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