100 Hikes in Southern Oregon

Oregon Hiking: If you love to hike Oregon trails, no doubt you've heard of William "Bill" Sullivan. The godfather of Oregon hiking books, Sullivan has authored over a dozen books and numerous articles on the subject. One of his guide books that we were particularly interested in quizzing him about is the popular "100 Hikes in Southern Oregon." This is a complete guide to southern Oregon trails within a two-hour drive from Crater Lake, the Rogue River, and the Mt. Shasta areas.

We asked him what makes southern Oregon hiking special to him personally. Sullivan reveals, "I might start by mentioning that my family roots date back to 1867 in southern Oregon. My mother grew up in Grants Pass, and my uncle was the mayor there. I've hiked every trail I could find in Oregon, but some of the most spectacular and least crowded places are within a two-hour drive of the Grants Pass/Medford areas. Aside from the obvious--the famous Rogue River Trail and day hikes around Crater Lake--very few people seem to have discovered the Red Buttes Wilderness south of Ruch (southeast of Grants Pass), the Marble Mountains in far northern California, and the upper Rogue River Trail near Prospect."

He goes on to describe why he feels Oregon is such a desireable place to hike. "Hiking is the most popular outdoor sport in Oregon, and not merely because of the exercise benefits. If it were only about exercise, hiking would be just as popular in Kansas, and it isn't. One of the reasons people live here is that we're surrounded by beautiful mountains, rivers, seashores, deserts, forests--and the best way to see them up close is to get out and walk. Plus, it's free. In an economic downturn, hiking remains a great entertainment value."

Bill has literally hiked all over Oregon so we had to asked if he ever gets surprised any more. "When hiking in Oregon, I've been surprised by how much one can learn about the state's history in the backwoods. I kept running across gold mining ghost towns, Indian vision quest sites, and wagon train ruts. Finally, I wrote a book, "Hiking Oregon's History" that tells the story of the state's history, with tips on how to go see these historic places on your own. The book was just chosen by the Oregon State Library as one of the 150 books recommended for reading this year, during the state's 150th anniversary."

White Water Warehouse has scheduled a series of hiking trips on Oregon's Rogue River trail called, "Hiking History on the Rogue River Trail." For more information, check out Hiking History on the Rogue River Trail or call the friendly folks at WWW at 1-800-214-0579.

Photo credits: William Sullivan

Stone Ground, Southern Oregon Style

Oregon Mill: Owner Debbie Russell laughs, "Bob and I never dreamed we would owners of a water-powered grist (grain grinding) mill. But in 2005, we bought the Butte Creek Mill and the property around it and, while the change has really turned our lives upside down, it is really rewarding. We feel we've brought this southern Oregon historical landmark back to life."

The Butte Creek Mill is located in the southern Oregon town of Eagle Point. The 1872 mill is fascinating on a number of levels. First and foremost, Butte Creek Mill is the only water-powered grist mill in operation this side of the Mississippi. The Mill's giant stones (they weigh 1,400 pounds each!) that grind the grains were quarried near Paris France, brought by ship, carried over the Oregon mountains by wagon, and found their resting spot at the mill over 130 years ago.

The Butte Creek Mill is not a water wheel operated mill, rather the water in the millrace flows into a penstock (trough) twelve feet deep, where its weight provides pressure to activate the turbine that runs the wheels, belts, and pulleys. This movement also turns the huge millstones that grind the grain. To reach the grinding stones, the grain is fed into a hopper that in turn feeds it into the "eye" of the stones. In about three hours, it is ground to flour or cracked wheat depending on how the stones are set.

Visitors can enter the first floor of the Mill and watch the miller working. Moving downstairs, one can explore the interpretive center that explains the history and the water wheel grinding process. Located nearby in the old cheese factory, the Russells offer antiques for sale and welcome visitors to roam between history and collectables. There is even a "General Store" that is cozy and cute where you can purchase freshly ground grains and flour or even a beautiful loaf of Applegate Valley Artisan Bread (Applegate Valley uses Butte Creek Mill's grains in their incredible breads).

You can visit Butte Creek Mill every day of the week or order from them online. The mill is located at 402 Royal Ave N., Eagle Point, Oregon. Call 541-826-3531 for more information.

Photo credits go to the Butte Creek Mill.

