Remembering the recent Thanksgiving Holiday, I thought of a theme of thankfulness outdoors in Southern Oregon.

Our first thanks was just being able to get out on December 1st when a thick fog had brought a Winter chill to the valley. After miles of fog, we broke into daylight on our way to Woodruff Bridge and a hike to view Takelma Gorge.

The temperature at the start was 33 degrees at 10:30, but our hikers were dressed for warmth, with layers and gloves.

A few steps into the forest and the temp dropped below freezing, with the trail at times making crunchy sounds from icy soil. We hiked at a fairly brisk pace to help us warm up on the trail.

Still, this hike down the Upper Rogue was full of wonder as the trail meandered alongside the River. It soon became so quiet we almost forgot it was there. The forest was decked out in Winter colors with green Lichen hanging from branches and growing on trees and rocks.

Bright green Moss also grew over tree bark and covered volcanic rocks on the trail. But the fascinating stars of the forest were the wide variety of mushrooms growing in every shape, size, and color. And some Pacific Yew trees with brilliant red bark were found just off the trail. The strong but bendable wood from these trees was used to make bows for arrows by the native tribes in the region for hundreds of years.

The sunlight fought through the clouds and brought out colors on the hike. Including a bright shine off the river as it roared into Takelma Gorge. White water raced down the narrow Gorge and made a hard right turn under a pile of long-downed trees.

An amazing sight, as the scattered trees looked like toothpicks moved by the rushing rapids long ago.

We continued past the Gorge to our lunch spot on the sand next to the river. There we could feel the sun's warmth, having won its battle with the clouds. The temperature just past noon had risen to the mid 40s.

Yes, there was much to be thankful for on this early Winter hike, including my friends in the hiking group.

But let me finish with an article from a local naturalist, Pepper Trail, on the subject of Thankfulness for the outdoors in Southern Oregon
Please click on the link:https://ashland.news/writers-on-the-range-every-kind-of-thanksgiving/

This hike was 5.8 miles RT with 150' of gain.

Happy Trails,
Rich