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

[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.



Just a little ways up the Labyrinth Trail.



Another waterfall!



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





The views looking east are just spectacular.



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.



Gorgeous old tree right after the Burns Farm property line.



This lizard was showing off, doing pushups.



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













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.





The walk down.





What a fantastic area!

[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!

[RobinB]

Thanks, Chief Wright!

What were you shooting with?

These were taken with a Nikon D80 with a Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro lens.

Were they turkey vultures or ravens?

I think they were turkey vultures, though there were plenty of ravens as well.

[sprengers4jc]

Wow! Great photos! Very nice hike, glad you are enjoying the wildflowers. They certainly are magnificent .

[UTurn]

Stunning photos! I never tire of multiple trip reports on the same area. (Any area!)

It makes me want to go, go go!

[RobinB]

Thanks