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Another loop around Catherine Creek and Coyote Wall: 4/13/14

Posted: April 21st, 2014, 9:34 pm
by RobinB
There have been a bunch of really great trip reports here recently about the Catherine Creek - Coyote Wall area, so I'm not going to say much, except to reiterate that the flowers are just gorgeous right now. This was our first time there, and I was completely floored by the whole area. We did the Coyote Wall - Labyrinth Loop almost exactly as described in the Field Guide, and would highly recommend it on the (seemingly small) chance you haven't been yet.

If you go counterclockwise, there's a small waterfall on the old highway just beyond the Labyrinth Trail cutoff. Definitely worth the extra couple hundred feet.

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Just a little ways up the Labyrinth Trail.

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Another waterfall!

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There were a ton of vultures or something out. My wife, KRock, was pretty sure they were just waiting for me to croak :lol:

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The views looking east are just spectacular.

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As are the views looking west. I couldn't get Mount Hood to show up as clearly as I'd like, but it was definitely out all day.

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Gorgeous old tree right after the Burns Farm property line.

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This lizard was showing off, doing pushups.

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Oh oh, and the flowers! We spent a good hour crouched down taking pictures.

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After playing around for a while, we eventually made it over to Coyote Wall. It almost reminds me of a more lush Tam MacArthur Rim.

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The walk down.

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What a fantastic area!

Re: Another loop around Catherine Creek and Coyote Wall: 4/1

Posted: April 21st, 2014, 9:45 pm
by chiefWright
Dandy gorgeous, RobinB! Love the color gamut on your pix. What were you shooting with?

Were they turkey vultures or ravens? Vultures have a bald head, where Ravens are all black. One of the more scary experience I've had was sitting on the edge of the wall, and a good half-dozen Ravens come screaming out of the west just yards over my head like a flight of B-52's on a bombing run!!!

I know exactly how you feel about your first time on the Labyrinth/Coyote loop. The place is so darned magic you wish you could discover new it again and again. Since I can't get there as often as I like, thanks so much for posting!

Re: Another loop around Catherine Creek and Coyote Wall: 4/1

Posted: April 21st, 2014, 11:06 pm
by RobinB
Thanks, Chief Wright!
chiefWright wrote:What were you shooting with?
These were taken with a Nikon D80 with a Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro lens.
chiefWright wrote:Were they turkey vultures or ravens?
I think they were turkey vultures, though there were plenty of ravens as well.

Re: Another loop around Catherine Creek and Coyote Wall: 4/1

Posted: April 22nd, 2014, 10:48 am
by sprengers4jc
Wow! Great photos! Very nice hike, glad you are enjoying the wildflowers. They certainly are magnificent :).

Re: Another loop around Catherine Creek and Coyote Wall: 4/1

Posted: April 22nd, 2014, 12:06 pm
by UTurn
Stunning photos! I never tire of multiple trip reports on the same area. (Any area!)

It makes me want to go, go go! :D

Re: Another loop around Catherine Creek and Coyote Wall: 4/1

Posted: April 22nd, 2014, 9:09 pm
by RobinB
Thanks :)