Hummingbirds

There is a hummingbird feeder outside the front bay window that attracts a million (alright 9) hummingbirds at a time. I was bored while listening to my pharmacotherapy online lectures so I took some pics. Here are the quick little buggers.






So my dad told me a story about how he caught a hummingbird one day. It had been flying around the shop where he works and he got it trapped between two shelves and caught it. True story!

Psyching Myself Out

So here are some nice webpages to browse if you're really trying to convince yourself NOT to hike alone. Cougars in Oregon. Oregon Caves Cougars. Oregon Caves and Bigfoot. Laugh all you want, but somehow I made it out alive!

Oregon Caves

Today I went on a tour of the Oregon Caves. Unfortunately, it is very dark in a cave so I didn't get any great pictures. But I'll still post the few that I did get. To learn about Elijah Davidson, the discoverer of the cave click on this: Elijah, Bruno and the bear. It is a pretty amazing story. Other explorers went on to find the other areas of the cave, but he was the first brave soul to adventure in. I also went hiking around the caves (up and over them actually) and got a few good snapshots of the waterfalls and covered bridge. Enjoy.





These signs typically attract more than deter me.

Good thing I don't listen to the signs. I get to see beautiful waterfalls.





A random but gorgeous covered bridge on the No Name Trail.

The legend in Myrtle Creek is that this house (top left) was once a brothel. The cave (lower right) was supposedly an escape route when the brothel would get raided. The cave is said to lead straight up to the house. A family lives there now, no word of whether their teenagers are especially good at sneaking out at night.


Just in case you all forgot what I look like!

Lower Table Rock

Lower Table Rock revealed a much more fantastic view overlooking the Rogue River.

Don't Look Down


A lone house sat atop a single rolling mountain with the same view as this table rock which I found very intriguing. I plan on living in this house someday.


Rogue River



Lazy Lizards


Towering Cliffs


Soaring Turkey Vultures

Mt. McLoughlin

Upper Table Rock

There are two very flat rocks that rise over 700 feet above ground level. The views from these areas are beyond words. The first ascent that I challenged on Sunday was the Upper Table Rock.
View from the top.

View of Lower Table Rock.


Mt. McLoughlin

Fear Not the Unknown, continued

After stopping at a tiny convenience store on my way to Toketee Falls (currently closed due to a landslide) a nice local lady told me about the less known Basalt Columns that were formed from volcanic rock. After winding down a road that received no winter maintenance, this is what I saw.

Next stop, Steamboat Falls. These are a little less impressive in pictures but the sound of the rushing water was unbelievable.


Possibly the most impressive waterfall has to be Watson Falls which is a 272 foot plunge over the edge of a basalt lava flow. It was a majestic tower of falling water.


Five other falls that I was planning on visiting were still snowed in so I continued up to Diamond Lake. Mt. Bailey and Mt. Theilson tower over the large Diamond Lake. I plan on revisiting this area once the snow melts.

Mt. Bailey overlooking Diamond Lake

Mt. Thielson


The last stop I made was to the Umpqua Hot Springs. I am unable to provide any pictures of this area due to the nudity that was being displayed by unfortunately, all old men. One natural view I was not planning on seeing.

Fear Not the Unknown

This past Saturday, I ventured out into the wilderness of Oregon to hike the many waterfalls of the North Umpqua River. My only explanation of this place is "wow"!


The first set of falls that I approached were the Susan Creek Falls. It was a rather easy hike back to one of the most amazing waterfalls I have ever seen.



I then chose to continue 0.4 miles directly vertical up the mountain to the Susan Creek Indian Mounds. While I was defying gravity, I took notice to some barefoot footprints and canine prints next to it. I was hoping I wasn't going to run into a rabid hippie or old Indian (or bigfoot) on top of this mountain.



The next set of falls on the list were the Fall Creek Falls. This trip was a moderate hike back in through volcanic rock full of smaller falls along the river. On the trip out, I was all alone enjoying the scenery. After enjoying the falls, I was headed back when I saw a large paw print that resembled a mountain lion print. Note: I'm in the heart of mountain lion country. Stupid Note: I am hiking alone. I was convinced I was being stalked so instead of taking a picture of the print and having someone find a bloody camera with a picture of a paw print on it, I opted to forget the picture and leave with my life. The rest of the day, I was convinced I was being stalked by cougars. Welcome to my adventure. (I'm currently watching 15 Incredible Survival Stories which included a story of a cougar attack on a girl who was mountain biking while she was riding with other people.)

My First Suture!

So, more people will find this disgusting rather than interesting, but I am too excited about taking out my first suture that I want to share. Wound care is fun in a weird twisted way.