On July 9, Bill and I drove out to Silver Falls State Park to check out the Conclave site for ourselves.
Silver Falls SP is in the foothills of the Cascade Range. Our group camp is at about 1400 feet. The site is mostly shaded by big Douglas-firs, and has a (non-dusty!) dirt-and-needle surface; we have a big grassy field available for playing. Below are a few images that not only show the park’s beauty but also will give you a look at where we’ll be camping.
Above is a look into Tent Site B (one of our two group sites). The sites are HUGE! Rather than distinctly separate tent sites, there are large spaces, allowing Conclavians to pitch camp pretty much wherever they wish. Fire pits are scattered around, and water and trash are nearby (we also have our own recycling station). Picnic tables are all over the sites and can be moved as needed. The campsites are well off the road and very, very quiet. We’re also well away from any water, which should keep the mosquitoes at a minimum.
Here’s our Day Lodge, which is next door to Group site B. This is where the closest bathroom is, too! The other bathroom is a short walk down the camp road, within eyesight of Group Site A. We peered in the Lodge windows (it was locked) and found tables, chairs, and a fireplace with a huge stack of firewood.
This is the forest as seen from behind the Day Lodge. It’s a typical Cascades Doug-fir and hemlock forest, with understories of ferns, salal, and vine maple. It smells amazing!
And here are the trees, if you tip your head back!A path leads down the hill to Silver Falls Canyon and the loop trail. Our group hike will be a little short of 5 miles; any intrepid souls who want to do the whole 8.7 miles could start and stop from camp, via this trail.
Here is a picture of North Falls, seen from the highway overlook. Our hike will take us past this falls at close range.Getting excited!
No comments:
Post a Comment