Hazelnut: Oregon's State Nut

Oregon Cuisine: As most of our Whitewater Warehouse guests know, we LOVE food, especially Oregon-regional food. And nothing comes closer to an Oregon original than the scrum-de-licious hazelnut (or what some people call the filbert). 99% of the United States' hazelnuts are grown right here in Oregon's Willamette Valley. In fact, the hazelnut is Oregon's state nut! That's one of the reasons we serve the little "brown rounds" on all our rafting and hiking trips. We purchase the hazelnuts straight from our local grower--Chambers Farms. Once we buy the nuts, we roast them, drizzle them in olive oil, and season them. Our southern Oregon Rogue River hiking, rafting, and kayaking guests can't get enough of these healthy orbs. Sometimes, we even purchase the chocolate double-dipped hazelnuts from the Chambers' Farms--double delectable!

Back as far as 4,500 years ago holy men in ancient China reportedly ate hazelnuts to gain clairvoyance. The Greeks believed the nuts could cure colds and baldness. The Romans and the Celts gave hazelnuts to encourage fruitfulness in marriage and, curiously, to protect against lightning. So there you go. If you eat these nuts you can grow back hair, stop your sneezing, stabilize your marriage, and even find out where to stand (clairvoyance) so you won't be hit by lightning. Wow. A pretty power-packed little package!

Coolest thing about the hazelnut tree is that is blooms in winter! That's right, the filbert is the only orchard crop that send forth flowers--male and female--when days are shortest. Pollen from the long, soft catkins falls over the tiny red buds on the branch from December to March, then the tree essentially naps until June.

If you want to learn a lot more about this incredible nut, check out Anne Saker's article in Sunday, February 8, 2009's Oregonian.

The Secret Hiker

Oregon Hikes: He calls himself the "Secret Hiker." Even has a website by the same name. Who could resist trying to secure an interview? Not me, that's for sure! Secret Hiker (we'll call him SH) allowed me to interview him (by email) and ask a few questions about his passion for hiking in southern Oregon.

First, I had to ask, why the Secret Hiker moniker? SH says, "Never grew up, always loved capes...and I have no interest in my real identity becoming known. Famous enough in real life." Nuf said.

Next, I asked, "Hey love the boots, tell me more..." SH replied, "These are my comfy old Stanleys. I just call them 'my comfy old Stanleys!' They are 10 years old this spring, and the soles have thinned in places to conform to and enhance my uneven gait and they've finally developed one hole near the toe. I just glued it closed with super glue. They're about to be retired, after I squeeze one more hiking season out of 'em."

Asked the obvious, "What is your favorite southern Oregon hike?" SH laments, "NOOOOoooo you can't do this to me!!! OK, if I was told today that I could only hike one trail for the rest of my life forever, it would be...it would be...the South Fork Rogue River Trail."

His advice to out-of-state hikers? "Hikes around here offer much diversity in geography, geology, ecology, flora, fauna, and weather can change on a dime, especially in the higher country areas. So prepare yourself by checking out all available info regarding the area(s), projected weather patterns, how to prepare for the unexpected, and what to bring/not bring including do's and don'ts of trail manners."

SH continues, "You are being given a gift and a privilege; you're walking through someone else's home! Please walk with respect. Keep your trash and leave no trace of your presence. Bring your camera and leave your hurries behind! Be journey-oriented more than goal- oriented. Really 'look' at the tiny intricacies of nature, be quiet and soak up the subtle and uniquely beautiful sounds."

Secret Hiker is in the process of updating his website and he wants you to know that it is a simple site created from his desire to share what he loves so much...hiking some of southern Oregon's most unique trails.

Photo credits go to the Secret Hiker....so many trails, too little time....

Lillie Belle Farms: Chocolate Passion

Oregon Gourmet Chocolates: If passion was a thing....it would be this thing. Southern Oregon's Lillie Belle Farms chocolate creations are as intensely beautiful as they are sensually delicious. Chef/owner Jeff Shepherd embodies the traits of his award-winning chocolate creations: intensity and excellence.

A writer from Cocoaroma, the international magazine for Chocolate Connoisseurs, describes Jeff this way. "I think what artists--especially fiercely individualistic artisans like Jeff who create truly original work--are really searching for is a connection, a shared experience with their audience."

Jeff agrees with that assertion. "That's the most important aspect to what we do; how does it make you feel? When someone tells me 'that was amazing' I am always humbled and, truth be told, a bit shy about it."

Jeff began creating his chocolate fantasies over 6 years ago. Starting with the raspberry truffle, he worked out of his home, selling to farmer's markets until another southern Oregon artisan food award winner--The Rogue Creamery--tried his chocolates and invited him to sell his creations at their retail store. Everything was going swell until one day Jeff's wife found chocolate on their kitchen ceiling....and she laid down the law. The company needed to move the production end of the business out of their home.

