. I was very impressed by the old-growth on the way up to Sawtooth Ridge, and also by the dry ecosystems on the way up to Mt. June. Nice view up there
There were vine maples in full forest fall color (yellow) all the way up from 2,750' at the TH to 4,000' at the ridgeline junction. Magnificent old growth forest as well for much of the way.
The old growth forest is on a North-facing slope, and the ridgeline revealed a whole new forest composition that caught Southern sun rays. Being from Portland, I was struck by the difference in forest ecosystems. I spent a lot of time hiking Salmon Huckleberry ridgelines, which are in the same Ecoregion as Mt. June and Sawtooth Ridge -- Western Cascades Montane Highlands (4b). But, here in Lane County at 4,000' I saw trees I wouldn't see around Wildcat or Huckleberry Mountains. I believe I saw two tall Oregon ash trees in full fall color beneath a rocky seep. And the Oregon Wildflowers group helped me identify a tree that looked at home in Southern Oregon or NorCal: Golden Chinquapin. According to the Forest Service it grows to tree size in the West-Central Cascades and is an indicator of warm microclimates. As soon as I crested the ridge where the chinquapin grew, it got warmer!
Here are more autumn pictures from the hike up the ridge to Mt. June's summit:
Finally some red, back on a North-facing slope.
The view from the summit encompassed 12 snow peaks (if you count
To the South I could see one of Umpqua National Forests' controlled burns, of either a brush pile or meadow. I saw an announcement about the small scale burnings recently.
Then it was back down, (and some up) to the Sawtooth meadows where I just took a quick rest.
I think around 6.7 miles and 2,200 ft elevation gain. My legs hadn't done a steep one like that in quite some time!
