Yep, I was rambling about there too yesterday. I also started down at Crawford Oaks. I've been going there for over 15 years, so this time I had basically two goals: (1) hike the new trails for the purpose of putting them in the Field Guide (2) locate and interview a park ranger to see if I could continue to ramble at will even though the trail signs say "Stay on Designated Trails." Happily, I achieved both goals.
I met the ranger on the road near the new Dalles Mountain Ranch trailhead (at the Crawford Ranch); he was ticketing cars that had parked alongside the road (People still think that if they don't park in the designated trailhead - about 50 yards away - they can park for free). He said the signs were mainly for bikes and horses. "Dispersed hiking" was O.K. If an area gets damaged, they'll close it off and put up signs.
After that, I felt free to hike in a dispersed way. As I passed the old barn, though, I spotted the ranger interviewing someone behind the 'Area Closed' sign - maybe one of many who had transgressed that day!
I did my dispersed loop, where I met no creatures except magpies, meadowlarks, and ground squirrels (If you don't mind, I'm posting a few pictures below rather than do a whole separate post). When I passed back through the Crawford Ranch, two different people accosted me and wanted to know where the "rusty old car" was (I guess I look like someone who knows about rusty old things). It was the only thing they were interested in! I pointed them in the general direction, told them about getting through the fences, and decided to avoid the rusty old car myself.