Jeff, being the smart husband that he is, made the move to a house in Jacksonville, Oregon. That worked well for another year and a half. And then the national press starting noticing Jeff's creations. In 2003, the Wine Spectator magazine ran an article on Lillie Belle Farms and the rest is history. The chocolate making and retail portion of the business moved to Central Point, Oregon (about a 10 minute drive north of Medford, Oregon) and is located right next door to their friends at the Rogue Creamery.

If you love people who create foods with passion, Lille Belle Farms' chocolates are for you. You can order from their website or call 1-888-899-2022. Retail location is at: 211 N Front St, Central Point, OR 97502.

Photos courtesy Jeff Shepherd, chef/owner, Lillie Belle Farms

Janet Tarjan Erl: Explorer, Naturalist, Artist

Oregon Artist: Tucked away in her cozy southern Oregon studio, Janet Tarjan Erl uses her keen observational skills to pull what she discovers each day in nature into her incredibly life-like paintings of the scenes and the animals that surround her home and studio. “My love of drawing started early—at 4 or 5 years old my father taught me the basics of drawing. From there, my creative journey lead me along the only path I could take; working diligently each day towards bettering my skills as an artist.”

For Janet, ‘working diligently’ translates into every aspect of her life. In 2005, this courageous woman was embattled in a life-fight against advanced stages of uterine cancer. “I think I am lucky,” says Janet, “because the very skills that help me paint—visualization and letting go of my ego—enabled me to heal my body. During my cancer treatments, I would literally visualize my healing process. For me, this method worked. And in healing myself, I re-kindled my artistic excitement.”

Janet’s voice becomes happy and playful when she talks about getting on her bike and riding past Rocky Point's beautiful creeks, meadows, waving Aspen trees, and incredible wildlife viewing. “I love to hike and bike—just to be out witnessing nature firsthand. My mind is constantly collecting ‘data’ to use in my next painting or drawing."

You can own one of Janet’s incredible fine art paintings by accessing her website: Tarjan Gallery. Janet also offers affordable prints of her original drawings and paintings and those can be accessed by clicking on: Tarjan Prints.

If you are interested in contacting Janet directly, you can email her at: sales@trekkerdesigns.com or call 541-884-5990.

Copyrighted art by Janet Tarjan Erl. Fox painting is entitled: "Silently Waiting" Eagle painting is entitled: "Where the Wind Sighs"

Wildlife Images: Dedicated to Caring

Oregon Wildlife: "My father grew up building dirt forts and his playmates were lizards and snakes. As a young man, he would often ride his bike a few miles down the road to view California Condors--in the wild. That 'wild' place is now known as Burbank, California...which today is covered in concrete and pavement," and so begins Dave Siddon's description as to why his father, J. David Siddon, became fascinated with wildlife and the preservation of wilderness areas. So captivated was Dave's father that he created a southern Oregon wildlife sanctuary known since 1981 as Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center.

Wildlife Images was founded as a non-profit corporation to provide for the care and treatment of sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife, and to offer educational programs on wildlife, conservation and the environment to schools, organizations, and the general public. OK, so that's a mouth-full but Dave further explains, "In the late 70s, I was working as a trainer at Sea World and watched as my mom and dad moved to these 24 acres of land located adjacent to the wild and scenic section of Oregon's Rogue River. I wondered why they had done such a thing...until I visited them. This area obviously reminded my father of his boyhood--a naturally beautiful setting filled with birds, mammals, and other wild creatures. It was at this time, that he began working with the rehab of local wild, injured animals. Oregon State Police and State Fish & Wildlife professionals began turning to him for the care and rehabilitation of injured animals that they or others would discover."

Today, approximately 1,000 sick or injured animals are brought to the Center. Of those, over 80 percent of the mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians surviving their initial injuries are returned to the wild. Animals with permanently disabling injuries that make them unable to live in the wild are integrated, if possible, into one of Wildlife Images educational programs. The Center is open for public tours, free of charge, throughout the year and has a very active educational outreach component.

Check out this incredible organization or call them at: 541-476-0222. If you have a passion and love for wildlife and their welfare, they need your support. Check out their, "Have a Heart for Wildlife" membership campaign. The goal is to sign up 500 new members by Valentines Day...a great gift for your sweetheart who loves animals!