Welches, Oregon: Rain drops smacked our roof on and off overnight. It was cold. We were not very motivated to go outside, but one can only hang-out in a metal box for so long. Sneakers were laced-up and we walked along a pretty trail behind the campground to meet-up with the tails on the Salmon Wild and Scenic River Wildwood Trail. (It's about one mile from the campground to the BLM park.)
The trail eventually finds the Salmon River and some of the trail is paved and ADA accessible, with picnic tables, fire pits and toilets. Very few people were out today.
The BLM + Forest Service have installed an under-stream viewing area. Today there were a few fingerlings fattening up for their trek to Alaska. There were several species to view, but most were Coho Salmon.
We crossed the river and followed a loop. There are so many little streams flowing into the Salmon River. The river is about 33 miles long with six impressive waterfalls. The Salmon river joins the Sandy river, and the Sandy joins the Mighty Columiba in Troutdale, Oregon.
The forest is a blanket of green ferns on the floor, with massive Douglas Fir reaching for the sky. The trail on the other side of the river includes wooden paths set above a marshy area where visitors can see beaver habitat, rich with skunk cabbage and cattails. Black bear, black tail deer, mountain lions, raccoons and various species of birds thrive in this forest. (Also lots of really huge, really gross slugs.) We saw many wild berries, Oregon Grape, huckleberry, Jewelweed, and Filbert trees (which grow hazelnuts).
It was a very pretty and scenic hike. Mostly flat as well. We covered about 5 miles in all, but really never warmed-up. (Really am a SoCal girl now.) It was nice to return to the RV and feel our fingers again. Dinner was easy - small chicken cutlets with a cucumber salad. I learned to make this salad when I was a young girl from my French Aunt. Just sliced cucumbers with salt and vinegar, with a little blob of sour cream (bet she used crème fraîche in France) and dill. Delicious.
Until my next update, I remain, your hiking correspondent.
Campground Information: Mt. Hood Village RV Resort. (This park now is owned by Thousand Trails.)