destinations from nearly anywhere. And the beauty of these alternate routes is finding totally new places to explore in and around favorite spots.

Mule deer on the Crooked River

 

Posted on

A Quiet Day

 

This week, with constant din on social media and political static on email we thought it would be good to take a break. Phones were turned off and we headed to a favorite stream bank.

The days are cooler but not cold and there is the threat of ‘first snow’ in the forecast. But the Crooked River offered a quiet pause before dropping back into the media storm.

The turmoil surrounding us right now will ease. There is a new challenge ahead, but for now we’ll stay safe and hunker down against the storm.

We hope you’re able to do the same.  As for next week, well we plan on going back out into the world … just not any place with lots of people.

Posted on

Season’s End

 

What is surely the last hot days of summer came this week.  Today it rained and the forecast is for cooler temperatures.

But this week we sat on the banks of the Crooked River and sought elusive patches of shade as the heat of midday beat down on us.

Yes … fall is a favorite time of year, but more to the point, we like that there are four seasons.

That space when the seasons are changing offers a perfect blend of both. We manage to take advantage of what every season offers.

Right now, fall weather is overtaking summer. Crisp mornings require caps, scarves and even gloves for the walk. The required sweater will be shucked by afternoon but never far from hand.

Winter’s snow may be early this year, it may stick around longer and deeper, but for now, we are taking in what is best about autumn days and trying to catch migratory flights and Fall Caddis hatches.

Posted on

Good Fortune at the River

Not sure what happened.

Time of day, day of the week, or maybe just heat of summer …  regardless, there was no one at our favorite picnic site on the Crooked River!

 

And then we were visited by an osprey and treated to aerial acrobatics and maneuvers …, good luck indeed.

Monday we got going early to avoid afternoon heat. We were ready for what had become typically packed campgrounds and had riparian picnic gear at hand.

As has become custom, we start with a fetch/swim at the reservoir, which has been drawn down quite a bit.

Wet and happy dog back in the car we head down into the canyon and search out a parking spot on the river.

Over the past few months the river has been unusually crowded, however today Post Pile CG was completely empty. It stayed that way until we left about 3 pm.

The other thing that stayed away was August heat. These last few weeks have seen temperatures hit near ninety by noon. Shade trees aided with a light breeze up the canyon offered pleasant reading sites all day.