It's one of those amazingly rare sunny mornings in Oregon. Bad weather may be on its way but for the moment, the sun is shining, the sky is cobalt blue, and Oregonians are feeling cheerful. Everybody we met on the trail today was smiling.
Today's route is especially good for a sunny morning walk. Beginning at Lewisburg Saddle, you'll start out in the shade and walk to the east side of the ridge. The forest road (610) skirts the lower part of the ridge and climbs a long, but not particularly steep, hill. At the top of the hill, the road turns left and a short trail on the right connects with Upper Horse Trail. Continuing in the same general southward direction along Upper Horse Trail will take you past a small meadow that must have one been part of a home place. In the fall, there are several good apple trees that are worth picking from, if you can reach the apples that the deer can't get to, that is.
The trail crosses a road. This isn't the road you started out on which forked at the bottom of the hill, turning into FR 6124. By bearing right onto FR 6124 instead of following Horse Trail, you'll ease downhill to a spot at the base of a ravine where an unnamed creek crosses the trail. This is my usual turn-around point which makes a 3.5 mile out and back. The turnaround spot is in a patch of bigger trees and is a lovely place. In the summer, the creek always has enough water for the dogs. In fall, there are colorful leaves to admire. In winter, even when the weather is harsh, this is a beautiful place of silence and peace.
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