Bald Hill Evening Walk

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Heather and I went on a walk up Bald Hill this evening.  The sun was shining, it was the perfect temperature for a walk, the grass was green, and the trees were just leafing out.  Perfection!

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The old Bald Hill Farm.  The Greenbelt Land Trust is trying to buy the property so that it does not get developed.  This is a double-edged sword.  While it is good for the town to have a greenbelt, it is also bad for the town in that the greenbelt almost completely encircles Corvallis, effectively limiting all future growth and expansion.  At least current home owners know that their property values will always increase?

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Many flowers were blooming along the trail through the wet meadows and fields owned by the farm.

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Heather enjoyed a bench while I took photos of flowers.

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On top of Bald Hill looking toward Marys Peak.  Not a cloud in the sky today!


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On top of Bald Hill.

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Looking out toward Corvallis.

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These are special trees.  I have never seen larger madrones anywhere.  The trunks of this cluster of madrone trees each span 5-8 feet making them some of the largest on the west coast.

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They reach toward the sky in the midst of a grove of relatively young douglas fir trees.

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Heather standing next to one of the smaller trees for size comparison.

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The old barn on the north shoulder of Bald Hill.

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Such a great grass field to roll around in!

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The sun has set.

IMG_6724Heather looking out toward Corvallis and the nearly full moon.


IMG_6734The full moon and Corvallis behind us.


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Goodnight Wednesday!

William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge Muddy Oak Forest Hike


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Heather and I went for a hike in the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge.  The refuge is just a little south of Corvallis.  As it is bird season, we hiked through the oak forest rather than out in the grasslands.  The grasslands are closed during migration season to allow the birds a place where they can rest on their flights.

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A boardwalk through the muddier parts of the forest.

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Lots of oak trees.  The refuge is starting to actively manage the forest now.  They have removed conifer trees and some smaller oaks that were choking out heritage oaks.

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This is one particularly massive heritage oak.  I had to stitch together a bunch of photos in an attempt to capture the whole thing.

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Driving out of the refuge.  I believe we might be seeing some of The Three Sisters in the distance.

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Lots of snow in the mountains.

STA_6018-STG_6031The Willamette Valley sure is beautiful!

 

Fitton Green on a Sunny Day

Heather and I went out to Fitton Green this morning take in some sun and get a walk.  It appears that there is still snow up on Marys Peak.

 There is still a lot of water sitting in the low spots in the valley.

 

 Heather had the right idea.  I forgot a coat and was a bit chilly even with the sun.