Turkeys, Hawks, 5 Deer, a Coyote …

… and, flowers! Weather peeps were all over the map about Tuesday morning and while last week felt ‘spring’, winter seemed intent on coming back. Snow and rain possible through noon up in the foothills, but Eugene promised dry. So I stayed local to hike in better conditions. They were not correct! Rain and hail off and on all day, but it kept most humans at home or indoors so the Mt Pisgah trails were quiet.

I started at the main parking lot TH around 7:00am and needed a headlamp for 10 minutes going up the summit trail. As I turned off the headlamp, turkeys were making noises from the bottom of valley (I prefer the coyote yelps to turkey gobbles in pre-dawn dark). Then, a red-tail hawk soared above trying to find thermals in the pre-dawn cold air. About 1/2 to summit, 5 deer ambled across the path … the last one was a laggard and I worry about its health.

On both sides of the hill, the real treat – blooming trees – the flowering trees are scattered in and around all the meadows.

Coyote poo was again plentiful on the trails below the summit. On the last swing around the Tr 3 meadow, I caught movement up 1/2 way in the meadow … a coyote hunting! A hawk was soaring above, too, probably hoping rodents would run from coyote.

Turkeys, hawks, 5 deer and a coyote is not a bad day in the woods, regardless of how close to home. The flowers scattered over the hill made it better.

The Route

Started at the main parking lot TH around 7:00; there were 2 cars up by the pay station – the larger lower lot was empty. Went immediately to Pisgah summit, and then just tried to stay in the hill’s rain-shadow and away from the Summit Tr traffic. It worked as I never had to put on rain jacket – just wind-shell – and humans were few.

Trail conditions were much better than expected. There was water in all the typical places, but the mud was much less than last week. While I wore my WP boots, they weren’t needed. Human traffic was nearly null beyond the THs or summit and mostly runners – no dogs without a leash – maybe that’s why a coyote today?

Gear Box

Enlightened Equipment Copperfield Wind-shirt performed above expectations in the rain and hail. I failed to bring an umbrella, and Gortex rain-shell was buried in the pack, so the Copperfield was worn all day. While no hard rain, it rained off / on all day; the Copperfield kept my top dry – solid use case for misty, light rain shower days. No overheating, and Gortex in reserve.

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes: Altra Lone Peak WP Boots – Oboz Insole, T-Form insole pad
• Pack: Gossamer Gear GRIT (Full foothills day hike kit)
• Upper Layers: Lightweight baselayer, mid-weight Capilene
• Upper shell: EE Copperfield Windshell
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: 07:00 – 14:00
• Carbon ratio: 5.25 hours (1.5 hours driving: 6.75 hours hiking); YTD = 47.75 hours banked
• Miles hiked YTD: 210.7
• Notes:
  • Photos: low
  • Speed: moderate
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Weather: 35-45 – rain, hail, clouds

All Trails Data