Hike Coordinator: Brad Bishop
Narration by Brad Bishop
So, I’m trying to get back into the swing of things with FOTU* and decided I would take on the immense responsibility of leading a group of seasoned but apprehensive hikers into the North Bank Habitat for our New Year hike.
*Friends Of The Umpqua
Eight folks decided to attend. Unfortunately, I was hoping no one would show so I could call it a washout and go back to bed. But our cadre seemed robust and eager to tackle the elevation and slop of hiking Blacktail around to Soggy Bottom (not to be confused with Harry Potter’s).
The weather was threatening the whole trek, but the God’s of hiking decided to have mercy on us and give us a nice hiking temp. and rain only a small time. We even had sunshine about half of the journey.
I haven’t hiked North Bank in some time and was concerned about sloppy, slippery conditions, but they have done some work with gravel and larger crushed rock that made even Soggy Bottom not very soggy. It was an unexpected delight (not to be confused with Afternoon Delight).
So anyway, it wasn’t as bizarre as some of the more recent hikes at North Bank, no UFO landing sites, no three-legged dogs, no snow with deer laughing at us, but we did have guinea pig chowder and pumpkin bread as a reward at the end.
Please join us for our next adventure.
Pictures below by Rheo Wheeler
